Traditional oral storytelling holds great value and importance in Indigenous communities. However, due to the nature of the method, it is difficult to reach large audiences and break into the mainstream in the same way as common colonial narratives.
Yvonne Poitras Pratt aims to change this, however, by using digital media to preserve and tell the stories of many Métis nations around Alberta.
Poitras Pratt, a card-carrying citizen of the Otipemisiwak Metis Government, returned to the University of Calgary as a mature student in 1996—where she earned her three degrees.
It’s also where Poitras Pratt began her research program. She worked alongside the Fishing Lake Métis Settlement, doing decolonized ethnographic research, to assist the community with the creation of digital mediums to tell their stories in a way that could be both preserved easily and accurately—and distributed more easily.
Our Truth and Reconciliation through Education book @UCalgaryEduc has sold 1073 copies since its release last year. The 20+ authors in this book share their insights to help open others' minds and in turn inspire courage in ACTING on TRC Calls to Action. @NCTR_UM @CBCIndigenous pic.twitter.com/yROFWJeD8H
— Yvonne Poitras Pratt (@ypoitraspratt) April 12, 2024
“This decolonizing ethnography brought in elements of empowerment,” said Poitras Pratt.
Poitras Pratt faced some criticisms and challenges from fellow researchers and ethics boards, due to the nature of her involvement in the project, an objectivity which she never claimed to have.
“I presented possibilities to the community, and then I allowed them to guide me,” said Poitras Pratt. “The choice to do decolonizing ethnography was a deliberate choice to also keep the digital stories intact.”
“Folks were really risking themselves and being vulnerable with me, and so I didn’t want to do a thematic analysis, I didn’t want to dissect the stories.”
Despite the challenges, the Fishing Lake Métis settlement, along with Poitras Pratt, has produced 19 digital works, with more yet to come.