Walking Toronto's Red Road: The Story Pathways of Indigenous Social Workers

Abstract: A Long Story Short "The truth about stories is that’s all we are. ‘You can’t understand the world without telling a story,’ the Anishinaabe writer Gerald Vizenor tells us. ‘There isn’t any centre to the world but a story’" (King, 2003, p. 32). Tap. Tap. ‘Is this thing on?’ Clears throat. Pushing his way to the top of the paragraph, he continues, ‘I figure I would try to get to you first.’ Snicker. ‘As this is really all about me, anyways,’ Trickster says, fluttering his eyelashes, resting one hand on his chest. ‘I mean, sure, I suppose we are traveling the story pathways of Indigenous social workers in Toronto,’ he muses, lifting his hand to his chin. ‘But social work in North America is a dynamic tale of oppression and resistance,’ he pauses to think. ‘So, the ten (10) short stories shared here, created with the participants of this research journey, really are a collection of Trickster tales,’ he states, regaining all confidence. ‘And these stories, like Trickster tales, carry good lessons in their disorder,' Trickster says, slapping his knee. Cackle. Snort. Phew. After regaining some composure, he looks up off the page and back towards the reader. Tap. Tap. ‘Storytelling and land are interconnected with each other and to this anti-colonial endeavour’ Trickster says, eyebrow raised. ‘Somewhere between the significance of petroglyphs and carving your name into wet cement, these story landmarks will guide us in a journey through the relationship Indigenous social workers have with their profession,’ he says, slinking his way down the page. ‘Guided by an Indigenous research methodology, we take a journey through story, exploring the pathways Indigenous social workers create through their work,’ Trickster says. ‘Story pathways with some unexpected impacts and destinations, for Indigenous peoples, social work, and research itself,’ he smirks. ‘So, come walk along Toronto’s Red Road, aided by the stories of those who have gone before us, guiding and perhaps even cautioning we future travelers.’ Keywords: Indigenous, Aboriginal, Social Work, Stories, Landmarks, Story Pathways, Anti-Colonial, Research Methodology, Trickster, Toronto

Department dc:contributor.department

Leadership, Higher and Adult Education

Year dc:date.issued

2019

Author dc:creator

• Penak, Nicole

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Restoule, Jean-Paul

• Aboriginal
• Anti-colonial
• Indigenous
• Indigneous Research Methodology
• Social Work
• Storytelling

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1807/97575

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:utoronto.scholaris.ca:1807/97575