Etuaptmumk is the Mi’kmaq word for Two-Eyed Seeing introduced by a Mi’kmaq Elder from Eskasoni First Nation, Albert Marshall. It refers to learning to see with one eye the strengths of Indigenous Knowledge and Ways of Knowing, and with the other eye the strengths of western knowledges and ways of knowing, and to learn to use both eyes together to gain a clearer understanding of the world. A Two-Eyed Seeing approach is one way to integrate, and develop a greater understanding of, and appreciation for Indigenous worldviews in our colonial-based classrooms. It is also a way to offer First Nations students more opportunities to succeed in the dominant culture without compromising their own culture.
In English, a similar idea would be diversity, equity and inclusiveness. However, it is not equivalent, although it parallels concepts of appreciating, integrating, and learning to see the advantages of other points of view someone who is not of your culture or background bring to conversations, ideas, and progress.
While Elder Albert speaks about Two-Eyed Seeing from his Indigenous perspective, it’s hard for him to explain to non-Indigenous audiences about what and how they must learn Two-Eyed Seeing.
For IndigeSTEAM, our mission and vision call us to learn how to implement this concept in order to make lasting changes for all peoples. Two-Eyed Seeing in both directions will enable us – Indigenous and non-Indigenous – to walk together.
A Comparative Example
* https://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/docs/support/sila_video/tek.pdf Adapted, by permission, from Sidney Stephens, Handbook for Culturally Responsive Science Curriculum (Fairbanks, AK: Alaska Science Consortium and Alaska Rural Systemic Initiative, 2000)
- There are a number of diagrams such as this which delve into the difference and overlaps of Ways of Knowing and Western Science.
- We are sharing this one with an ecology base as one of the better ones.
- What we are discovering along our journey in supporting Indigenous Ways with STEM is that Two-Eyed Seeing is impacting other “traditional” school subjects too.
- Besides our programs for Indigenous youth to learn more about Western Science (both as STEM and STEAM), we have a lot of work to do to get Western minds to also see and understand Traditional Ways of Knowing and Being.
Hear Albert Marshall
Please enjoy this video – it is a longer watch, but with lasting wisdom. Especially for educators, it covers a lot of the concepts of Two Eyed seeing in depth, and the question period at the end is very relative to the idea of how non-Indigenous educators may implement this concept.