Kiskemisowin

Kiskemisowin (the gathering of knowledge to remind you who you are): Co-creating Community- and Nation-led digital archives for Indigenous health and wellness knowledge promotion and preservation

Kiskemisowin will support the preservation and revitalization of Indigenous stories, knowledge and wise practices, as well as language and words. This will be done using collaborative Indigenous research methodologies, creating digital archives designed, owned and stewarded by Nations and/or communities.

Canada is a country bifurcated by complex, multicultural and multilingual identities, and by colonial atrocities and neo-colonial policies and practices. Stories and language play a pivotal role in Indigenous peoples’ abilities to maintain their sense of self, sovereignty and ways of knowing, being and doing. The Kiskemisowin project seeks to address the loss of First Nations, Métis and Inuit languages, stories and knowledges by providing access and support to record the stories of Indigenous people in Saskatchewan, preserving them for future generations. Furthermore, to support Nation- and community-led revitalization efforts, much consideration must be given to the processes, consultation and digital asset management of this project.

Digital preservation, a critical component of this proposal, is complex, and when working with Indigenous Nations and communities, it is necessary to develop shared understandings between the research team and each community on how to best implement data sovereignty and access at the individual, community and public levels. We expect the communities will also all learn from each other, and all of us look forward to reciprocal community-to-community mentorship. Ultimately, all the infrastructure and wise processes we develop with communities will support Indigenous wellness through individual autonomy, collective interests and creativity.

For more information, contact Luke Heidebrect:pewaseskwan@usask.ca