View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by SHAREOK repository UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA GRADUATE COLLEGE NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH EXPLORING AND EXPRESSING WHO THEY ARE THROUGH DIGITAL STORYTELLING A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE FACULTY in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY By Melissa Rule Wicker Norman, Oklahoma 2020 NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH EXPLORING AND EXPRESSING WHO THEY ARE THROUGH DIGITAL STORYTELLING A DISSERTATION APPROVED FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP AND ACADEMIC CURRICULUM BY THE COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF Dr. Jiening Ruan, Chair Dr. Lawrence Baines Dr. Priscilla Griffith Dr. Crag Hill Dr. Rockey Robbins © Copyright by MELISSA RULE WICKER 2020 All Rights Reserved iv Table of Contents Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... iv Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... vii List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... viii List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ ix Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 Problem Statement ...................................................................................................................... 2 Background ................................................................................................................................. 5 Purpose and Research Question .................................................................................................. 7 Definitions of Key Concepts and Terms ..................................................................................... 8 Significance of Study ................................................................................................................ 11 Limitations of Study ................................................................................................................. 15 Organization of Dissertation ..................................................................................................... 15 Chapter 2: Review of the Literature.............................................................................................. 17 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 17 Settler Colonialism................................................................................................................ 17 Indigenous Identity ............................................................................................................... 20 Stories of Indigenous Identities ............................................................................................ 26 Schooling of Indigenous Peoples .......................................................................................... 32 Educative Practices ............................................................................................................... 37 Theoretical Perspectives ........................................................................................................... 48 Critical Literacy .................................................................................................................... 48 Identity .................................................................................................................................. 51 v Multimodal Literacy ............................................................................................................. 56 Tribal Critical Race Theory .................................................................................................. 58 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 59 Chapter 3: Methodology ............................................................................................................... 61 Research Design........................................................................................................................ 61 Participants ............................................................................................................................ 63 After-School Program ........................................................................................................... 64 Data Collection ..................................................................................................................... 69 Data Analysis ........................................................................................................................ 74 Trustworthiness ......................................................................................................................... 77 Subjectivity ............................................................................................................................... 78 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 79 Chapter 4: Findings ....................................................................................................................... 81 Participant Profiles .................................................................................................................... 81 Bella ...................................................................................................................................... 81 Evpayv .................................................................................................................................. 85 Sarah ..................................................................................................................................... 86 Anna ...................................................................................................................................... 88 River ...................................................................................................................................... 91 Themes ...................................................................................................................................... 92 Engaging in the Process ........................................................................................................ 93 Exploring and Solidifying Personal Identity......................................................................... 96 Discovering Personal Strength through Reflection............................................................. 121 vi Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 125 Chapter 5: Interpretations, Implications, and Recommendations ............................................... 127 Interpretation of the Findings.................................................................................................. 127 Drawing on Indigenous Knowledges and Literacies .......................................................... 127 Enacting Agency and Voice................................................................................................ 129 Exercising Sovereignty and Self-Determination ................................................................ 131 Implications............................................................................................................................. 132 Future Research ...................................................................................................................... 134 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 136 References ................................................................................................................................... 137 Appendix A ................................................................................................................................. 160 Appendix B ................................................................................................................................. 161 Appendix C ................................................................................................................................. 162 Appendix D ................................................................................................................................. 164 Appendix E ................................................................................................................................. 166 vii Abstract This holistic single-case study aims to understand the impact of digital storytelling on the identity development of Native American youth. The question that guides the study asks, “How do Native American adolescents in a rural, tribal-run after-school program for Indigenous youth explore and express who they are through digital storytelling?” Five Indigenous youth enrolled in the tribal-run program participated in the study, and they completed a digital storytelling project that contains multiple components and interviews. Data sources