A new Indigenous-led research project is bringing together community members, Elders, knowledge keepers, educators, students and researchers to address misinformation about Canadian Indigenous people, culture and communities.
The project, Ihtsitomaniista'po'tako'p (Working Together), is led by the Ninastako Cultural Centre in partnership with Lethbridge Polytechnic's Centre for Public Safety Applied Research (CPSAR) and seeks to understand how misinformation about Indigenous people spreads, the impact it has on communities and what can be done to address it.
"We continue to see misinformation and harmful stereotypes about Indigenous people in media, online spaces and everyday conversations," says Dr. Kirsten Fantazir (Anatsi'piiksaakii/Pretty Bird Woman), president's applied research chair in public safety, CPSAR. "Working Together will engage with Indigenous communities to hear directly from those affected by misinformation and use that knowledge to create culturally relevant tools and resources aimed at strengthening Indigenous cultural understanding."
"This misinformation, which perpetuates racism and divisiveness, is happening so often online and in virtual and digital spaces, with stereotypes that were spread in traditional media in the 1860s still being used today, more than 150 years later," says Dr. Jami Albright-Tolman (Natosii Apaniimstakyakii/Sun that Breaks through the Storm Lady), instructor, Centre for Justice and Human Services and researcher, CPSAR. "This language and action entrenches inaccurate information as fact in people's minds. Working Together aims to address that misinformation with practical, digital tools the public can engage with to correct those false notions in a positive and constructive way."
Perspectives from all generations are important for this project, including those of students like Lainie Fuhrmann and Megan Gros Ventre Boy (Iinakii/Buffalo Woman), who are both in their fourth year of the polytechnic's Bachelor of Criminal Justice program. Gros Ventre Boy says projects like these give a necessary voice to Indigenous people.
"I know how important it is for people to have a voice in research about our language, culture and our communities," she says. "Research like this allows us to have access to accurate information when working with those Indigenous communities, while also learning how to bring that information and those ways of knowing into academic spaces as a student in the criminal justice program."
The project is now open to community members willing to share their experiences and cultural knowledge to inform the creation and evaluation of these digital tools to challenge misinformation and promote understanding. From focus groups and storytelling sessions, to sharing circles, individual interviews and even online surveys, Fantazir says the goal is to encourage people to get involved.
"We want to hear about those lived experiences, what people have heard and what they know is out there," she says. "These experiences will better inform the development of these tools and help us deconstruct those misinformed ideas and stereotypes."
"We also invite people to listen to Lethbridge Polytechnic's Learning Innovation podcast to learn more about the project and share their own experiences and perspectives," says Gloria Wells (Akohstikitstaki/Many Offerings), executive director, Ninastako Cultural Centre. "Every voice helps us build stronger understanding and more effective responses."
For more information about Working Together, visit www.workingtogether.info and click "Get Involved" to share an experience.
