In this course, students will embark on a journey to explore and compare the ways in which Indigenous knowledge and Western science understand and interact with the natural world. A learner centered approach will provide students with the means to bridge two worlds in many occupations in the natural resource fields. Through a lens of Blue Ecology, students will gain a deeper appreciation for the diversity of knowledge systems and how they shape our relationship with nature, in hopes of addressing climate change.
Curriculum
Welcome to “Sense the Spirit: Comparing Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science” course.
Sense the Spirit
Comparing Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science.
Course Modules
Our course is designed to have four modules, each focusing on a different comparative principle.
By the end of the course, students will be equipped with tools to encourage conscious consumerism and a new reverence for the spirit of nature. A field trip where students immerse themselves in nature is foundational student-centred learning experience.
Successful completion of the course would create career pathways for students, such as an official Youth Ambassadors for the Blue Ecology Institute Foundation, and/or gain valuable knowledge to help bridge diverse perspectives in natural resource fields.
Module 1
Interweaving Knowledge Systems
In this module, students will delve into the ways in which Indigenous knowledge and Western science have historically interacted and influenced each other. This module will also introduce the concept of Blue Ecology and the five principles it is based on.
Module 2
Sustaining Life
This module will focus on the differences and similarities between Indigenous and Western approaches to sustainability. Students will explore the concept of sustainable survival and how it differs from sustainable development.
Module 3
Valuing Diversity
In this module, students will examine the matriarchal lens of Indigenous knowledge and the patriarchal lens of Western science.
This module will also delve into the importance of valuing diversity and how it relates to our relationship with nature.
Module 4
Revering the Spirit of Nature
In this module, students will be introduced to the concept of borrowing resources from future generations and the responsibility that comes with it. Through a field trip to a sacred body of water, students will be given the opportunity to sense the spirit of nature and develop a deeper reverence for the natural world.
Course Project
In addition to the course modules, students will be required to complete a project aimed at reducing consumerism using the five principles of Blue Ecology. This project will provide students with practical skills to encourage societal level conscious consumerism.
We hope that this course will inspire and empower students to make a positive impact on the environment. By the end of the course, students will have a deeper appreciation for the diversity of knowledge systems and a newfound reverence for the spirit of nature. Join us and be part of a movement to shape a more sustainable future!
Reading List:
- Journal and Chapter articles on “Blue Ecology” by Michael Blackstock
- “The Earth Summit: Challenges of Peace and Development” by Miguel Darcy de Oliveira
- “Indigenous Environmental Knowledge and its Transformations” edited by Harriet Nahanee and Rick Colbourne
- “Youth, the Environment, and Sustainable Development: An International Perspective” edited by J. Timmons Roberts and Meredeth Turshen
- “Conscious Consumerism: A Guide for the Next Generation” by J.C. Huntington