Embedding Indigenization and decolonization promises into institutional practice is difficult and nuanced work, join Western’s Office of Indigenous Initiative’s Sara Mai Chitty as she visits with Indigenous Peoples and allies who seek to bridge the long-held divides between Euro-Western and Indigenous communities through their work in the areas of curriculum, research and beyond.
Drawing inspiration from an Indigenous relational pedagogy of visiting, Mbwaach’idiwag (they visit with each other), will start off by releasing episodes monthly, premiering at 2pm on Monday, December 21, 2020.
By sharing stories of Indigenous education work happening across Turtle Island and amplifying Indigenous voices, Mbwaach’idiwag aims to provide listeners an opportunity to learn from and with Indigenous Peoples.
In episode one Sara Mai visits with Dr Diana Lewis, a Mikmaq researcher and Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography and Environment and Indigenous Studies program, at Western University. They discuss Mikmaq connections to land, community-led research approaches and the concept of Two-Eyed Seeing, as Dr. Lewis tells the story of how she came to research collaboratively with Pictou Landing First Nation to document the impact of effluent from a pulp mill on the community, and land.