Open Collections

Hardman, Shirley Anne (Swelchalot Shxwha:yathel)

University of British Columbia

Indigenizing the academy, while complicated, fluid, and diverse in its pursuits, is underway in most if not all post-secondary institutes in Canada. This has forced many people working in these institutions to Indigenize. But what has remained unclear is how one sets about to Indigenize themselves and their practice. Using Indigenous Storywork (Archibald, 2008) this project examines written stories by 11 non-Indigenous post-secondary educators in Stó:lō Téméxw (territory) told from their positions as non-teaching staff, professors, and administrators. Their stories tell how they shifted their practice to include Indigenous content and pedagogies, and honour Indigenous ways of knowing and being. They also share insights about becoming an Indigenizer. The Stó:lō researcher uses Indigenous Storywork as theory with an emphasis on Stó:lō teachings. The principles of Indigenous Storywork guide the methods for the research and the meaning making process. Referred to as Storywork Listening, the written stories are visited again and again with each revolution making meaning and understanding differently within an Indigenous paradigm. The stories elucidate six themes on the path to Indigenizing: We Were Children; Historical Amnesia; Decolonization; Coming to Know; Ceremony as Teacher; and Learning from Indigenous Peoples. These themes are brought together into a metaphorical river contributing to Indigenizing the Academy. The complexities of Storywork Listening educate one’s heart, mind, body and spirit wherein the power of story is experienced as a new story unfolds with a promise for the future. A future of Indigenizing will be built with a deep knowledge of the historic past and its effect on today; on good Indigenous/non-Indigenous relationships; respect for ways of knowing other than our own; and, with changes in how we view and act in the world we share. It will be hard work, and it will take the efforts of many, but it will be accomplished one heart at a time.

Text

2024-04-15

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/87836

Educational Studies

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/