Reconciliation + Design: Dialogue 2 - Indigenous ways of knowing, and being

Join us for the second dialogue of the Reconciliation + Design Series. 

These dialogues are a scaled Indigenization complement to decolonization curriculum. Applied science invites anyone who reflects on reconciling their design processes to join the conversation. This is an interdisciplinary conversation on reconciliation and design.

The speakers are Indigenous change-makers. We amplify their voices and listen to understand. Students and faculty practice authentic, experiential learning in dialogue circles, learning to weave together these Indigenous perspectives, ways of knowing, and ways of being, with our own as designers.

The breakout room facilitators are students. They will be practicing their skills leading dialogue circles.

Speaker: Elder Albert Marshall

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Albert is from the Moose Clan of the Mi'kmaw Nation. He is a passionate advocate for the preservation, promotion, and revitalization of Mi'kmaw Traditional Knowledge, including language, spirituality, stories, practices, and ways of knowing. In 2009, Albert and his late wife, Murdena Marshall, were awarded honorary doctorates in recognition of their devotion and commitment to this work. Their energy, wisdom, and knowledge helped create the innovative integrative science academic program at Cape Breton University in the 1990s. Together, Albert and Murdena developed KECCA (Knowledge Education & Culture Consultant Associates) to better enable their work and to encourage a strong future for the Mi’kmaw Nation and its peoples.

Albert is a passionate advocate of cross- cultural understandings and healing and of our human responsibilities to care for all creatures and our Earth Mother. He a fluent speaker of Mi'kmaw and the designated voice for the Mi’kmaw Elders of Unama’ki with respect to environmental issues. He coined the phrase “Two-Eyed Seeing” / Etuaptmumk, as a guiding principle for collaborative work which encourages learning to see from one eye with the strengths of Indigenous knowledges and ways of knowing, and from the other eye with the strengths of Western knowledges and ways of knowing ... and learning to use both these eyes together, for the benefit of all.

In 2009, Albert was awarded the Marshall Award for Aboriginal Leadership as part of the Eco-Hero Awards delivered by the NS Environmental Network.