© koninklijke brill nv, leiden, 2021 | doi: 10.1163/9789004447820_016 CHAPTER 16 Txeemsim Bends the Box to Bring New Light to Working with Indigenous Methodologies Amy Parent 1 Introduction Indigenous methodologies are creating trailblazing new pathways for Indige- nous peoples to utilize higher education as a vehicle for self-determination in a global context. As such, Indigenous methodologies support Indigenous Peo- ples’ complex history with colonial institutions by powerfully “talking back” (Smith, 1999) to the historical and ongoing forms of settler colonial violence, racism, and power structures in the university. In doing so, they also ensure that Indigenous research is grounded in the specific meanings, places, traditions, knowledge systems, communities and relationships from which they arise. In this chapter, I focus on the methodological aspects of my doctoral research by sharing how I created a bentwood box research design utilizing storywork methodology. I also weave together research stories with a now familiar friend, Txeemsim (the trickster). My overall research project focused on high school to university transitions for Indigenous youth at four research-intensive univer- sities in British Columbia, Canada. My methods were wholistic and included: the creation of an Aboriginal guidance committee; open-ended in-depth inter- views with Aboriginal youth attending Aboriginal Early University Initiatives (AEUPI) and Aboriginal University Transition Programs (AUTP); interviews with staff from an AEUPI or AUTP; an interview with Delgamuux; an analysis Canadian university websites; and, a photo journal. This chapter stems from a dissertation that is the original, intellectual prod- uct of the author. The findings reported in the dissertation are covered by UBC Ethics Certificate number H12-0113. The UB C Ethics of Certificate includes site approvals at each of the various universities and Aboriginal Early University Promotion Initiative and Aboriginal Transition Programs that participated in the study. The digital graphics for this dissertation were done in collaboration with Marissa Nahanee. I have been given copyright permission to use her digi- tal images for my dissertation, publications and presentations stemming from this work. Photos of Earl Muldon’s (Delgamuukw) artwork were taken with permission by Earl Muldon through oral consent. For use by the Author only | © 2021 Koninklijke Brill NV