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In:Storytelling, Identity Formation, and Resistance in Indigenous Cultures in Canada and the United States
Edited by Kamelia Talebian Sedehi
[Studies in Narrative 28] 2025
► pp. 150–169

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Chapter 8
Indigenous living traditions as institutionalized practices in urban Native organizations

 | Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla in Puebla | Mount Allison University
 | St. Francis Xavier University
Published online: 2 September 2025
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https://doi.org/10.1075/sin.28.08man
Abstract
In order to understand the complexity of the term Indigenous traditions from grassroots perspectives we propose the need to look at them as lived experiences, not frozen in time but responding to contemporary needs. Consequently we look at how, in Canadian urban centers, Indigenous traditions are living experiences that contribute to Indigenous identity revival. Indigenous cultures are strong and vibrant in vindicating their traditions and identity albeit, with new meanings and interpretations. Here we illustrate how Native organizations, through the work of their Indigenous leaders, Elders and key community members guide the process of institutionalizing Indigenous traditions in urban areas (specifically in Southern Ontario). This in turn, contributes to a greater extent, to understand Indigenous identity revival in urbanized contexts. By using the term Indigenous traditions we acknowledge the terminology employed by academia and some Native organizations in as much to refer to traditions and teachings practiced and learned as a lived experience. Our analysis is based from the fieldwork conducted by Manzano-Munguía from 2005 to 2008 in London, Ontario (see for details Manzano-Munguía, 2009). It included semi-structured interviews among and between Indigenous people residing in urban centers (n = 10), as well as participant observation during different gatherings in urban Native organizations.
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Conceptualizing traditions
  • Traditions as lived experience
  • Mother Earth
  • Indigenous living traditions as institutionalized practices
  • Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
References (70)
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