The Task

After working through Community Activity 5 (Thursday, July 6th) and Identity Activity 4 (Tuesday, July
11th), you will be asked to reflect and respond to a discussion prompt. You will post your responses to the
discussion forum so your peers may see your ideas. On July 11th you will post your response to both
questions on this document and submit it to the Dropbox.

The Product
1. Complete Community Activity 5 and answer the following questions:

- Why do you think there are no fixed “rules” for Indigenous literary theories?
- Why is it important to distinguish Indigenous literary theory from non-Indigenous theories?
- Theorists like Daniel Heath Justice, Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, and Keavy Martin remind
us that there are different ways of looking at Indigenous literatures. At the same time, they have
some similar approaches to reading Indigenous literature. What connects these theorists?

Indigenous literacy theories do not have a set of "rules" due to the diverse and ever-changing nature of
Indigenous cultures and knowledge systems. Indigenous literary theories are continuously developing to
address the challenges of today's world, including colonialism and cultural regeneration. Their focus is on
repairing Indigenous languages, stories, and knowledge systems. That is why the theories are diverse and
rooted in cultural and historical contexts, making a constant approach unbelievable.

It is important to differentiate between Indigenous literary theory and non-Indigenous theories. This is
required in respecting the cultural contexts of Indigenous communities, engaging colonial heritage,
promoting actual expression, showing meaningful interactions with the Indigenous Peoples, and
recognizing their identities. It is also to strengthen the voices and perspectives of Indigenous people by
showing their literary works and ensuring that they are recognized and respected in the bigger field of
literary theory.

Daniel Heath Justice, Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair, and Keavy Martin are thinkers who are connected
and share a common ideology. As theorists in Indigenous literature, they all aim to increase awareness
and encourage respectful approaches toward this crucial cultural tradition.
Response #1:

2. Complete Identity Activity 4 and answer the following questions:

How does “Story of the Dreamcatcher '' by Xavier Kataquapit, Mushkego Cree, Attawapiskat, First
Nation connect to your definitions of cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation? What are some
ways to avoid cultural appropriation when you tell your story?

Response #2:

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

A1. Exploring Identifies themes and
perspectives in texts, with a
focus on explicit details
Explains themes, ideas and
perspectives in text, with
explicit details as evidence
Analyzes and compares
themes, ideas, and
perspectives in texts, using
explicit and implicit details
as evidence
Analyzes and compares
themes, ideas, and
perspectives in texts, using
details, text features, and
elements of style as evidence

C5. First Identifies contributions to the Explains contributions to the Identifies the social and Analyzes the social and
development of texts and development of texts and cultural influences of cultural influence of
Nations, Métis, representations representations, with contemporary texts and contemporary texts and
and Inuit evidence creators creators, with evidence
Voices in
Contemporary
Media
Literature

C1. Reading for Identifies details in the text Identifies and explains
significant explicit text
Meaning details in the text
*Response 2*
Identifies the bias and
perspective of the text
Makes connections between
the details of the text, and the
development of ideas,
messages, and themes with
specific evidence
Analyzes all text details,
perspective, messages, and
themes, using relevant
evidence to explain their
importance and social
connections to meaning (“so
what”)

D1. Organizes main ideas Organizes supporting details Organizes ideas logically to Relevant and significant
support a particular purpose main ideas and supporting
Developing details are intentionally
and organized to enhance the
Organizing message

Content: