"Keep it Sacred!": Indigenous Youth-Led Filmmaking to Advance Critical Race Media Literacy

Abstract

Due to the influence of digital media, today’s educators encounter unique challenges—and possibilities—surrounding efforts to advance civic dialogue and critical literacy. This case study, which focuses on two projects with rural Indigenous communities, describes student-led research and filmmaking as teaching pedagogy and research methodology within formal and informal educational spaces. Findings demonstrate the potential for Indigenous counter-narratives to support place conscious and culturally revitalizing media education; increased learner motivation through student-centered pedagogy, anti-colonial education and civic engagement; and expanded intercultural dialogue and intergenerational understanding. The study offers implications for educators, researchers, and community partners.

Planning Community-Centered Inquiries: (Re)Imagining K-8 Civics Teacher Education With/In Rural and Indigenous Communities

“…To ensure such visibility aligns with the desires of minoritized communities—such as rural and reservation communities—equity education depends upon “implementation of … thoughtful pedagogical design” (Stembridge, 2020, p. 1). Several teacher education programs have initiated partnerships with Indigenous community members to guide such “thoughtful pedagogical design” (Stanton, Hall, & Willeto DeCrane, 2020; Garcia, 2019; Marker, 2015; RedCorn, 2017).…”

From Producing to Reducing Trauma: A Call for “Trauma-Informed” Research(ers) to Interrogate How Schools Harm Students

“…Participatory orientations such as community-based participatory research (CBPR) and youth participatory action research (YPAR) offer valuable models for relational research (Ali & McCarty, 2020;Cammarota & Fine, 2008;Mirra et al, 2016;Northway, 2010;Stanton et al, 2020). Although CBPR is popular within community health and nursing fields, it is less common within educational settings, despite its potential for education research contexts.…”

“We Cause a Ruckus”: Exploring How Indigenous Youth Navigate the Challenges of Community Engagement and Leadership

“…Many of these youth experience complex forms of intergenerational trauma, structural violence, and health as well as social adversities stemming from colonization [ 3 , 4 ], including housing insecurity [ 5 ], food insecurity [ 6 ], and increased risk of substance use [ 7 ], sexual violence [ 8 ], and mental health challenges [ 9 , 10 ]. Alongside research about the socio-structural and political conditions that prevent Indigenous youth from participating equitably in society, there are studies that explore the remarkable knowledge, creativity, and strength-based solutions [ 11 , 12 ] youth possess as they express who they are, contribute to the well-being of their communities, and define their own pathways toward resilience [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ].…”