My Project
I’m still not exactly sure what I’m going to do for my portfolio project. I’m writing this blog to try and sort through my ideas. The things that stick out to me so far are Thomas King’s writings, my own identity, scholarly versus artistic works, this “Native quality” that I’ve come across in writings and can’t explain, and the IAP/CEP programs. None of these things seem to go together!
I was originally thinking of researching Indigenous ways of teaching, and how they’ve changed because of residential schools. But my readings took me in another direction.
I was going to look at how residential schools affected identity and worldview, but my journals made me question my own identity so much. I’ve revealed through my journals this crazy internal conflict I have. I’m a Status Indian. I’m white-skinned. I was raised “Western”. I feel a stronger connection to my Native family than to my white family. I don’t know my family’s heritage language. Neither does my grandma, but she’s definitely an ‘Indian”. I have so many advantages because of my Status card, and I use those advatages, but I feel guilty every time I do! My kids won’t have Status. My Dad went to residential school.
So not only am I trying to work through this conflict, I’m also trying to broaden my understanding of why I think the way I think. The journalling is a really great tool, I’m finding, but I’m coming up with way more questions than I am answers.
So maybe one of my projects should be something personal. And maybe one can have something to do with residential schools because I have such an interest in promoting knowledge about IRSs. And maybe I can do a little project on Thomas King, or even just keep reading as much stuff of his as I can find.
This helped.
Wow, I can only imagine the kind of dissonance that you are feeling about your status versus the treatment of yours and other families in the residential schools. However, do you feel any sense of entitlement for the benefits your status gets you? Some people worked so hard to get the people that deserved it those benefits. I was just wondering what makes you think that you should feel guilty for using what you are entitled to?
p.s. I do realize that it is a very complicated issue and I don’t mean to pry or suggest that you take advantage of your card in a negative way, but just how all of us are our own worst critic, I just mean to suggest that maybe you are being a bit hard on yourself over circumstances.
Hi Sarah- Wow, you definitely have a lot of great ideas. You may wish to look in the Portfolio Ideas folder under What To Do in our Blackboard environment. There you will find a number of ideas you might find useful for addressing some of the topics you are considering. Remember, you are not limited to what you can put into your portfolio. The project is only one option, so please don’t discard any thoughts or topics which seemingly do not “fit.” (Glad you found writing on your blog helpful.) Tracy
Reflecting on personal experience, I’ve found, can be a solid place to start any project with passion. I concur with your feelings of “I’m not exactly sure…” – this too has troubled me. I think I’ll go blog now – thanks for the inspiration!