(Re)connecting and (re)vitalizing: Métis identity and conceptualization of self
Date
2025
Authors
Williams, Kennedy
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Abstract
This thesis explores the complex and deeply personal journey of (re)claiming and understanding Métis identity through genealogy, storytelling, and autoethnographic inquiry. In order to examine my lived experience as a white-passing, cisgender woman raised with stories of Métis ancestry but without tangible documentation, I investigated the nuances of identity politics, family silence, and cultural disconnection. Conducted in the MA program in child, youth, family and community studies at the University of Victoria, my research responds to both personal uncertainty and the broader systemic challenges faced by Métis youth navigating questions of identity, heritage, and belonging. My methodology consisted of critical family history and genealogy, adapted autoethnographic methods, and a kitchen table storytelling approach rooted in decolonial, intersectional, and critical race theories. With the support of family, a Métis Elder, and her husband who conducts Métis genealogy, I engaged in genealogical research and cultural reflection, and I documented my efforts to trace my lineage and examine the gaps, contradictions, and revelations in my family narratives.
Another important focus of this research was to respond to the challenges commonly faced by urban Indigenous youth who are disconnected from their communities. My findings offer recommendations for practitioners working with children, youth, and families to support young people in reconnecting with their roots and histories. By centering my personal narrative within broader sociopolitical contexts, my recommendations contribute to complexifying ongoing conversations around Métis identity, Indigenous resurgence, and the roles of practitioners in navigating these tensions.
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Keywords
Child and youth care, Métis, Indigenous, Reconnecting, Revitalizing, Genealogy, Praxis, Front line practice, Family history, Identity, Urban, Decolonization, Self, Storytelling