Story Work and Review of Literature and Cultural Knowledge (Yéégo Níí’káás - Molding)

• In Event: Indigenous Educational Leadership Through Community-Based Knowledge and Research

Abstract

Growing up traditionally, I surrounded myself with elders and teachings from their perspective, which has directed me towards the career path I chose. Storytelling is everything that we engage with from the very beginning of our conception in the womb. We hear everything on the outside, and when we emerge, we are blessed with corn pollen, as our path is already paved for us by our ancestors. Today in academia, we are challenged and face adversity in many ways, but in our indigenous hearts, we find our answers. In a new generation of researchers, we have become the storytellers of our own world adventures to preserve our culture and language that continually sustains us. Story work is based on cultural knowledge that is valid and shared among Indigenous people to keep the next generation moving forward. What we teach today, from the hogan floor, becomes their research in the world, tomorrow.

Author

• Nonabah Sam, University of New Mexico