National Indigenous History Month (NIHM) is a great time to explore historical research by and about Indigenous people, and ShekonNeechie.ca is one place where those who wish to learn about the past can do so alongside working Indigenous historical scholars.
Shekon Neechie: An Indigenous History Site is a website created in 2018 by seven Indigenous historical scholars, including UWinnipeg’s Dr. Mary Jane McCallum, Professor of History and Canada Research Chair in Indigenous People, History and Archives. Dr. McCallum is also a member of the site’s editorial board.
The website’s name is derived from the Mohawk word for hello, shekon (pronounced say-go) and the Cree and Ojibwe word for friend, Neechie.
Historians, teachers, students, researchers, and general readers can read and listen to Indigenous histories on the website, which includes podcasts, capsule biographies, videos, bibliographies, reviews, and news stories. There is even a blog on the origins of Indigenous History Month.
Websites like Shekon Neechie are helping to counteract historical narratives of Canada that are rooted in colonialism and Eurocentrism and exclude or marginalize Indigenous people.
“For many years, non-Indigenous people were seen as the natural experts of our history,” Dr. McCallum said. “In fact, many even within universities in Canada are under the assumption that there are no Indigenous historians and that Indigenous historical research is ‘niche.’”
Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. That’s why every year during NIHM, Shekon Neechie shares biographies of Indigenous historians. This month, the site will add 10 more to its growing network.
Each historian biography includes a short biography, contact information, and a bibliography of recent work that focuses on accessible, teachable material including books, publications, presentations, and blogs.
Shekon Neechie will post a biography or a short archive-based essay by a member of the editorial board each weekday in June in honour of NIHM.
“Since we initiated the website on National Indigenous Peoples Day 2018, Shekon Neechie has also co-hosted two gatherings of Indigenous historians with Te Pouhere Kōrero, a collective of Māori historical scholars,” Dr. McCallum said. “Gathering with other Indigenous scholars supports a broader reflection on what matters to us as historians, and how, why, and where we undertake our research in history. It’s also a great chance to share our scholarship and plan strategically.”
Later this month, Shekon Neechie will host its third joint gathering in Oklahoma City in association with the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association.
To learn more about Indigenous history and the research of Indigenous historical scholars, bookmark ShekonNeechie.ca and follow its Facebook, X, and YouTube feeds.
