Sample Interview Questions

Make it stand out.

  • Ask leading questions. Start your questions with ‘why’, ‘how’, ‘where’.  Avoid questions that can be answered just ‘yes’ or ‘no’.  

  • Ask one question at a time.

  • Keep your questions concise and brief so the narrator can recall what you asked. Journalists use the “10%” technique, where you should only be talking for 10% of the interview and the other 90% should be the interviewee’s answers.

  • Start with easier questions like the narrator’s youth and background.

  • Go with the flow! You don’t need to follow your pre-planned questions 100%.

Below are a set of sample topics that you can focus your interview around. Note that these are just rough guides, and you can brainstorm other questions.

Sample Topic #1
Working with Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers or Cultural Advisors

Prior to the interview, do research on the Indigenous community, territory, cultural traditions, history pre-colonization and post-colonization. Do some research on Elder protocols. Prepare a short summary of what you have learned so you can interact with the interviewee with knowledge and respect. This summary will be useful as you write up your project.

  1. Do you have advice for students who want to get to know about the Indigenous culture in their community?

  2. Have you advice on how a student might work with Elders or knowledge keepers in your community?  

  3. What are the protocols we should know about and follow?  

  4. Is there a good way to introduce oneself?  

  5. Is there a good way to start?

Sample Topic #2
Indigenous Language

Prior to the interview, make sure you have done research on the Indigenous language of the person you are interviewing. You can find the traditional language of nearly all of North America on the Native Land website (LINK). Prepare a short summary of what you have learned so you can interact with knowledge and respect with the interviewee. This summary will be useful as you write up your project. 

  1. Tell me about your language?  

  2. What is the territory of your language? 

  3. Are you a speaker of your language?

  4. Where do you and others learn your language?

  5. Where can I find out more information on your language?

  6. How did you get into language revitalization? 

  7. Why do you think language is important? 

  8. Ask how to pronounce words or phrases in the Indigenous language of your Interviewee.

  9. Pick out the words you want to learn: place names, how to say hello/ goodbye.

Sample Topic #3:
Territory and Sovereignty

Prior to the interview, make sure you have done research on your interviewee’s First Nation’s history of the fight for territory recognition. Prepare a short summary of what you have learned so you can interact with knowledge and respect with the interviewee. This summary will be useful as you write up your project. 

  1. Can you describe the extent of your territory for me? 

  2. Can you tell me about some of the places of significance in your territory and why they are important? 

  3. Can you tell me about important figures in the history of your community who fought for rights and title?

  4. Can you tell me about the history of your people in seeking rights and title/treaty? 

  5. Why do you think it is important?

Sample Topic #4:
Truth and Reconciliation

Prior to the interview, make sure you have done research on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Calls to Action. Also, do research on the First Nation that the person you are interviewing belongs to. For instance, you can look into the history of the Residential School that their kids were sent to, or look into the history of their band since 1842 and how colonialism affected their traditional way of living, population, etc. Prepare a short summary of what you have learned so you can interact with knowledge and respect with the interviewee. This summary will be useful as you write up your project.  

  1. Tell me what Truth and Reconciliation means to you?

  2. Can you give me some examples of important truths that Canadians need to know?

  3. Why is truth important? 

  4. Why is reconciliation important?

  5. What are some things non-Indigenous Canadians can do towards reconciliation? 

  6. Do you have any examples of positive actions towards reconciliation that you can share with me?

Sample Topic #5:
Interviewing an Artist

Prior to the interview, research the artist and their work. Find out as much as you can about them and prepare a short summary of what you have learned so you can interact with knowledge and respect with the interviewee. This summary will be useful as you write up your project.

  1. Tell me how you got into doing your art? 

  2. Tell me about what has influenced you? 

  3. What mediums do you work in?  

  4. What inspires you to continue your work? 

  5. Can you talk about the Indigenous forms in your art? Perhaps tell me about a specific piece? 

  6. Can you tell me where someone could go to see your work?

Sample Topic #6:
Indigenous Ways of Learning and Knowing

Prior to the interview, research the idea of Indigenous ways of learning and knowing. Find out as much as you can about this topic and prepare a short summary of what you have learned so you can interact with knowledge and respect with the interviewee. This summary will be useful as you write up your project.

  1. What do you think is meant by Indigenous ways of learning? 

  2. How is it different than Western ways of learning? 

  3. Can you give me an example of Indigenous way of learning something? 

  4. Why do you think this is important? 

  5. Do you think that Indigenous ways of learning should be incorporated into western curriculum? 

  6. Have you any advice for students and teachers on how to incorporate indigenous ways of learning into their own learning/ education?