Abstract

This heuristic inquiry explored a music therapist’s reflection on her Métis heritage and it’s professional implications. The first five stages of Moustakas’ heuristic inquiry were used as the framework to guide the research. Data was gathered over a five-month period through reflections in the researcher’s personal journal and audio recordings of her referential improvisations. Data analysis involved using Neuman’s coding method (2003) to organize the raw data that emerged from her journal and audio recordings. The results section revealed that two main themes emerged from the data analysis, her thoughts around her Métis ancestral heritage and her identity as a musician. Personal, clinical and research implications are presented and discussed.