This week I read an inspiring research article about passing down stories of Indigenous people through the use of digital storytelling. Thirteen Elders of a First Nations community in Canada worked with thirty-one 6th and 7th graders to share their stories and knowledge. The importance of this project spans much wider than these students earning a letter grade or completing the assignment.
The project was called Lha'hutit'en, meaning "we work together, we help one another," (p.3). The Elders of this First Nations community speak Dakelh, also known as Carrier language. As the Elders are growing older and passing away, some of their stories are leaving with them. This project aimed to keep the stories alive and in a digital format, so that they can continue to be shared. Most of the stories are not written down, and only shared orally. They tell of the history of the land, community, language, place, and culture.
The 6th and 7th graders worked with the Elders over a six-week period and met for ten sessions. As the stories were relayed, the students then "weaved together the oral story, images, sound, and music to create a short film." The students were the creator and could critically think about how they interpreted the story and wanted to share it with others. In turn, increasing their digital literacy. Using the platform WeVideo, the stories gave the students a greater purpose for being involved in this project. The article mentioned that marginalized voices were given a chance to be heard and students gained a deeper understanding of the culture around them.
This article quickly grabbed my attention at how they were able to bring the community into the classroom and the students created something much bigger than a completing an assignment. The digital stories will have a lasting impact on how those meaningful stories will continue on in history and be shared with others. When working with EL students, they all have their own stories, culture, and family history. Why not celebrate and bring those stories into the classroom? ESL teachers have the opportunity to make all students feel appreciated and welcome by giving them a chance to share their culture in a safe environment. Students can learn from one another and have a greater appreciation for their peers. Their voices can be heard through creating digital stories, on any platform, and the students can learn more about their families through interviews.
What I love most about this project, and the idea of using digital storytelling telling in the ESL classroom, are the connections that come from it. Students can have a sense that they are representing their own families, culture, and language. They can feel proud to be who they are, not matter their first language or the language they are trying to learn.
Hausknecht, S., Freeman, S., Martin, J., Nash, C., & Skinner, K. (2021). Sharing Indigenous Knowledge through intergenerational digital storytelling: Design of a workshop engaging Elders and youth. Educational Gerontology, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2021.1927484