1. Ways Knowing
  2. Ways of Knowing

Ways of Knowing

[illustration by Portia Chapman representing humility]

"Indigenous Ways of Knowing" is a useful term that recognizes the beautiful complexity and diversity of Indigenous ways of learning and teaching. Many people continue to generalize Indigenous experience and lived realities. The intent of the phrase "Indigenous Ways of Knowing" is to help educate people about the vast variety of knowledge that exists across diverse Indigenous communities. It also signals that, as Indigenous Peoples, we don't just learn from human interaction and relationships. All elements of creation can teach us, from the plant and animal nations, to the "objects" that many people consider to be inanimate.

So, our Indigenous ways of knowing are incredibly sophisticated and complex. These ways relate to specific ecology in countless locations, so the practices, languages and protocols of one Indigenous community may look very different from another. Yet, Indigenous ways of knowing are commonly steeped in a deep respect for the land, and the necessity of a reciprocal relationship with the land.

As Indigenous Peoples, we believe that our actions today have an impact on the next seven generations. We need to be mindful of how we walk on our Mother, the Earth and treat all living beings with respect. When we offer respect, we can move forward together.

At Queens University, we aim to ensure that all students, staff and faculty are supported and provided with adequate tools and resources to ensure a holistic learning experience. We strive to incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing throughout the university. One way that the Office of Indigenous Initiatives provides this is by offering Indigenous Cultural Services.

Nishinaabe Ezhi-gkendaaasad

Weeni kidiimgad maanda sa Nishinaabe ezhi-gkendaasad nestawaamdang sa wi e-maawnji-gnaajwang miinwaa sa e-maawnji-mno-kinoomaagemgak Nishnaabe e-zhi-gkinoomaagzid miinwaa go ezhi-gkinoomaaged.  Niibna bemaadzijig aanike gnowaabmaaaan nishnaaben ezhi-bimaadzinid.  Maanda dash Nishinaabe ezhi-gkendaasad   kidang inendaagwad wii-gkinoomaagaazwaad bemaadzijig wi sa nishnaabeg ezhi-baatiintowaad gkendaaswin e-yaamgag mziwe nishnaabeking.  Etigo gee zhinoomaagemgad, Nishnaabeg, gaa-go eta gkenziinaanh gwiiji-bemaadiziinaanh gnoonangid miinwaa wiijgaabwitongid. Kina go eteg manpii king gda-gkinoomaagonaanh, netaawging miinwaa awesiinh king, piish go kina bemaadzijig zhi-gnowaamdamwaad bemaaziimgasnog.

Mii dash, gda-Nishinaabe ezhi-gkendaasying gwetaani-maamiikwendaagwad miinwaa  maanenmiimgad.  Nondan sa nikeying eyaamang gkendaaswinan nwenmiimgadoon netaawgingin mziwe nikeying, mii dash sa nonda ezhchigeng, e-zhi-giizhweng miinwaa  nishnaabe izhichigewin bezhig maanda nishnaabe oodena bkaan daa zhinaagwad.  Booch dash wii gwa, Nishnaabe ezhi-gkendaasad aapji go mnaadendaanaaaa aki, miinwaa go e-zhi-wiiji-debnamwaad deaabshkoo inawendiwin.

E-zhi-nishnaabewiying dash, gdebweendmami sa ezhchigeying nongwa da-ni-aabdad niigaan nikeying niizhwaaswi aanike bimaadziwinaning.  Aabdeg gwii- naanaagdawendaanaanh ezhi-bmosaadmang aki, Ggashnaanh, miinwaa wii-mnaadenmaanaanh kina gwaya bemaadzid.  Pii mnaadenmangid gwaya, gka-ni-niigaaniimi.

Manpii Gimaakwe Shpi-kinoomaagewigamigong, nwiigojitoonaanh kina eknoomaagzijig, enkiitaagejig miinwaa eknoomaagejig aasgaabwitaagaazwaad miinwaa miingaazwaad kina gegoo waa-aabjitowaad weeni wii-kinoomaagewaad.  Ngichi-wiikjitoonaanh wii-dgonmaang Nishnaabe ezhi-gkendaasad kina ngoji manpii shpikinoomaagewigamgong. Nishnaabe-aadziwin dgosdoonaaaa sa gonda Nishnaabe Bezhigo-onendamowin Nokiitaage Aachkinigan dakiitaagewiniwaang.

