Week 11: Apply and Reflect
Western methodologies and epistemology have overshadowed and plainly removed Indigenous ways in the realm of academia. The reason can only be because the United States government has colonized the nation, set out war, and vanquished the Indigenous people and carries this mindset when dealing with the Indigenous people. This has allowed western academia to prosecute holistic and metaphysical ways of epistemology in the various Native American cultures. In Margaret Kovach essay, “Epistemology and Research: Centering Tribal Knowledge, ‘Indigenous Methodologies, Characteristics, Conversations and Context’” gives a glimpse in the epistemology of the Plains Cree natives.
Research is one pillar of the academic world. For the Plains Cree research can be best described in a story of a buffalo hunt. Kovach explains, “in many ways, the story of the buffalo hunt is a research teaching story, an allegory for a Plains Cree conceptual framework for research—preparation for the researcher, recognition of protocol (cultural and ethical), respectfulness and sharing the knowledge (reciprocity).” The western world has removed these ideas and focused their ideas with the lack of respect for ethnic information by introducing the word eugenics. Eurocentric United States of America lack of respect and racism has misrepresented the Natives and they continue to misrepresent them through their teaching of the First Nation people. The reciprocity is not the same on both sides. If the United States wants to teach about the Natives, they need to teach them the way each Indigenous nations see themselves. For the United States comprises 574 tribal nations, and the establishment needs to recognize each one of them and teach them according to their own understanding of themselves.
If the Indigenous people are willing to offer their epistemology, it is up to the westerner methodologies to listen and not base judgment off of reciprocal respect. Every intellectual institution of learning to include museums would benefit from this form of epistemology. Indigenous art form all around the world would be understood and the culture that made them would be appreciated. It would take away the social scale that western society has placed on intellectual interpretation. And the shameless idea that western epistemology is the only way to think and understand the world.
You seem to have gotten a good grasp on this article. Dare I say it might be your favorite one? If you liked this may I suggest reading some literature from Native American authors? Sherman Alexei is a rather well known one to start with.
ReplyDeleteYour post has some very true points and it is interesting to see in todays society as well. Our understanding of the different Indian Cultures are so very different from what is true. Like many other cultures the Indian cultures are each very different and have different beliefs. I agree these cultures each and every one of them should be taught according to how the Indians see themselves.
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