Understanding Autism Through Indigenous Relational Ecologies: A Phenomenographic Exploratory Study With Potawatomi Participants

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Kitchens, J. C. & Wake, D. (2026). Understanding Autism Through Indigenous Relational Ecologies: A Phenomenographic Exploratory Study With Potawatomi Participants. Autism, Article 13623613261470856. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613261470856

Publication date: 12 Aug 2026 Added to AutiHub: 16 Aug 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
Publisher source (DOI) Full text OpenAlex source

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Authors

Publication authors
2
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 2 (50.0%)
  1. Jessica C. Kitchens *
  2. Donna Wake

Abstract

Autism is commonly conceptualized in research, policy, and clinical contexts as an individual condition defined by diagnostic criteria and functional impairment. While these frameworks shape access to services, they often obscure relational, cultural, and contextual meanings of autism, particularly within Indigenous communities. This article reports findings from an exploratory phenomenographic study examining how autism is understood among five Citizen Potawatomi Nation participants. Guided by Indigenous Knowledge Systems, decolonial leadership, relational epistemologies, and a neurodiversity-affirming paradigm, the study examined qualitative variation in meaning-making rather than consensus or generalizability. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Autistic adults, parents of Autistic children, and a tribal Knowledge Keeper. Analysis followed Åkerlind’s interpretive phenomenographic approach, resulting in five categories of description illustrating coexisting understandings of autism: system-managed difference, intergenerational family patterning, natural human variation, relational identity and belonging, and spiritual gift with purpose. These categories were organized into an outcome space reflecting a relational ecology of meaning. Findings demonstrate that autism is understood within Potawatomi contexts through intergenerational continuity, relational belonging, and culturally grounded purpose, challenging deficit-based and universalizing frameworks. The study highlights the value of phenomenography for Indigenous autism research and informs future Nation-engaged, relationally accountable inquiry. Lay Abstract Autism is often described in medical, educational, and policy settings as a problem located within an individual. This study explored how five Citizen Potawatomi Nation participants understand autism, including Autistic adults, parents of Autistic children, and a tribal Knowledge Keeper. Rather than seeking one shared definition, the study examined different ways autism is understood based on lived experience, relationships, and cultural teachings. Participants described autism as shaped by health care and school systems, as a pattern across families and generations, as a natural part of human diversity, as part of identity and belonging, and as a spiritually meaningful difference with cultural purpose. The findings suggest that dominant Western frameworks may miss relational, cultural, and spiritual meanings that matter in Potawatomi contexts. Recognizing these meanings can support respectful research and more responsive approaches to education, health care, and community support.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 27 Oct 2026 01:01.

Cited references
37
With a DOI
26
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
11
12 / 37 (32.4%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
4 / 37 (10.8%)
References with detected author names
33 / 37 (89.2%)
Without detected author names
4
Without a structured title
4
Without a stable identifier
10
References with raw author names still to review
0
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
87
From DOI or external metadata
87
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
4
40 / 87 (46.0%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 47 / 87 (54.0%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
16 / 87 (18.4%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 16 / 40 (40.0%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 12 / 81 (14.8%).
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