Dynamic Nature of Positionality: How my Positionality has Changed Through Experience

Abstract

As an individual of mixed Métis and European descent, growing up and working/studying in a colonial system, I often reflect on how my biases, perspectives, and identity impact my research in Indigenous health promotion. I am aware that my position of privilege may unintentionally marginalize and disempower others. However, I also acknowledge that my connection to my Métis family and community has given me insights into the perceptions and worldview of Indigenous communities in Canada. In this paper, I explore the dual nature of my position and how it is challenged and shaped through my work with the Kahnawà:ke School Diabetes Prevention Program, Indigenous health promotion leaders, and interactions with Indigenous community members. I discuss how my cultural and personal backgrounds, influenced by my Métis and European heritage, are both questioned and reinforced in these experiences, leading to a deeper connection with my family and community. By considering my positionality, I discuss how it both contributes and poses challenges to the research process in Indigenous health promotion contexts.