Abstract

This research explores the process of intergenerational healing through the reconnection with family stories, with a focus on working alongside my own family, particularly with my totà (grandparent). Using storywork as the primary methodology, the study involves methods such as conversations, place-based reconnection and reflective journaling. Conversational methods fostered a relational space for family members to share, exchange and co-create narratives, while place-based reconnection involved visiting significant ancestral lands to ground these stories in physical and cultural contexts. Reflective journaling offered a space for me to document my insights, analyze experiences and engage in self-reflection as part of my own healing journey.

The research delves into the impacts of colonial legacies, particularly residential and day schools, which have caused intergenerational trauma and cultural disconnections. Through a deeply personal lens, this research demonstrates that reconnecting with family stories honors past generations and empowers current and future ones to engage in cultural continuity, to strengthen familial bonds and to heal from intergenerational trauma. This research highlights how stories bridge the past, present and future, providing both individual and collective pathways toward resilience and identity strengthening, while also being guided by and grounded in relational principles. Throughout I draw on Kanien’kehá notions of karihwakwenienstáhtshera (respect), iaoterihwaienni (responsibility), tetewatatawíhon (reciprocity), iorihowá:nen ne onkwaio'ténhsera (reverence), tewake'nikonhrahsa'áhton (holism), ska'nikonra (synergy) and interrelatedness to reflect upon my family’s story.