Storytelling of Métis Elders: Understanding Pedagogies in Indigenous Education

• In Event: Indigenous and Decolonizing Research Methodologies When Knowing Is Not Enough

Abstract

Storytelling is a practice in Indigenous cultures that sustains communities and validates the experiences and epistemologies of Indigenous peoples. Indigenous Elders are the educators of our communities. Their stories and histories, shared through Indigenous pedagogies, educate communities and aid in sustaining our cultures. The contributions of Métis Elders help Métis communities understand the contributions of Métis peoples, past and present, to our provinces and Nations. Métis Elders’ knowledge help us understand Indigenous pedagogies in Indigenous education and ways these can inform the education of children, youth, and Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. This presentation explores oral traditions and stories with the aim of understanding the nature of Indigenous storytelling in retaining, affirming, and applying Indigenous knowledge in modern contexts.

Author

• Judy M. Iseke, Lakehead University