Ninna Piiksii – Mike Bruised Head, “Obtaining Indigenous Knowledge: Really Knowing From Place”
Nov. 15, 2018
Hosted by the Canadian Parks Research Network at the University of Alberta
Summary Notes
- Indigenous knowledge should not be “academicized”
- Waterton’s Indigenous name reflects glacial-time
- Combine western science-thinking with Indigenous thought (to bring back free roaming bison)
- Rancher opposition – worry tuberculosis will transfer to their cattle
- The natural, spiritual laws of the land – Indigenous knowledge
- No consultation when names were removed from parks, landscapes, and mountains
- Wants signage to include both names in Waterton
- Indigenous knowledge incorporates animals
Notes from Workshop Facilitator, Thomas Snow
- Another common theme from today is displacement (of Indigenous Peoples from parks)
Notes from breakout session
- Indigenous voices first – guiding questions limit the conversations
- Brady Highway – what do the settler communities want from Indigenous communities?
- To take away knowledge?
- Find a place to create space for Indigenous people to lead the way in conservation
- Tension between “taking away knowledge” and wanting to engage with Indigenous communities
- How can a single representative from Indigenous communities speak on behalf of a large amount of people (who all have varying values and opinions)?
- Comparing differences between communities is not productive
- “How to make this more human for Indigenous People” – with regards to collaboration on parks management and conservation
- Challenges with framing PR – ensuring information shared to the public is fair to everyone
- What about revenue generation for the local Indigenous communities?
- Creating a place for productive conversations to occur and facilitate these discussions – the communities will decide what is appropriate for conservation management
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