DEVS 220: Introduction to Indigenous Studies

Community-Based Sources

Community-based sources include those created by an Indigenous community, an Elder, or a community member. 
Below are some suggestions for finding community-based sources.

• Native Land is a resource consisting of an interactive map that can be used to learn about the territories, languages, and treaties. Its goal is to “foster conversations about the history of colonialism, Indigenous ways of knowing, and settler-Indigenous relations.” Whose Land is a "web-based app that uses GIS technology to assist users in identifying Indigenous Nations, territories, and Indigenous communities across Canada."
• You can go directly to the pages of a nation or associated groups and community pages to learn about them.
  Examples
  •  The Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte website has newsletters, updates, and other important resources.
  • The three W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations,Tsartlip, Tseycum, and Tsawout, have a website: W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council Society. They have uploaded an important work from an Elder, Saltwater People as told by Dave Elliot Sr., which has been used as a resource book for the Saanich Native Studies Program.
     
• Consider community groups' social media presence and how they use these platforms.
   
• Some journals are taking the approach to include both scholarly sources as well as community sources. 
  Example: Pawaatamihk: Journal of Métis Thinkers
  Pawaatamihk is an open-access journal that showcases Métis thought inside the academy and in community, with sections dedicated to Community Stories, Poetry, and Visual Culture, as well as Book Reviews and Scholarly Papers.
   

Student-Led Events or Activism Sources

Important issues that are mentioned in community-based sources or by Indigenous leadership groups (see section to right), for example, can help to discover and learn about ​​​​​student-led events or examples of activism. 
Indigenous news sources may also help you learn about these issues and conversations currently taking place.

Examples

• Saik’uz First Nation in B.C. says no more logging unless companies have its consent (APTN News)

• Indigenous Solidarity at Fairy Creek (IndigiNews)

Another approach is to check whether there are Indigenous-led student groups, organizations, or associations at an institution to learn about upcoming and past events and programs. They may have social media pages and posts, which can help you learn more about the groups and organizations. The Queen's Native Student Association and Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre are examples at Queen's.

4Rs Youth Movement- is a youth-driven initiative with the goal of changing relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people.

Again, consider how social media is being used to inform and update people of movements as well as bring them together.