Etuaptmumk (Two-eyed Seeing) as a Guiding Principle For Camp Development, Implementation and Evaluation
Originally funded as a pilot in 2017 by the National Science and Engineering Council (NSERC) Promo-Science Program, the project recently received funding to support three more years of community-based programming. The recent funding from NSERC Promo-Science supports the existing partnerships between Mount Saint Vincent University, Sipekne’katik First Nation and Pictou Landing First Nation, Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey and has expanded to Acadia First Nation.
Etuaptmumk (Two-eyed Seeing) is a guiding principle for co-learning and integrative science, translated by Mi’kmaq Elders and academics (Dr. Cheryl Bartlett, Elders Albert and Murdena Marshall) from Unama’ki (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia). The guiding principles are based on reciprocal relationship building and seeing the world with the strengths of both Indigenous and Western scientific perspectives. With guidance from Elders, Knowledge Keepers, community partners, and Western scientists, the Two-Eyed Seeing Project aims to embrace these guiding principles to co-create a summer camp and various events for Mi’kmaw youth in Nova Scotia.
Pictured: Elder Gary Joseph discussing Mi’kmaw perspectives on plants during a laboratory activity on botany