‘Thinking differently’: an interview with Claire Johnston about Métis understandings of autism

Claire Johnston and Patty Douglas

Chapter 14 in Disability in a Turbulent Era, 2026, pp 166-176 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: In this chapter, researcher Patty Douglas interviewed Red River Métis artist Claire Johnston, and they have a conversation about family stories, beadwork and Métis understandings of autism. Through Métis culture, Claire identifies as ‘a person who thinks differently’ (no deficit). This means relating to the world and to other people in ways that are considered different than what is constructed as ‘normal’ by psychologists, doctors and teachers. These differences have often been called ‘bad’, ‘disordered’ or ‘abnormal’ and examples of this are increasing right now. Claire talks with Patty about growing up in a settler and Métis family that ‘thinks differently’ (e.g., resists the norm), tells stories and creates and crafts beautiful things. She describes how Métis culture values what is colonially known as autism as one kind of diversity that our world needs. This is an important perspective to pay attention to in a time when autistic people are being devalued, and rights are being lost. We also include a video about relating to the world differently than what is considered ‘normal’ made by Claire on Patty's storytelling project.

Keywords: ‘Person who thinks differently’; Autism; Storytelling; Métis beadwork; Relational ontology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035347247
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