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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The dialogue opens with a blessing and prayer by Dakota Grandmother, Katherine Whitecloud, in keeping with Indigenous protocols, with introductions made by Dr. Sabina Ijaz (Turtle Lodge) and Dr.

The dialogue opens with a blessing and prayer by Dakota Grandmother, Katherine Whitecloud, in keeping with Indigenous protocols, with introductions made by Dr. Sabina Ijaz (Turtle Lodge) and Dr. Valerie Gideon (Associate Deputy Minister of Indigenous Services Canada) Setting the Foundation for Good Relations in Our Homeland was a webinar held on January 11th, 2021. A national group of nearly 500 health leaders from across Canada met virtually to hear the perspective of Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, led by members of the National Turtle Lodge Council of Knowledge Keepers, on the issue of racism in health care. Click here to view a playlist with all recordings from the presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjiP3LIyQ9Y&list=PL_wQ7QfAR0HwGWo_pOuO7d45SVxsPnGpN Click here to view or download a transcript of the recording: http://www.turtlelodge.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Intro-Transcript-Setting-the-Foundation-for-Good-Relations-in-Our-Homeland.pdf The Turtle Lodge International Centre for Indigenous Education and Wellness is a place for reconnecting to the Earth & sharing Indigenous ancestral knowledge, founded on the 7 Sacred Laws. Visit our website at www.turtlelodge.org to learn more. Follow us on social media: Facebook (@turtlelodge) Twitter (@turtlelodge) Instagram (@theturtlelodge)

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Reconciling Ways of Knowing “Drawing on Indigenous Knowledge in Responding to COVID-19.”

This dialogue originally aired on November 12, 2020 at 10:30 am Pacific / 12:30 pm Central / 2:30 pm Atlantic.

Moderator: Darrin Mah, JD facilitates a dialogue amongst Elder Dr. Dave Courchene, Jr, Grandmother Katherine Whitecloud, Miles Richardson, OC, Tom Swanky, JD, and Dr. Sabina Ijaz; on the history of what Indigenous Peoples have learned in responding to pandemics, how this informed their responses to COVID-19, and what could be learned more broadly within Canadian society and the global community from these lessons.

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Closing remarks by Dr. Valerie Gideon and Dr. Sabina Ijaz Setting the Foundation for Good Relations in Our Homeland was a webinar held on January 11th, 2021. A national group of nearly 500 health

Closing remarks by Dr. Valerie Gideon and Dr. Sabina Ijaz Setting the Foundation for Good Relations in Our Homeland was a webinar held on January 11th, 2021. A national group of nearly 500 health leaders from across Canada met virtually to hear the perspective of Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, led by members of the National Turtle Lodge Council of Knowledge Keepers, on the issue of racism in health care. Click here to view a playlist with all recordings from the presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjiP3LIyQ9Y&list=PL_wQ7QfAR0HwGWo_pOuO7d45SVxsPnGpN Click here to view or download a transcript of the recording: http://www.turtlelodge.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Concluding-Remarks-Sabina-and-Val-Setting-the-Foundation-for-Good-Relations-in-Our-Homeland.pdf The Turtle Lodge International Centre for Indigenous Education and Wellness is a place for reconnecting to the Earth & sharing Indigenous ancestral knowledge, founded on the 7 Sacred Laws. Visit our website at www.turtlelodge.org to learn more. Follow us on social media: Facebook (@turtlelodge) Twitter (@turtlelodge) Instagram (@theturtlelodge)

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