The Reconciling Ways of Knowing Forum in collaboration with the Victoria Forum, shared the fifth dialogue in our Online Forum series, “Millennia of Experience: Drawing on Indigenous Knowledge in

The Reconciling Ways of Knowing Forum in collaboration with the Victoria Forum, shared the fifth dialogue in our Online Forum series, “Millennia of Experience: Drawing on Indigenous Knowledge in Responding to COVID-19.” on November 12, 2020. This dialogue explored how collaboration between Indigenous knowledge and science can improve public health outcomes throughout Canada in the face of COVID-19. Preliminary reports from Indigenous Services Canada suggest that First Nations communities are experiencing 1/4 of the infection rate and 1/5 of the mortality rate from COVID-19 experienced by the general Canadian population. The session will explore how Indigenous Peoples have leveraged their millennia of experience enduring past pandemics to protect their people and foster their resilience in the face of new public health challenges. Speakers Elder Dr Dave Courchene, Jr, an Anishinaabe Elder and spiritual leader; Grandmother Katherine Whitecloud, a Dakota knowledge keeper and Indigenous health and wellness advocate; Miles Richardson, OC, a Haida political leader and negotiator focused on Nation-to-Nation relationships between Indigenous Peoples and Canada; Tom Swanky, JD, a historical researcher focused on the role of smallpox in the foundational relationship between Indigenous Peoples and the Crown in British Columbia; and Dr Sabina Ijaz, a medical doctor who has built deep relationships in Indigenous communities, in dialogue with moderator Darrin Mah, JD, discussed the history of what Indigenous Peoples have learned in responding to pandemics, how this informs their responses to COVID-19, and what can be learned more broadly within Canadian society and the global community from these lessons. The speakers discussed issues including: How Indigenous knowledge has been marginalized by a presumption within policy- and decision-making circles that (Western) science is the only valid form of knowledge upon which to base and inform their work; How the devastation of Indigenous populations during previous smallpox and Spanish Flu pandemics has influenced Indigenous responses to COVID-19; How Indigenous Peoples have exercised their sovereignty and self-determination to protect their nations and communities; The role of traditional medicines and healing practices in protecting community health and recovering from the pandemic; How Indigenous knowledge has helped mitigate negative health outcomes that may result from factors such as remoteness from healthcare facilities, food security challenges, higher poverty rates and housing shortages on reserve; Opportunities for collaboration between Indigenous knowledge and science for improved health and social outcomes as we navigate our way through the pandemic together. More information at https://www.waysofknowingforum.ca/dialogue-5 and https://www.waysofknowingforum.ca.

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Reconciling Ways of Knowing, Dialogue 4: “Two-Eyed Seeing & Beyond” This dialogue originally aired on October 28, 2020 at 8:30 am Pacific / 10:30 am Central / 12:30 pm Atlantic. Mi’kmaq

Reconciling Ways of Knowing, Dialogue 4: “Two-Eyed Seeing & Beyond” This dialogue originally aired on October 28, 2020 at 8:30 am Pacific / 10:30 am Central / 12:30 pm Atlantic. Mi’kmaq Elder Albert Marshall, Drs. Jesse Popp, Andrea Reid and Deborah McGregor discussed the idea of Etuaptmumk or Two-Eyed Seeing and other related frameworks for understanding across ways of knowing with moderator Jacquie Miller, MA. Etuaptmumk Two-Eyed Seeing is a guiding principle developed by Mi’kmaq Elder Albert Marshall that recognizes that better outcomes are more likely if we bring two or more perspectives into collaboration. Accordingly, Etuaptmumk can also be understood as a gift of multiple perspectives, an insight and framework that could help us do better in many areas of our shared lives, including our relationship with the earth. The guests discussed how Two-Eyed Seeing requires learning together and from each other, and discussed other trans-systemic ways of knowing and understanding, including how the relationship committed to in the Two-Row Wampum can help guide our understanding and collaboration across ways of knowing.

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Reconciling Ways of Knowing Series, Dialogue 3: "Braiding Ways of Knowing" This dialogue originally aired on Thursday, September 24 at 8:30 am Pacific / 10:30 am Central / 12:30 pm Atlantic. Known

Reconciling Ways of Knowing Series, Dialogue 3: "Braiding Ways of Knowing" This dialogue originally aired on Thursday, September 24 at 8:30 am Pacific / 10:30 am Central / 12:30 pm Atlantic. Known for her award-winning books Gathering Moss: A Natural & Cultural History of Mosses and Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants, amongst many other ways in which she has had an impact as a teacher, researcher, and writer, Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer spoke in dialogue with friend, colleague, renowned ethnobotanist and moderator Dr. Nancy Turner on the theme of Braiding Ways of Knowing. Drs. Wall Kimmerer and Turner discussed how Dr. Wall Kimmerer had concluded that Indigenous and scientific ways of knowing could be braided together in her work on the role of traditional ecological knowledge in ecological restoration and the ecology of mosses. Fellow Reconciling Ways of Knowing project founders Miles Richardson, O.C., Dr. David Suzuki, and Elder Dr. Dave Courchene, Jr. joined Dr. Turner in the dialogue with Dr. Wall Kimmerer to connect her findings and reflections from her work to the objective of the Reconciling Ways of Knowing project to facilitate pathways for building better relationships across ways of knowing and for creating better stewardship outcomes together. And finally, participants asked Dr. Wall Kimmerer or any of the project founders questions about how they can apply the considerations from the discussion on braiding ways of knowing to their work and engagement in community. More information at https://www.waysofknowingforum.ca/dialogue3 and www.turtlelodge.org

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Reconciling Ways of Knowing, Dialogue 7: "Connecting Spiritually with the Land and Each Other" Elder Dr. Dave Courchene, Grandmother Katherine Whitecloud, Dr. Blair Stonechild in dialogue with

Reconciling Ways of Knowing, Dialogue 7: "Connecting Spiritually with the Land and Each Other" Elder Dr. Dave Courchene, Grandmother Katherine Whitecloud, Dr. Blair Stonechild in dialogue with Moderator Shaunna Morgan Siegers, MSc on our essential and spiritual connection with the land and each other. Also joining the conversation are Reconciling Ways of Knowing Convenors, Miles Richardson, OC; Dr. David Suzuki; and Dr. Nancy Turner. “Connecting Spiritually with the Land and Each Other” discussed our fundamental connection to and inseparability from the world and each other and how this understanding carries a spiritual dimension for Indigenous Peoples, to which we remain connected through our ceremonies. This is a foundational understanding present in many Indigenous ways of knowing but often missing from the dominant worldview that has shaped Canadian environmental policy. After an initial discussion, other Reconciling Ways of Knowing Convenors, Miles Richardson, OC; Dr. David Suzuki; and Dr. Nancy Turner shared their thoughts and insights on this discussion of relation and spiritual connection. Moderator Shaunna Morgan Siegers, MSc then turned to our audience-participants for thoughts and questions for the speakers. This Dialogue on originally aired on Tuesday, January 26 at 9:00 am Pacific / 11:00​​ am Central / 1:00 pm Atlantic.

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