Onkwehonwehn矇ha tsi n穩:yoht tsi Ayakot籀:kenhse

Onkwehonwehn矇ha tsi n穩:yoht tsi Yakotery癡n:tare 矇:so k矇ntons ne kay矇n:teres tsi niy籀:re tsi nyat矇:kon tsi nityotyer獺:ton tsi n穩:yoht ne Onkwehonwehn矇ha tsi ahontewey矇nhste t籀ka ni ashakotirih籀nnyen. Yakentyohkow獺:nen ne onkwesh籀n:a yeyontahs籀nterens 矇nska akw矇:kon tsi nitehshakot穩:te ne Onkweh籀n:we tsi ki n穩:yoht tsi ronatk獺thon. Ki tsi nah簷:ten yonkwanat籀nhkwen Onkwehonwehn矇ha tsi n穩:yoht tsi Yakotery癡n:tare n癡:ne ayakoy矇:nawase ne onkwesh籀n:a ayakonikonhray癡n:tane tsi n穩:yore tsi 矇:so tsi nah簷:ten ratirihwayent矇:ris tsi nonw矇shon kanakerahserak矇:ron ne Onkweh籀n:we yenaker矇nyon. Ne 籀:ni wathr籀:ris ki, Yatyokweh籀nwe, yah ne khok ne sk獺tne ne akohr矇nshon ne th矇non ayakwaweyent矇htane. Akw矇kon se nah簷:ten k獺hson ne tsi yohontsy獺:te th矇:non yonkwarihonny矇n:ni, kayenth籀:sera kont穩:ryo, t獺non oy獺shon nah簷:ten ne yakentyohkow獺:nen r籀n:nehre yah se tey籀nhnhe.

Ne k獺ti ne Onkwehonwehn矇ha tsi n穩:yoht tsi ayakotery癡n:tarake kwah 穩:ken tsi 矇:so tsi ronatery矇n;tare th矇non ne went籀:re ne ak籀:ren ayakonikonhray癡n:tane. K穩 tsi nah簷:ten n癡:ne th矇:non ne t籀ka kayenth籀sera y籀nhnhe tsi nonw矇shon, ne k獺ti aor穫:wa, tsi nihatiweyen籀:ten, nihonrokhatsher籀:ten t獺non nah簷:ten ne raotiyaner矇nhsera akw矇:kon ne tsi n籀n:we Onkweh籀n:we ratiter籀n:ton tekonttih獺:nyon. Nek tsi ratikw矇:kon ne Onkweh籀n:we ratirihwakweny矇nstha ne 籀hontsya t獺non tsi kariwan籀ntha ne tsi tehat穩:neren ne 籀hontsya tsi ron籀nhnhe.

Tsi y獺:we Yatyokweh籀n:we tyonkweht獺hkwen ne tsi nenyakw獺:yere 籀n:wa wenhniserat矇nyon ne ki enh籀nttoke ne tsy獺:ta nateyotereser獺:ne tahatikonhsot籀ntye, went獺:on entewatennik籀n:raren tsi n穩:yoht tsi entewaht矇n:ti ne Yethinihst矇nha, t獺non yethirihwakw矇:nyenhst akw矇:kon nah簷:ten ne kon籀nnhe. N籀:nen entitew獺tkawe, kakwenyenhst獺htshera, 籀:ni ki enw獺:ton akw矇:kon sk獺tne yentewaht矇n:ti.

Ne Queens University, ne yateyakwak獺:nere orihw穩:yo a籀n:ton akw矇:kon ne rontewey矇nhstha, rotiyot矇nyon t獺non ne shakotirihonny矇n:ni enthonw矇n:non nah簷:ten kariwan籀ntha 獺hontste orihw穩:yo ahonn籀n:ni akw矇:kon yatenkay矇ston tsi n穩:yoht tsi enhontewey矇nhste. Yonkwahsk矇hnhen yatayakw獺:yeste ne Onkwehonwehn矇ha tsi n穩:yoht tsi ayonkwatery癡n:tarake kwah tsik n籀n:we ne University. nska tsi n穩:yoht ne tsi yehyat籀nhkhwa ne Onkweh籀n:we ayoy獺:nerenne k獺:tats ne Onkweh籀n:we tsi nihotirih簷:ten Yakoyenaw獺:se.