Identity, Positionality, & Relationships

Why does identity matter?

Identity is defined as “who or what” a person is. Positionality is defined as an individual’s position in relation to others, in reference to things which make up their identity (such as culture or ethnicity). An individual’s identity and positionality are integral factors in how they interact with others and form relationships. Think about your own identity and positionality; how does that affect how you interact with those around you?

Acknowledging and exploring identities are an essential piece of understanding different kinds of knowledge, because the context and relation of individuals to a piece of knowledge defines how that knowledge can be understood in a given situation. Canadian colonial efforts attempted to strip Aboriginal peoples of their identities; this history means that there are far-reaching legal and cultural implications around identity for Aboriginal people. Additionally, there are often vast differences between how the Canadian state defines Aboriginal people, and how Aboriginal people define themselves. Both identity and the relationships which stem from it are affected by the terminology used to define an individual (both by oneself and others), and from the historical and social context of that identity. Identity is also directly related to power and privilege in our society; consider what this means for Aboriginal individuals who may experience racism, disenfranchisement, and discrimination based on their identity. Identity is therefore an inescapable reality which each person will reckon with on a daily basis. It is important for students and professors to have a grounding in the complexities of Aboriginal identities, which include the terminology and histories related to those identities. Without an understanding of how identity shapes people and relationship, one cannot interact with cultures, knowledge and people effectively and respectfully.

Content from this module addresses iSchool Graduate Competencies 1.1, 1.4, 2.2, 5.1

Identity, Positionality, & Relationships: Project

Resources

Identity, Positionality, & Relationships: Features

âpihtawikosisaân. (2012, January 16). A rose by any other name is a mihkokwaniy. Indigenous

Issues 101 in âpihtawikosisaân. Retrieved from https://apihtawikosisan.com/2012/01/

a-rose-by-any-other-name-is-a-mihkokwaniy/

This blog is an excellent resource for people unfamiliar with specific aboriginal topics. The blog author (Chelsea Vowel) titles a number of her posts “Indigenous Issue Primers”, as they provide introductory information on a number of topics, often written for audiences who come with little background knowledge on current or historical issues which affect First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. This particular post (“A rose by any other name is a mihkokwaniy”) is a quick break down of language and the use of terminology for aboriginal and non-aboriginal people. The post delves into what language should never to be used to describe aboriginal people, and then discusses some of the other terms which are commonly used. Vowel acknowledges the complicated nature of terminology, and links this complication to the fluid nature of identity. This resource is an accessible and concise summarization of why terminology is important, and how non-aboriginal individuals can begin to think about identity and language.

Adichie, C.N. (2009, July). The danger of a single tory. TEDGlobal. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

This TEDTalk by Chiminanda Ngozi Adichie, a Nigerian novelist, is a thought-provoking testament to the universal tendency of people to categorize and misunderstand each other, and the potentially damaging consequences thereof. Adichie’s presentation reminds us that the stories (whether literary or non-fictional) that we consume about other people and cultures can provide a limited scope, and it is dangerous to rely solely on these single ideas and images. Through several personal anecdotes, she encourages us to question our reliance on the single stories that we absorb and repeatedly tell ourselves, and also to seek out alternative, multifaceted expressions of cultural identity in order to prevent the perpetuation of these limited narratives. The danger with such stories is that they become so commonplace that they can negatively impact the authentic identities of the people they are stereotyping. This warm-hearted and often humorous video is an excellent resource for anyone interested in exploring positionality and reflexive thinking regarding cultural identities and relationships.

Crey, K. (2009). Aboriginal Identity & the Classroom. Indigenous Foundations. First

Nations and Indigenous Studies UBC. Retrieved from http://indigenousfoundations.arts.

ubc.ca/aboriginal_identity__the_classroom/

This resource is a section of UBC’s Indigenous Foundations website, which provides information on topics relating to histories, politics, and the cultures of Aboriginal peoples in Canada. The site is intended to be a starting point for instructors, researchers, and students to begin interacting with and investigating foundational topics relating to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. This resource is best read with Kesler and âpihtawikosisaân’s breakdown of aboriginal identity and terminology, as it provides further background on the historical (and legal) ramifications of various terms and how such terms affect identity. It is a particularly important resource for non-aboriginal students, teachers and researchers in order for them to understand how certain events in Canada’s colonial history continue to have personal and real consequences for aboriginal individuals, and it pushes back against the (often prevalent) notion that such events are historical, and therefore no longer relevant. This resource will be useful as a tool to further explain why identity is important and impactful for aboriginal individuals, and why an understanding of the complexities of aboriginal identity in Canada is necessary for meaningful learning.

Kesler, L. (2009). Aboriginal Identity & Terminology. Indigenous Foundations. First Nations and

Indigenous Studies UBC. Retrieved from http://indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca/

aboriginal_identity__terminology/

This resource, like the one above, is a section of UBC’s Indigenous Foundations website, which provides information on topics relating to histories, politics, and the cultures of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples in Canada. In this section of the website, information is provided on the variety of ways in which Aboriginal peoples self-identify and are defined by the state. This resource examines how those two different systems of definition conflict with each other, and reflect both the legislation and communities that define individuals. This resource also provides some information on the cultural and historical background to various terms; this resources is therefore useful when read alongside Crey’s “Aboriginal Identity & the Classroom” peice, which provides more of the historical background touched on in this resource. Much like âpihtawikosisaân’s “A rose by any other name is a mihkokwaniy” post, this source runs through the use of various terms by non-aboriginal individuals, and like âpihtawikosisaân, acknowledges the complex and fluid nature of such terms. This source, when read with âpihtawikosisaân’s post, is complicated by the differing opinions about terminology (for example, contrast âpihtawikosisaân’s opinion of the term “aboriginal” with Kesler’s opinion), which can help reinforce the idea (mentioned in both resources) that terms are changing, and opinions on the use of terms by aboriginal individuals will fluctuate.