Johnathon Cruickshank

Working at More Than Words, and its sister project Networks for Change, over the past few months has been a truly affecting and illuminating experience. I was first drawn to the internship after coming across an excerpt of researcher Eve Tuck’s publication concerning “damage-centered” narratives in Indigenous-focused research on the More Than Words website. After working on the project for only a short amount of time, I knew that everyone involved not only held the principles of positive, non-exploitative, and community-focused research in the highest regard, but practiced these principles as well. This was beyond encouraging considering the historically uneasy relationship between research and Indigenous communities. I was also taken by the arts-based approach that emphasized how youth could not just be a part of the project, but be leaders within it.

Decolonizing methodologies are sure to play an important role in both my personal and professional perspectives as I move forward into my career. My time at the Participatory Cultures Lab has taught me so much about the world of decolonizing research and, most critically, has educated me substantially on how to engage with Indigenous and other marginalized communities respectfully and mindfully in ways that benefit the communities themselves, by far the most indispensable part of the process. In the future, I hope to work in the legal profession, whether it be further work in research or actual litigation. In particular, focusing on Indigenous rights and sovereignty issues as they pertain to the Canadian legal paradigm. The knowledge I have gained thanks to my time with the More Than Words project will continue to shape and inform my efforts to decolonize my mindset and fight for Indigenous rights alongside communities.

Oftentimes, whether it be in our academic disciplines or simply our daily lives, we are asked to stop and reflect on what it means to live in and benefit from systems of settler colonialism. In these reflections, we can look to the future and imagine a world in which we are all able to enact meaningful change in the lives of those who are marginalized by these systems. At More Than Words, I feel we are given a glimpse of what this future looks like. No longer will young women and girls be pushed aside. The future is girl-led. The future respects Indigenous sovereignty and authority. The future includes and benefits all. I am grateful to have been a part of a project that understands and advocates this.

After working with Networks for Change and Well-Being over the summer I have found that this work has introduced a new lens into how I unpack research, activism, as well as ground-up policy work. Working with the incredible women and girls from both South Africa and Indigenous communities in Canada was able to provide a personal perspective into the impacts of colonization and gender-based violence. So much of the time when colonization is spoken about it is paired with the broader perspective and blurs together all lived experiences, taking away from the individual history and present experience. Working with Networks for Change was able to have a two-pronged approach that addressed both the larger picture and the connectedness of the issue in how it related to gender inequities, but as well the specific impacts on the communities we had the privilege to work with. I believe this combination between large and small scale is an aspect that should be transferred into decolonizing methods more broadly.

Moreover, the participatory methods and approaches used in the arts-based initiatives created a more accessible platform allowing for everyone to participate regardless of age and ability. When looking at other studies and work, a lot of the time the methods focus more on empirical data and policies, which can reduce the accessibility of the study being done. However, Networks for Change was able to have arts-based initiatives that were able to not only collect profound material, but connect communities that have similar lived experiences and aid in the empowerment of women and girls. Through having a continuous effort to empower women and allow them to lead, the work being done has immediate positive impacts on the communities, which is substantial as so many policies passed have delays in their benefits. This idea is incredibly valuable to translate over into future work and studies, both in terms of accessibility and timeline of impact. In future work, I believe this combination between arts-based initiatives and collection of data will allow for high accessibility and an ability to work with a younger population and tackle complex issues in a manner where the information is easily digestible for the participants involved.

Beyond the skills I gained from working with Networks for Change, I found the perspective it provided me with will benefit my future studies and work. In future studies the constant application of how to aid in decolonization, as an integral part of the study and not as an afterthought is essential. As well, when conducting a study, ensuring that the participants are leading the initiatives and having myself be the foundation of the project, leading from behind to allow for their voices and perspective to sculpt the work. I more than value my experience with Networks for Change and for all of the incredible people I was able to meet and have the privilege to work with, as well as the valuable skills I was able to gain and the ability to expand my perspective in both work and life.