Sky Woman and Haudenosaunee Oral Histories in Canadian Curriculum

In this chapter, the author addresses the critical place of feminist Indigenous oral histories in history education. Drawing upon autobiographical narratives as a Haudenosaunee woman, the chapter demonstrates the need for learners to sit with creation histories as a possible remedy to colonial, patriarchal approaches to teaching and learning about the past in today’s classrooms. The author posits the value of creation histories as a relevant, personal narrative which can be held in relationship with the present day. Drawing upon interweaving threads from Haudenosaunee Creation history and autobiographical vignettes such as grief, motherhood, and transformation, the chapter illustrates the importance of honouring Indigenous oral histories to challenge the ongoing patriarchal and colonial relegation of Indigenous creation histories as fable, fiction, and dispensable in history education.