Inclusive technical writing with Dr. Cana Uluak Itchuaqiyaq
Inclusive technical writing with Dr. Cana Uluak Itchuaqiyaq
Also details on the Tempo Conference where I'll be doing a talk. Discount code in the article
Did you know that technical writing is all around us?
From manuals, recipes, to tribal codified values, they have served as guides and instructions about how to live our lives for ages.
But what would you do if instructional design didn't apply to you? How do you ensure that all voices are heard, included, and valued?
To help with that, listen to this episode as Dr. Cana Uluak Itchuaqiyaq shares how to challenge the status quo and be inclusive through socially-just technical writing and equitable research that's relevant to your life and community.
"I think that really starts with you as the writer and understanding number one thinking through your own positionality and privilege, right? And how that affects your worldview, therefore your writing, and what you might value, what you might think is normal, what you might think isn't normal, and how that might change in different circumstances. And also how your positionality and privilege really afford you a certain power. And, as a technical communicator, or as a designer in your sphere of influence and what you are doing as a professional, you have certain affordances, right? A margin of maneuverability, and I'm using these terms that come from scholars in my field, Rebecca Walton, Natasha Jones, and Kristen Moore, but I just want to give them a shout-out."
About the Guest:
Dr. Cana Uluak Itchuaqiyaq (she/they) is an Iñupiaq scholar and member of the Noorvik Native Community in Northwest Alaska.
As an assistant professor of professional and technical writing at Virginia Tech, Cana's research integrates humanities and environmental sciences to support culturally appropriate environmental justice work.
Her expertise includes developing effective methods, protocols, partnerships, and programs that support community-driven and community-led environmental justice action in marginalized communities.
As the academic project lead for the Rematriation Project, she aims to create capacity and access for digital archiving of Inuit cultural, tribal, and scientific knowledges and history, which are led by Inuit; assist tribal communities in developing solutions to their own self-determinated needs, such as climate change, by developing culturally-appropriate localized approaches and solutions.
Connect with Dr. Cana Uluak Itchuaqiyaq:
Website: https://www.itchuaqiyaq.com/about-me
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=8Q2aqIEAAAAJ&hl=en
Timestamps
(02:03) - Foraging as a hobby versus as a way of life and using technology to identify and classify plant life for decoloniality
(08:22) - Icebreaker: How to grow as a musician while playing the piano on a budget
(11:13) - Icebreaker: Value labels and stigma of body parts and the implications of having rules around what can and cannot be talked about
(17:09) - Learning while traveling from Northwest Alaska to Chile and back to Idaho
(21:15) - The most important role of an elder, the difference between Cana's culture and Western aging, and why she abstained from centering her community in her dissertation research
(25:50) - Technical writing and how it shows up in our daily lives
(30:49) - What counts as writing, how it impacts society, and how to make it socially just
(34:28) - How her passion, experience, and background played a role in pushing against academia status quo and her advice for folks who are trying to be more inclusive but aren't represented or maybe represented for the first time
(38:13) - Her ongoing projects and 3 ways you can access her publications
Resources:
Learn more about the resources, podcasts, and community. https://www.technicallyspeakinghw.com
Support the Technically Speaking podcast by becoming a patron. Get early access to episodes and free swags by becoming a supporter. https://www.patreon.com/technicallyspeakinghw?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator
Access the Glossary here: https://www.technicallyspeakinghw.com/resources/glossary
Buy merch here: https://www.technicallyspeakinghw.com/shop
Access Dr. Itchuaqiyaq's publications: https://www.itchuaqiyaq.com/contact
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=8Q2aqIEAAAAJ&hl=en\
Read about Rebecca Walton, Natasha Jones, and Kristen Moore's work: https://www.amazon.com/Technical-Communication-After-Social-Justice/dp/0367188465?ref=d6k_applink_bb_dls&dplnkId=47d9ac6d-3403-42e9-b2df-5874f9184c13
Connect With Me:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TechnicallySpeakingHW/featured
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hmwheeler/
Tempo conference
Excited to announce I'll be presenting at Tempo Conference in NY this spring. Whether you’re a new leader of content, have ambitions to lead, or a more experienced leader, this intimate and inclusive hybrid conference is for you. Below are the details of my talk and the event along with a discount.
The Narrative Thread: Connecting People, Ideas, and Design in Your Organization
2023 has started off as an eventful year. With remote and hybrid work, high-functioning organizations are facing more disconnection and noise than ever before. In this talk, I will discuss the importance of aligning on narrative, from individual contributors to organizational leaders to drive meaningful outcomes for your organization and value to your users.
Details
Location: New York, NY
Dates: May 10 & 11th
Format: In-person / Remote
Discount Code: SPEAKER15