Abstract:
Driven and drawn to the intersection of knowledges pertaining to meaning making
this dissertation seeks to articulate storytelling as an Indigenous practice towards
transformational change. As a manifestation of Indigenous ways of being, knowing and
doing, storytelling is a specific method in which lived experiences can be recovered,
understood, and sustained in meaningful ways. Contributing to the literature on
Indigenous methodologies paved by decolonial and Indigenous academics this
dissertation posits that storytelling invites the researcher to critically review the methods
used within colonial institutions such as the University. This is particularly important when
considering lived experiences that reflect the interconnectedness of place, objects,
people, and the spiritual domain. Using mainstream definitions and representations of
homelessness as a case for operationalizing this form of methodology; (re)defining the
elements of stories most relevant to understanding homelessness allows us to appreciate
more fully the complexity, rather than individuality of lived experience. Storytelling
unpacks relationships as both a means and destination, providing the context to
understanding connected agents in a holistic manner. Importantly, Indigenous storytelling
is not a new phenomenon. Rather, it reflects a practice of meaning making that has
unfolded since time immemorial. As scholars, we must critically reflect on our own
knowledge-building ecologies, considering more deeply the transformative qualities of
storytelling.
