Week 11: Indigenous Epistemology (Margaret Kovach)

 

Blog Post Topic:

"Epistemology and Research: Centring Tribal Knowledge"

by Margaret Kovach

This passage from Margaret Kovach’s book, “Indigenous Methodologies: Characteristics, Conversations, and Contexts,” is about tribal epistemology specifically, which is the theory of knowledge regarding interpreting validity of and ways to approach that knowledge. The chapter emphasizes the great contrast between Western and Indigenous methodologies with the thesis clearly stated as, “This chapter is devoted to epistemology, emphasizing the centrality of tribal epistemologies to Indigenous research frameworks.” Kovach’s writing was very interesting to read although lengthy, and I enjoyed learning more about Indigenous culture, especially their learning methods.

Nehiyaw (Plains Cree) knowledge is a focus for part of the chapter because Kovach wanted to make a few points within studying Tribal Epistemology. She writes, “The purpose of integrating Nehiyaw epistemology as part of a chapter on Indigenous epistemologies is to illustrate how a specific tribal epistemology is both aligned with and differentiated from a broader discussion of Indigenous epistemology.” I understand this to mean that the way each subgroup practices and embodies their own part of the bigger culture is uniquely different and still similar. Kovach goes on to explain how place and language are uniquely manifested in Nehiyaw examples, like how they practiced hunting buffalo before they were over-hunted by colonizers. The people and hunters worked together to create a chute to trap them, and respectfully shared the feast with many neighbors when they did it. This process is described in the writing by Peyasiw-awasis (Chief Thunderchild) and so Kovach compares it to the Plains Cree’s epistemology with how they prepared for and recognized protocols. Because of their location and materials they can access, there is an available procedure to follow and learn what helps many generations to thrive.

Chief Thunderchild, circa 1925
(courtesy Morton Manuscripts Collection/University of Saskatchewan Libraries Special Collections)
thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/thunderchild

Maggie Kovach ended the chapter by sharing a talk she had with Michael Hart at his home in Winnipeg, who is Nehiyaw (Cree) from the Fisher River Cree Nation in Manitoba. He is faculty at the University of Manitoba and wrote a book, Seeking Mino-Pimatisiwin: An Aboriginal Approach to Helping (2011). They went over many of the ideas she had previously introduced, including sources of sacred information. There is a part at the end where Kovach speaks to how Hart warned that they shouldn’t share where the knowledge comes from, because they might not be recognized as legitimate. I don’t quite agree with or understand this, as I’ve come to understand that gate-keeping information is not the way to progress or inclusivity. It confuses me that the writing should end here in this way, except that maybe the author was doubting her choice to pursue this topic and then share it. I think that, after reading this research, Indigenous epistemology would encourage this sharing or knowledge even if it might not seem credible to outsiders. Kovach wrote that tools are significant and sacred, and it would make sense that the “sacred roots” of information would be understood much differently than what we would imagine as Western thinkers. We already get commonly introduced to many faith-based roots of “sacred” ideas like sinning and baptism, so why not learn about other ways, as well? We even say Christian-based pledges at school and allow bibles to be in some classrooms, so I believe we should be mixing in many others. A rotation would even be appropriate to me. The way I understand it, a big part of Indigenous culture honoring their relationship with the land was to include the relationships of all the people who live on it, too. Bringing others into what you know, as well as how you know it, would be the next steps in understanding and integrating with each other. Learning more about Indigenous practice is always a valuable expansion of understanding!

Hart, Michael. Seeking Mino-Pimatisiwin: An Aboriginal approach to helping. Vancouver, B.C: Langara College, 2011.

Kovach, Margaret. Indigenous methodologies: Characteristics, conversations, and contexts. Toronto,             Ontario: University of Toronto Press, 2022.