Youth-Engaged Art-Based Research in Cape Breton: Transcending Nations, Boundaries, and Identities

Fostering Reconciliation through Collaborative Research in Unama’ki: Engaging Communities through Indigenous Methodologies and Research-Creation

“…So when you tell that story onto a stage, you're being proud and you're honouring your ancestors, and that's what was so sacred about that. (Ostashewski et al 2019) Several of the co-researchers of all generations, including two youth, Noah Cremo and Graham Curtis Marshall, observe in the film that our research process has provided those in the working group and the community with opportunities to learn about the history and experiences of the families of Kun'tewiktuk, what they experienced in the move-and, as Shaylene Johnson points out, the racism and prejudices they dealt with (Ostashewski et al 2018(Ostashewski et al , 2019.…”

“…At the time of this writing, four phases of Songs and Stories have been carried out. The first three have been addressed in other publications, especially concerning youth expressions of transnationalism and identity, and the vital role of intergenerational relationships in community (Ostashewski et al 2018); and the resilience of Mi'kmaw people amidst histories of displacement and work carried out by a Membertou-based group of researchers to reclaim and honour the legacy of Mi'kmaw ancestors (e.g., Ostashewski and Johnson 2020). The fourth phase, involving an ICTM Colloquium on the theme of Songs and Stories of Migration and Encounter (please refer to www.ictmusic.org/songs-and-stories-migration-and-encounter-26th-ictm-colloquium), was hosted by the CSC in October 2019 and facilitated through partnerships with several communities in different locations around Cape Breton Island.…”

“…The basic model, established through earlier CSC projects, involves an initial period during which the Elders and other culture-bearers are asked to share with the youth their knowledge and experiences related to a given topic. Though not exclusively an Indigenous practice, storytelling and sharing of oral histories in our work are directly informed by Indigenous traditions and research methods: "engaging with elders has been recognized as an essential means of accessing Indigenous knowledge and histories as oral histories" (with reference to Miller 2011, in Ostashewski et al 2018. Knowledge-sharing gives rise to dialogue and discussion, led by the youth, involving Elders and other Knowledge Holders as well as faculty and research assistants.…”

“…Songs and Stories involves an ongoing process of recovering and honouring local Indigenous histories; it is not complete, and the data and prerogatives on how, when, and with whom to share the information belong to Membertou. Previous publications (Ostashewski et al 2018;Ostashewski and Johnson 2020) have documented basic elements and outcomes of earlier phases; here we attend to the most recent ones. Throughout, we are developing ways to share a history beyond the local community that are appropriate and sensitive to individual needs and to the community's way of life, particularly given that some aspects of the history are contested (Smith 1999:33-34).…”