This website shares the main ideas from my capstone research in plain language. The study explored how contemporary Indigenous picture books in Canada represent cultural identity, belonging, and resilience through both words and illustrations. It also considers how stories can communicate relationships, cultural continuity, and connections to family, community, and land in ways that are meaningful for young readers (Archibald, 2008; Stagg Peterson & Robinson, 2020).
Explore the findingsThis capstone study examined fifteen Indigenous children’s picture books published in Canada since 2000. Using qualitative document analysis and reflexive thematic analysis, the study explored how these books represent cultural identity and resilience through themes, narratives, characters, and illustrations. The project was guided by Indigenous Storywork as a framework for understanding stories as relational, culturally grounded, and connected to teachings about identity, responsibility, and belonging (Archibald, 2008).
The project examined how Indigenous children’s picture books published in Canada since 2000 represent cultural identity and resilience in ways that are meaningful for young readers. It paid particular attention to how identity is shaped through relationships, cultural continuity, and connection to land and community.
The research used qualitative document analysis and reflexive thematic analysis to examine both written narratives and illustrations across a selected group of picture books. This approach made it possible to look at how visual and verbal elements work together to communicate meaning (Bowen, 2009; Braun & Clarke, 2021).
Four key patterns appeared across the study. These ideas are introduced briefly here and explored in more detail on the findings page. Together, they suggest that identity and resilience in these books are usually represented as relational, culturally grounded, and embedded in everyday life rather than as purely individual traits.
Identity is often represented through family, Elders, community, and connection to land, rather than as something purely individual. These relationships help shape children’s sense of belonging and place.
Resilience is often shown through love, care, memory, storytelling, and cultural continuity in everyday experiences. In many of the books, strength is expressed through ordinary moments of connection and cultural practice.
Children are shown learning, participating, remembering, and carrying culture forward in active ways. They are not simply observers, but important participants in relationships and cultural continuity.
The visual elements of the books help communicate emotion, relationship, place, and cultural meaning alongside the written text. Images often deepen the story and support children’s understanding of identity and belonging.
These findings highlight the importance of selecting culturally authentic picture books that reflect Indigenous worldviews. Such books can support children’s identity development, relationships, and understanding of culture in meaningful ways. They can also help educators and caregivers think more carefully about how stories support belonging, well-being, and respectful learning (Young et al., 2017).
The study highlights the value of choosing books that reflect relational identity, cultural continuity, and meaningful connections to family, community, and land. These books can support more thoughtful and culturally responsive teaching.
Picture books can support belonging and well-being when they communicate culture through both story and image in respectful, authentic, and engaging ways. They can help children understand that resilience and identity are shaped through relationships and shared experiences.
These books are examples from the study and show how the findings appeared across the dataset. More examples can be included on the selected books page. Together, they show how Indigenous picture books can communicate joy, memory, resilience, relationships, and cultural continuity through both words and illustrations.
Identity & belonging
By Monique Gray Smith, illustrated by Julie Flett.
This book highlights joy, connection, and everyday experiences of belonging.
Resilience & memory
By David A. Robertson, illustrated by Julie Flett.
This story connects memory, intergenerational relationships, and resilience.
Culture & continuity
By David A. Robertson, illustrated by Julie Flett.
This book shows family relationships, memory, and participation in cultural continuity.