Introduction to Indigenous Knowledge : Ep 8 of Crash Course Native American History

Key Concepts:

• Native American ways of knowing
• Western science
• Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyed Seeing)
• Observation, Innovation, and Creation
• Indigenous land management
• Respect and Reciprocity
• Medicine Wheels
• Technological Innovations (Kayaks, Lacrosse, Tomol)

1. Introduction: Native American Ways of Knowing and Science

• The video challenges the perception of Native Americans as "anti-science," arguing that they possess distinct and valuable ways of knowing rooted in observation and a close relationship with the Earth.
• It highlights the historical disconnect between Western science and Native knowledge, citing the example of early Western scientists dismissing plant communication due to their anthropocentric expectations.
• Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer's perspective is paraphrased, emphasizing that all knowledge is influenced by human perspectives, and Western science is not inherently neutral or objective.
• Native American cultures share commonalities in their ways of knowing, such as grounding relationships in respect and reciprocity.

2. Observation and Indigenous Knowledge

• Native American ways of knowing often begin with observation, similar to the scientific method, but extend beyond the five senses to include storytelling and oral history.
• The video uses the example of medicine wheels in the Plains region of the U.S. and Canada to illustrate the importance of Indigenous knowledge in archaeological interpretation.
• Archaeologists in Alberta, Canada, collaborated with Elders of the Blackfoot Confederacy to understand the purpose of these formations, demonstrating the limitations of Western archaeological practices alone.
• John Wolf Child of the Kainai Nation shared stories about Makoyepuk, a warrior and Tribal Chief, whose medicine wheel memorial has been lost to cultivation, but whose stories inform the interpretation of other medicine wheels.

3. Innovation and Creation

• Native Americans have spearheaded numerous technological innovations that are still used today.
• Examples include:
  • Kayaks, invented by the Inuit around 4,000 years ago.
  • Lacrosse, invented by the Haudenosaunee before European settlers arrived.
  • The tomol, a technologically advanced canoe built by the Chumash people.
• The Chumash people's seafaring capabilities, dating back 11,000 years, are highlighted, emphasizing their construction of the tomol, a plank canoe made watertight with pine tar.
• The Chumash's knowledge of redwood's resistance to rot is cited as an example of their sophisticated understanding of natural materials.

4. Etuaptmumk: Braiding Two Worldviews

• The video introduces the concept of Etuaptmumk, or "two-eyed seeing," developed by Mi’kmaq Elder Albert Marshall, which advocates for integrating Native knowledge and Western science.
• Etuaptmumk means looking through the lens of Native knowledge with one eye and through the lens of Western science with the other, working together to form the full picture.
• Nicole Mann, a NASA astronaut and member of the Wailaki of the Round Valley Indian Tribes, is presented as an example of Etuaptmumk in action, as the first Indigenous woman in space.
• Mann's experiences on the International Space Station, including her study of plant growth and her connection to her home planet, are discussed.
• Her outreach to students at the Flathead Indian Reservation is highlighted as an effort to inspire Native children to pursue careers in science.

5. Indigenous Land Management and Conservation

• The video emphasizes the effectiveness of Indigenous land management practices in protecting biodiversity and combating climate change.
• It notes that biodiversity loss is occurring at a slower rate on Indigenous lands.
• The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) in Montana are cited as an example, with their practice of controlled burns to encourage new plant growth and reduce the risk of forest fires.
• The restoration of the CSKT Bison Range to tribal management in 2020 is discussed, highlighting the use of controlled burns by tribal biologists to protect native plants and open up grazing for bison.
• The Bison Range museum is now used to educate visitors about the tribes' history and traditional practices.
• Giving more land back to Native peoples is suggested as a major strategy for combating climate change.

6. Conclusion

• Native Americans have been learning about and connecting to the world for millennia, actively inventing and innovating.
• They are finding ways to integrate Western science into their knowledge systems.
• Native scientists like Nicole Mann are passing on both Native knowledge and Western science to future generations.
• The video concludes with the Crash Course motto: "knowledge weighs nothing, carry all that you can."