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Two-Eyed Seeing: Weaving Indigenous and Western Ways of Knowing

Secondary, Middle

Description

Two-Eyed Seeing is an Indigenous teaching that means to braid the two ways of knowing, Indigenous Knowledge and Western perspective, together to create something stronger and be able to see things more holistically. In this video, Lydia Johnson from the Environment and Climate Change Canada Youth Council shares the importance of weaving knowledge systems and how to incorporate Two-Eyed Seeing into our everyday lives, especially regarding one of the biggest environmental problems we face today: climate change.

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

This video supports outcomes in Science and Indigenous Studies. It is an excellent introduction to Two-Eyed Seeing, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Students learn how this Indigenous teaching can enrich our perspectives and guide us towards more sustainable actions like mindful consumption and stewardship of our environment.

 

Enhance the learning by having students use a Venn diagram to identify what TEK and Western Science have in common. Have students describe and identify examples of Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Discuss the strengths of Indigenous Peoples’ and Western ways of knowing and how to work together to address an environmental issue. Explore the concept of the interconnectedness of all living things in an ecosystem using First Nations Traditional Knowledge examples.

Relevant Curriculum Units

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Themes Addressed

Air, Atmosphere & Climate (1)

  • Climate Change

Indigenous Knowledge (2)

  • Etuaptmumk/Two-Eyed Seeing
  • TEK -- Traditional Ecological Knowledge

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