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 classrooms. It is also a way to offer First Nations students more opportunities to succeed in the dominant culture without compromising their own culture. Two-Eyed Seeing in both directions will enable us to walk together.

 

IndigeSTEAM changes the bolded sentence above into “Two-Eyed Seeing in all directions enabling us to walk together” as our vision statement. We recognize the need for training and working with volunteers and audiences who are immigrants to Canada to break the boundaries between them as newcomers and Indigenous communities. There is a growing recognition of issues surrounding identity, citizenship, and belonging—the immigrant experience and Indigenous peoples. The teaching of immigrants to Canada about Indigenous people should not always be through the white settler voice, but from all of us working together.

 

*Two-Eyed Seeing Guiding Principle: http://www.integrativescience.ca/Principles/TwoEyedSeeing/