Question #2 (part six)

The speaker reflects on the value of Indigenous ways of knowing discussed in a course, highlighting the shift from viewing indigeneity through a deficit lens to recognizing Indigenous knowledge as strong and valuable. They discuss the three sources of Indigenous knowledge: traditional, empirical, and revealed knowledge, emphasizing the importance of intuition and holistic understanding. They mention the concept of knowledge being carried rather than owned and the importance of teaching in various settings within the community. This learning experience prompts a reconsideration of what constitutes knowledge and the significance of diverse perspectives in shaping understanding and passing on knowledge. Also, Kaya, what do you think resonated the most with you from this course? Thanks, Sam, and I really think that you guys both made really important points about the value of Indigenous ways of knowing, and I think what that has resonated the most with me from this course was the strength-based foundation of Indigenous ways of knowing. Because I think before this class, I really unconsciously viewed indigeneity through a deficit lens. I think I saw Indigenous peoples as harmed or marginalized rather than as knowledge holders with rich and epistemologically strong systems. I think that was a really new concept for me, the idea that these systems are valid in their own right and that they do contribute a lot of valuable knowledge, even though it's not necessarily knowledge we're trained in within our degree. So, through readings like the Indigenous Cultural Responsiveness Theory, I realized that Indigenous knowledge is not validated because it aligns with Western science. It's already rigorous, relational, and tested through generations and embedded in community practices. It really made me rethink what counts as knowledge and why, which brought me back to the idea of the three sources of Indigenous knowledge that Dr. Beattie had introduced to us. So, first, we had our traditional knowledge, which was heritage and generation to generation, and we're focused on how to survive, thrive, interact with living and non-living things. We had our empirical knowledge, which was developed through observation of connections and relationships of living beings with one another in their environment. And then we had revealed knowledge, which was a really new form of knowledge to me and something that I feel like we don't give the appreciation it deserves in Western practice. So, that's the idea of gut feelings, dreams, and visions, and intuitions being provided from spirits and bringing us important knowledge. And so, when knowledge is created using all three of these different sources, we get really holistic and well-connected knowledge that I think contributes in a really unique way that I think we need to appreciate more in Western science and even more within ourselves. I think some of us can call ourselves logical thinkers because we only go based on the facts, but I think it really validates the idea that when you have an intuition about something or when you have a gut feeling about something, that is also really important to follow. And I really love when you kind of think of it through the two-eyed seeing lens, that there are systems that validate that, and that is so important. And that knowledge is personal in that way and really relies on that. And that knowledge is personal in that way because no one person has a truth. It's that intersection of voices and perceptions from all of the sources of knowledge that produce really valuable knowledge. Yeah, that's a great point, Kaya. I really agree with you. I think that—excuse me—a major point that was brought up by Dr. Beatty, which I think also makes me resonate for what you talked about, was sort of how the idea that knowledge is not owned, it is carried. And I think that in Western perspectives, knowledge is sort of thought of, oh, you're this dear scientific author, you own this knowledge. But it's really carried. And I think that that's why that sort of revealed knowledge is so important because it can be carried to you. It also shows that revealed knowledge shows that teaching can be done not only in classrooms but also in places, in seasons, in practices, in the community. And all these things shape our perspectives and shape how we continue to carry knowledge and pass it on to others. And I think that's really valuable, something that I've learned from this course about indigenous ways of knowing.