Exploring Academic Journals Related to My Research When I began exploring academic journals, I wasn't entirely sure what I was doing. I have read many research articles throughout my studies, but I never paid much attention to where they came from. This time, I approached it differently. I went to the university library website and typed in search terms such as “Canada,” “Indigenous picture books,” and “literacy.” I noticed a pattern: every article I liked came from a specific journal, and each journal seemed to have its own purpose and community. I followed those trails, reading about their histories, memberships, and submission guidelines. It helped me understand that journals are like homes for ways of thinking and sharing knowledge. Some focus on theory and critique, while others are built around teaching and storytelling. After spending time exploring, I found three journals that felt especially relevant to my work and the type of research I want to contribute. Jeunesse: Young People, Texts, Cultures https://www.arcyp.ca/jeunesse Jeunesse is published by the University of Toronto Press and focuses on stories, media, and creative work made for, by, and about young people. It is international in scope but has a strong Canadian foundation, which I really like. The journal looks at all kinds of cultural expressions connected to youth, including children’s and young adult books, art, film, digital media, and even toys. It is bilingual, publishing in both English and French, which fits well with the diversity of Canada. As I looked through recent issues, I noticed how creative and meaningful the topics are. One issue, called Children and Public Memory explored how children are remembered in history and culture, with articles about museum exhibits and international perspectives. Another issue focused on laughter, including studies about humour in picture books and television shows like The Muppet Show. The range of topics shows how open the journal is to different kinds of research and storytelling. What draws me most to Jeunesse is that it values both critical thinking and imagination. The writing feels connected to real experiences of childhood, not just theory. It makes room for conversations about identity, belonging, and the ways stories shape how children see themselves. My research on Indigenous picture books aligns well with this journal, as it emphasizes the importance of representation. Jeunesse is also linked with the Association for Research in the Cultures of Young People, which builds a sense of community among writers, educators, and scholars. It feels like a place where my work could belong. Canadian Journal of Native Education (CJNE) https://ojs.library.ubc.ca/index.php/CJNE The Canadian Journal of Native Education is published through the University of British Columbia’s First Nations House of Learning. It is one of the most respected journals for Indigenous scholarship in Canada. It began in 1980 to bring together and share the work of Indigenous scholars and educators. For years, it was published twice annually, with one themed issue from UBC and one general issue from the University of Alberta. It has recently been prepared to relaunch as an online open-access journal, which will make it even more accessible to readers and contributors across the country. As I looked through recent volumes, I was struck by how deeply the articles reflect Indigenous knowledge systems and relationships. Scholars such as Q’um Q’um Xiiem, Jo-ann Archibald and Shelly Johnson write about learning from land, water, and community in ways that blend storytelling and research. The writing feels grounded and relational, and it shows that knowledge can live through both story and theory. CJNE is not just an academic journal; it feels like a circle of educators and knowledge keepers sharing what matters most. For my own work, CJNE connects closely to my interest in Indigenous picture books and how they support belonging and identity in children. It is the kind of journal that honours voice, values relationships, and reminds me that publishing can also be a form of community care and teaching. Language & Literacy: A Canadian e-Journal https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/langandlit/index.php/langandlit Language & Literacy is an open-access, peer-reviewed journal published by the University of Alberta and supported by the Language and Literacy Researchers of Canada. It is connected to the Canadian Society for Studies in Education. It publishes two issues each year, with an additional special issue that features papers from the annual Language and Literacy conference. The journal welcomes research from many fields, including education, psychology, sociology, and literacy studies, which makes it a strong multidisciplinary space. What stands out to me about this journal is how it brings research and classroom practice together. The articles often look at how teachers work with language and literacy across different age groups, and how students experience reading, writing, and communication in both English and multilingual contexts. The editorial team, made up of educators and researchers from universities across Canada, focuses on literacy in real classrooms and communities, not only in theory. Their areas of research include multiliteracies, multimodal learning, Indigenous literacy, and early childhood education. I also appreciate that the journal is open access, meaning that anyone can read its work freely. This supports the belief that research should be available to educators, families, and communities, not just scholars. For my own work, Language & Literacy connects directly to how Indigenous picture books can strengthen literacy, language learning, and cultural understanding in Canadian classrooms. It is a space that values both accessibility and meaningful educational practice. My great-grandfather 1941 article published in American Anthropologist.
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