This Native American Heritage Month, let's spend some time thinking about Indigenous knowledge as a starting point for considering what actions we can take in our workplaces, schools, and communities to increase representation, visibility, inclusion, and equity for Native and Indigenous peoples. Let’s step back and see more with these prompts for reflection and research.
1. What is knowledge?
How do we know what we know?
Where do you get our information?
How do you know if it is accurate or reliable?
2. What is situated knowledge?
How do social forces shape our understandings of the world?
How do individuals construct their realities within their understandings of the world?
Whose knowledge is whose? Why are some considered more legitimate than others?
3: What is Indigenous knowledge?
According to UNESCO, "Local and Indigenous knowledge refers to the understandings, skills and philosophies developed by societies with long histories of interaction with their natural surroundings. For rural and Indigenous peoples, local knowledge informs decision-making about fundamental aspects of day-to-day life."
Indigenous ways of knowing and interacting with land and resources are often intertwined with language, spirituality, relationships, methods of categorization, and cultural traditions.
Recently, Indigenous knowledges have been more visible, recognized, and incorporated in global climate science, natural disaster preparedness, sustainable development, and other environmental governance and research.
What can you find out about Indigenous knowledges that relate to your field of work, interests, or hobbies?
4: Recognize diversity in knowledges
Indigenous people are diverse and have a wide variety of experiences across the US, the America, and the world.
Visit Indigenous Vision's Justice Map to learn about significant places, Native and Indigenous-owned businesses, environmental injustices, historical site corrections, and local violence against Native or Indigenous people near your home, school or workplace. Explore, share, and correct misinformation when heard.
5: Are you at the table? Who is missing?
In any conversation, it is important to take step back and consider whose voices, perspectives, and contributions are present, heard, and valued.
We can also inventory the representation of knowledge as part of this kind of reflection. Is your knowledge represented? Overrepresented? Underrepresented?
6. How will you work to recognize, listen to, learn from, and include Indigenous and Native voices and knowledges this month and always?
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