Making space for Indigenous Knowledges: Family, Land, and Ceremonies as a Source of Love

By: Dr. ​Paulina Johnson

I am Dr. Paulina Johnson, Sîpihkokîsikowiskwêw, Blue Sky Woman, Nêhiyaw (Four-Spirit/Plains Cree) and a citizen of Samson Cree Nation from Maskwacîs, Alberta. I have been working in academia for over 13 years, facing a multitude of challenges along the way but thriving despite colonial power structures that keep targeting Indigenous Peoples in Canada. I have remained strong and resilient thanks to my family and the connection to our Land, Ceremony, and Culture.

Early on in my academic career, I questioned my real purpose on this path, originally a space built to perpetuate Western Knowledge over my Indigenous Knowledge. I have come to realize that my life’s goal is to build my legacy for the present and future generations of Indigenous peoples, who were not allowed to connect with their culture as a consequence of residential schools, and are searching for ways to understand who they are and where their community is. Thinking of that struggle, I started the Podcast "The Auntie Is In," where I share the stories of my people, reflections on our struggles, and the joy of being Indigenous. In each episode, I showcase how our connection with our Land and Knowledges makes us strong to keep resilient and constantly adapting, because it is our right to be here.

I work with and for my community. My work reflects their hopes and challenges. A few summers ago, when I was visiting my grandmothers and Elders, they told me stories about one of our lakes, how clean and healthy the water and fish used to be. Considering that Water is our oldest relative and deserves the highest respect, their concern guided me to develop a project that brings together Western and Indigenous Knowledges to better understand the connection of my people with Water. Now, we are four countries working on the importance of Water for Indigenous communities.
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Reflecting on my own journey, I am grateful for the support of my family, ceremonies, Elders, colleagues, and students. I hope that my academic work, fundamentally community-driven and land-focused, can help the world better understand our ways of life, while at the same time, being a call to action to uphold Treaty.

Additional Resources:

• The Auntie Dialogues Volume I: https://socialiststudies.com/index.php/sss/issue/view/1865/1
• The Auntie Dialogues Volume II: https://socialiststudies.com/index.php/sss/issue/view/1866
• The Auntie Dialogues Volume III: https://socialiststudies.com/index.php/sss/issue/view/1869

Paulina Johnson is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Alberta (UofA) and the Co-Research Director for Braiding Knowledges Canada.