News

video: Etuaptmumk - Two-Eyed Seeing   December 05, 2017

Wondering about Etuaptmumk - Two-Eyed Seeing? Watch this video! With sincere thanks to Gillian Austin, PhD Candidate in Indigenous Studies, Trent University.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7GoEnt5EIw&feature=youtu.be

Description provided by Gillian Austin: In this video, Mi’kmaw Knowledge Holders share their stories and diverse perspectives about how they embody Etuaptmumk, the gift of multiple perspectives or two-eyed seeing in their lives, as educators, environmental and health practitioners, and in community-based research. Being grounded in a Mi’kmaw consciousness and following Mi’kmaw ethics have led the way in working with government and other agencies who seek guidance from Mi’kmaq for programs such as the Cape Breton Highlands Moose Management Initiative; research on water health with Pictou Landing First Nation in partnership with Dalhousie University, asking the question, “Are We Getting Sick from Boat Harbour?”; research into how Mi'kmaw children experience pain through an IWK Hospital project and as part of Residential School Survivors Counseling in Eskasoni First Nation, among other initiatives.

Two-eyed seeing offers potential for non-Indigenous/settler/allies/newcomers to Turtle Island and Canada if they are working on initiatives that are led by Indigenous peoples as well as working in alignment and collaboration with Indigenous peoples. Some challenges for co-learning and two-eyed seeing concern balancing asymmetrical power relations and avoiding the domination of Western or Eurocentric Knowledge systems. Co-learning requires reflective action, grounded in practices that centre Indigenous voices and knowledges.

This video was created using a community-based, collaborative, process to reciprocate knowledge shared by Elders Albert and Murdena Marshall by Gillian Austin (Indigenous Studies Ph. D Candidate, Trent). It is intended to inspire transformative and collaborative action - to create a world that honours the earth and all our relations; based on understandings that we all have Treaty responsibilities.