抖阴APP导航

Building on the success of its first year, ii鈥� taa鈥檖oh鈥檛o鈥檖, 抖阴APP导航鈥檚 Indigenous Strategy, is presenting with internationally renowned scholars from September to April. This year, they are partnering with faculties and units across campus to further their vision toward genuine truth and reconciliation at 抖阴APP导航.

Dr. Gregory Cajete, PhD, the first speaker in the series, will for his lecture, Indigenous Science Education: A Foundation for Sustainable Education and Community, presented in partnership with the Faculty of Science.

Look to the mountain

鈥淟ook to the mountain鈥� may not be the first piece of advice you鈥檇 consider when working through a problem, but it鈥檚 a common metaphor used by the Tewa people of New Mexico. 鈥淚t represents the past, present and future, and the processes related to the natural world,鈥� explains Cajete.

鈥淲hatever is before you, look at it as if it鈥檚 from the perspective of the mountain. Consider where you have come from, where you鈥檙e at now, and the possibilities of where you may go.鈥�

A pioneer of Indigenous education and professor at the University of New Mexico, Cajete has been working to harmonize Indigenous ways of knowing with western science and pedagogy for decades.

The nature of Indigenous science 

Look to the mountain is just one of many metaphors and stories that make up the foundation of Indigenous science 鈥� something Cajete explored throughout his academic career. Indigenous science is rooted in understanding the relationship and interdependence between humans and the natural world, and has been a central concept for Indigenous ways of knowing for thousands of years.

鈥淭he focus is not so much on the objectification of nature, but finding ways to relate to nature,鈥� says Cajete. 鈥淲ays that sustain both human beings and nature at the same time 鈥� a mutual, reciprocal relationship.鈥�

Not surprisingly, the concept of Indigenous science is intimately linked to sustainability. 鈥淣ative science in all its representations has always focused on ensuring survivability and the sense of how to live in a place well,鈥� says Cajete. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 a perspective that tends to be a part of the narrative, and the future, of all Indigenous education.鈥�

There is no denying that ecological shifts on our planet have reached a critical point, and shifts must be made, both societally and institutionally. According to Cajete, the principals of Indigenous science will help to bring us back to a state of true relationship and resonance with the natural world.

The role of post-secondary institutions

How can we weave Indigenous science into curricula here at 抖阴APP导航? While Cajete is clear that it will take time for institutions to 鈥渞ecalibrate,鈥� action must be taken to incorporate relational education and ecological thinking and philosophy across all disciplines. Breaking down traditional hierarchical teaching relationships will allow for more collaborative experiences, which make space for our educational paradigms to evolve from the pursuit of vocation to the pursuit of consciousness.

鈥�'Business as usual' is not only no longer palatable, it鈥檚 no longer feasible,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e need to shift our focus to the whole, as opposed to the parts, and integrate different systems and their ways of knowing. True interdisciplinarity 鈥� which most institutions are not set up for.鈥�

Now, more than ever, Cajete鈥檚 call to look to the mountain will remind us of where we鈥檝e been, where we are, and where we鈥檙e going. Hear his talk, Indigenous Science Education: A Foundation for Sustainable Education and Community, on Sept. 25, 3 to 5 p.m. in Gallery Hall, TFDL.

for this, and running September to April, including Chief Lee Crowchild, Anita Lafferty, Tanya Talaga, Esther Tailfeathers, and Harold Johnson.

, the University of Calgary鈥檚 Indigenous Strategy, is a commitment to deep evolutionary transformation by reimagining ways of knowing, doing, connecting and being. Walking parallel paths together, 鈥榠n a good way,鈥� 抖阴APP导航 is moving toward genuine reconciliation and Indigenization. Stay in touch with ii鈥� taa鈥檖oh鈥檛o鈥檖鈥檚 activities and learn more about opportunities for education and development.

Editor's note: This article was originally published April 5, 2019.