Restringing Pathways to the Ancestors: An Indigenous Family History Project

Abstract

This autoethnography examines how my genealogical research and critical examination of the stories of my family through a decolonial and indigenous lens is a resistance to the contemporary colonial mandate…to eradicate Indigenous existence…through the erasure of the histories and geographies that provide the foundation for Indigenous cultural identities and sense of self. By identifying the presence of historical and contemporary narratives about who we are as a people, how we relate to others, and the world around us; cultural workers can make a difference by conceptualizing true identities for self and the cultural field. By identifying these narratives, cultural workers can begin to critically analyze whether existing discourses, practices and processes are producing outcomes that are beneficial for the people that the cultures belong to. This autoethnography explores a journey towards knowing self through the stories and research of my family so that I can better understand what is unique about identity.