Building on Conceptual Interpretations of Aboriginal literacy in Anishinaabe Research: A Turtle Shaker Model

Résumé

This article comes out of the larger context of my dissertation research. My dissertation is an investigation of my experiences as an academic who attempts to remain true to Indigenous Knowledge (IK) traditions while working within a Western European intellectual setting.

In this article, I combine the conceptual frameworks of Aboriginal literacy and Cavanagh’s (2005) holistic educational model of the Anishinaabe teaching wand to create a holistic model of Anishinaabe literacy. I then present the ethical responsibility in protecting and sustaining Indigenous Knowledge. Finally, I share a personal narrative and detail a central model of Anishinaabe literacy from my dissertation—the (carving) of a turtle shaker.