Creating Joy: Connecting Your Tribal Background to Your Research Studies

Abstract

Research is personal, as it is something one devotes much time toward. Due to the personal nature of research, one’s identities can be intertwined in this work. Being Indigenous and connecting with my own sense of belonging, I thought it was fitting to use an Indigenous research paradigm from an Anishinaabe perspective to guide my research for my dissertation. Throughout this journey, I found something that created a spark within me that has connected me even closer to my studies, my tribal background, and my work in student affairs. Throughout this reflection, I will walk you through my journey and the process of how I indigenized my research.