Module II Blog

Essential Question:
How is everything connected from the perspectives of indigenous peoples and Western scientists? What are the advantages to knowing both ways?

The Western view does not deny the unity of the universe, but it differs sharply from the indigenous viewpoint in how the universe is best to be understood. In Western science, people generally choose one small area and specialize in it. Their knowledge and experience within that area may be deep, but they seldom have that depth in more than a few areas.

This differs from traditional Native knowledge, which views the world and the living creatures in it (including humanity) as parts of a whole that must be understood in the relationship they bear to that whole. That understanding is profound and contains much of what a Westerner would consider science. In contrast to the Western scientist, an indigenous person would be less likely to have deep detailed knowledge of soil’s mineral composition and much more likely to know the type of plants that grow in that soil, the animals that eat the plants, and ways to use the plants and animals for food or shelter.

Additionally, spirituality is an inseparable part of the indigenous understanding of the universe. The Inuit culture believes in a unifying spirit, Sila, (similar to the Great Spirit of many Native American peoples) which embodies wholeness and embraces all creation. Western science has deliberately distanced itself from including spiritual beliefs, and instead focuses on ways of understanding that can be quantified or proven experimentally.

From the viewpoint of a teacher or student, there are advantages to both ways of knowing. Research shows that students of all levels learn most effectively when we teachers make lessons engaging and relevant to our students. Therefore, it is my job to make sure the information students learn is connected in meaningful ways to the world around them and to the knowledge they already possess. This connectivity is inherent in the indigenous perspective.

From this perspective, a well taught lesson in Biology would not only give the student important and useful information about bacteria, but would allow the student to understand and connect the information to their life (for example, how to avoid and cure bacterial illness) and to concepts learned in other classes (the effect of bacterial plagues on human culture and history).

Western science has the advantage of a systematic, widespread, and diverse body of knowledge. People have been able to compile very detailed knowledge in a wide array of fields across the globe. Why should a student have to give up the wisdom of their culture to make use of the wisdom found in another? Doesn’t it just make sense to take advantage of what is best in each?

I can encourage all my students to value the indigenous perspective by asking Elders and local experts to share their specialized knowledge with our classes and highlighting the value of this expertise during lessons. I can also point out opportunities for indigenous students to continue their Western science education in a supportive cultural environment, such as through ANSEP at UAA. In this way, perhaps all students will be able to take advantage of the benefits of each way of knowing.