KIWEYTOTAHK ISKWEW ISKOTAYOW: RETURNING TO THE WOMAN FIRE Claudine Louis, PhD – Nov 13, 2014 Indigenous Peoples Education Program, University of Alberta

My Contextual Landscape & Lens Maskwachis Cree territory, Plains Cree (“Bear Hills”) Part of Treaty Six, member of Samson Cree Nation; located in hamlet of Hobbema in Central Alberta where the Four Bands reserves are located Nipisihkopahk Community (“Land of the Willows”) Natchewaysis – Plains Cree name changed from Natuawasis to Louis, last name Plains Cree name

The Buffalo Dance

INDIGENOUS RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: HONORING NATURAL LAW

KIHEW – The Soaring Eagle Approach to Learning and to Research.

RESEARCHER PREPARATION: CURA Healing Through Language & Culture Research Project RESEARCHER PREPARATION: Guidance from Traditional Knowledge Holder/Elder

Healing Through Language & Culture ARCHIVAL PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE OBLATE MISSIONARY GRANDIN COLLECTION

Archival Photos Personal narratives

Treaty TicketPoster Symbols of Confinement

OMISIMAW leadership MODEL MASKWACIS Cree Epistemology – The Four Parts to the Self GIRL/CHILD SACRED WOMAN WARRIOR WOMAN WISE WOMAN

DECOLONIZING & REVITALIZING INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE to locate my research question:  How can the Omisimaw Leadership model (OLM) be used as a tool for healing in Aboriginal communities?

DATA SOURCES: ARCHIVAL PHOTOGRAPHS LEARNING RESEARCH CIRCLES RESEARCH JOURNALS DREAMS

WAHKOHTOWIN: paternal/maternal search of connection/disconnection to traditional education/Indigenous knowledge. Acknowledging the ancestors & the land

SOHKASTWAWIN: Surviving cultural/linguistic genocide. Locating the gift – a strengths based approach

KISKEYIHTAMOWIN: principles, method, philosophy, learner responsibility. Individualized & Experiential Learning

PASIKOWIN: Diminishing knowledge transfer, ongoing colonization, challenges to western academic structures, investigating root causes of illness Standing up to [accepting the challenge]

My research has added to the scholarly literature by introducing the following terms/concepts/ideas:  “Forced religiousity”  “Heartwork”  “Re-discovering relationship building”  “Re-claiming parenthood”

Educational importance of the study Pedagogical Implications – Applying the 4 Teaching approaches with learners – Accepting that learning is emotive – Creating Safe Learning Spaces Curricula Implications – Exploring Orality & the role of the Traditional Knowledge holder/Elder in learning – Providing Learning opportunities outside the classroom Research Implications – Research is contemporary ceremonial engagement – Preparation phase – Soaring Eagle approach to data analysis

Learning Implications: the self – “I” statements & affirmations to consider on the learning journey:  I am resilient  I am connected  I am open to learning experiences  I am willing to accept the challenge  I can grow & experience the four parts to myself

Final Thoughts

OMISIMAW LEADERSHIP MODEL MASKWACIS Cree Epistemology – The Four Parts to the Self CHILD self SACRED self WARRIOR self WISE self How can the OLM be used to help understand/explore identity? What are some examples?

A NATION IS NOT CONQUERED UNTIL THE HEARTS OF ITS’ WOMEN ARE ON THE GROUND. THEN, IT IS FINISHED, NO MATTER HOW BRAVE ITS’ WARRIORS OR HOW STRONG ITS’ WEAPONS. TSISTSISTAS – Cheyenne Warrior