The Sun Dance Movement and Native Nationalism: Unburying the Hatchet

The Sun Dance Movement and Native Nationalism:Unburying the Hatchet By Aleticia K. Silverwood Tijerina

IntroducingHoly Land, Big Mountain • Navajo Nation • Arizona

Research what I know • 15 year Sun Dancer • Embedded • Knew the ‘community’ • Access • Trust

Participant to Researcher • A ‘divide’? • How do I remain ‘authentic’ – a Sun Dancer, yet, a researcher? • How do I practice ethical research methods in my own religious community?

Science of research Qualitative research methods Designed my questions Piloted the entire research project back ‘home’ in my ethnic community Heart of the community Protect the knowledge that needed to be protected Gain the knowledge that would be gifted to me Challenges

Participant-Researcher • Belonged to a community that had ‘shared’ knowledge – • ancestral knowledge passed down from generation to generation • Identify ‘leaders’ and wisdom keepers who would work along side me • whose role was to protect certain knowledges

(re)Design a Research Project • Included the Sun Dance community • Leaders • Wisdom keepers • Elders; Chiefs; subChiefs

Participatory Research Design That honored, respected and protected scared knowledge

My Successes • 2 year pilot project • 4 year field research • Council of Chiefs • Linguistic [Navajo and Lakota] • Cultural protocols • Gift giving • Reciprocity

Indigenous Perspectives • Findings included Indigenous perspectives • Voice of ‘the people’ • Utilized Indigenous knowledge system (IKS) paradigm • Unearthing meaning, while respecting some knowledge as ‘belonging to the community’ and not to be shared with others • Local knowledge and nuances particular to the religious group • Source of ‘thick’ or rich data

The Sun Dance Movement and Native Nationalism: Unburying the Hatchet