The influence of Aboriginal literature on Aboriginal students’ resilience at the University of Saskatchewan

Abstract

Indigenizing the Academy is currently an aim of the University of Saskatchewan as the amount of Aboriginal students enrolling at the university is increasing each year.  This position paper argues that increasingly including and valuing Aboriginal literature in university pedagogies may serve to create a university environment that better accommodates Aboriginal students. Aboriginal literature serves notable functions for all university students, as it teaches both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students about Aboriginal worldviews, history, and perspectives.  Aboriginal literature helps students in three ways: it initiates healthy ways of coping with their struggles, increases their engagement in university learning, and leads to their personal growth and transformation while in university.  Reading Aboriginal literature in the form of poetry, short stories, novels, or drama taps into their resilient nature of Aboriginal students and has the power to change their perceptions of their capabilities of succeeding in education.

e-kwe-iyiniwastacik kihci-kiskinwahamâtowikamikohk ôta University of Saskatchewan osâm tâk-ayiwâk e-âti-mîceticik iyiniwak e-pe-kiskinwahamâkosicik. ôma masinahikanis e-tastew nawac ta-miywâsin iyiniwasinahikana ka-âpacihta osâm ôma ka-ati-mîciticik. mistahi pakwâwiyak e-miywâsiniyek kôhtinamâsiw. ka-kiskinwamâsiwak miyo-wîcihtowin ekwa mîna ka-nanistohtâtowak. ôma masinahikanis kâ-masinahâkik, nikotwasik ôki iyiniw-kiskinwamâkanak e-kî-kwecimecik tânisi e-isi-sâpostohtecik ekwa e-isi-ohpinikocik ôma ka-âhkam-kiskinwamakosicik. ohi mîna ka-ayamihtâcik tahto-iyiniwasinahikana   mistahi wîcihkowak kîyâm âhta ka-ayamaniyek, kiyâpic sâposkamok.