Reframing indigeneity: community participation to inform the development of an indigenous identity measure

Abstract

Much of the research done on, rather than with, Indigenous peoples has led to the misinterpretation of Indigenous identity by mainstream society and academic researchers. Imagemakers of early Canadian history put forth misinformation about the “Imaginary Indian,” which set the basis for how many Canadians and those in academia still view Canada’s national history (Cronin, 2003; Francis, 1992). This research sought to understand how Indigenous peoples on the Laurentian University campus in Sudbury, Ontario defined their own Indigeneity. It is hoped that the results of this thesis will inform the development of an Indigenous Identity Measure (IIM) as well as reframe conceptions of Indigenous identities from the viewpoint of Indigenous participants. I employed Sharing Circles as a community participatory method, with an integrated approach to data analysis (Bradley, Curry & Devers, 2007; Nabigon, Hagey, Webster & MacKay, 1999). The purpose of choosing relevant Indigenous methods was to privilege the Indigenous perspective. The Sharing Circles effectively demonstrated the diversity and complexity of how the participants understood and expressed their Indigenous identity. Culture, Colonization and Selfdetermining identity, were vital themes to help understanding Indigeneity. Lastly, by asserting self-determined Indigenous identities and by supporting decolonizing methodologies, this research can serve as a template to reframe conceptions of Indigenous identity in the hope that this information might be useful for Indigenous persons, administrators, researchers and professors on a university campus.