Indigenizing Transcriptions: Imagining an Oral History Process for Indigenous Knowledge Inclusion

This thesis analyzes the development of oral history scholarship and transcription production through an interdisciplinary context. A common practice within institutional oral history projects involves the transference of recorded oral histories to written records, most commonly referred to as transcriptions. Institutional methods of transcription often resemble transactional and extractive forms of narrative documentation that neglect Indigenous forms of knowledge. In this research, I argue for a reimagined transcription process that prioritizes an Indigenous transcription framework that is collaborative, community-engaged, and culturally responsive. Additionally, this research examines variables and strategies for indigenizing transcription with care and consideration for speakers, Native communities, and Indigenous ways of knowing.