Introduction from CICan
A Brief Note on Why We are Approaching Climate Change in the Building Trades through 2-Eyed Seeing
In our current world, we find ourselves facing, among many, 2 undeniable truths:
- We urgently need to take climate action
- We urgently need to act regarding Truth and Reconciliation.
But people may wonder – why are we doing these together in the same professional development module? Aren’t these two different issues? Are they both not meriting their own separate and distinct approach?
While both issues are exceedingly and vitally important each on their own, we cannot ignore the fact that there are many overlapping opportunities when we start to integrate both into the building trades. That is because:
A) The systemic and institutional mechanisms that resulted in the colonizing and genocide of our Indigenous communities and their individuals are the same that resulted in the devaluation and degradation of our environment and the destruction of our climate stability. AND
B) If we start to address one of those issues properly and coherently, we will also automatically start our journey toward addressing the other issue.
That is why these professional development modules for building instructors aim to be a starting point for Greening the Building Trades through Etuaptmumuk in Mi’kmaq language or Two-Eyed Seeing in English. Albert Marshall a respected Mi’kmaq elder who brought forward this concept says, “Two-Eyed Seeing refers to learning to see from one eye with the strengths of Indigenous ways of knowing and from the other eye with the strengths of Western ways of knowing and to using both of these eyes together” (Bartlett, Marshall, & Marshall, 2012, p. 335).
Using Etuaptmumuk or 2-Eyed Seeing to develop these modules, we are calling upon our members to take steps toward Truth and Reconciliation as well toward Net Zero in several ways. Truth and Reconciliation in Canada is about telling the truth of how settlers have treated and continue to treat Indigenous people, and committing to reconciling through making reparations and moving forward in a respectful manner, which includes making space for Indigenous people, voices, bodies, choices, customs, cultures, knowledge, perspectives, and approaches. The goal of Net Zero refers to running a society/economy while emitting no greenhouse gas emissions or offsetting any emissions.
Thus, with these modules, we aim to make a start of both integrating Net Zero and Truth and Reconciliation in the building trades and the way they are taught, and rationalize that it makes sense to do both at the same time because:
- In Truth and Reconciliation, we are called upon to create opportunity for Indigenous people to be educated in a way that Indigenous people choose. Which means, in Canada, we must ensure our institutions are inclusive for all, thus if we are to green the trades, we must make space for Indigenous approaches to greening the trades as well and Indigenous approaches to learning in general, which has been proven to be good for all learners, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike (Rebecca Thomas 2016).
- We are called upon to welcome Indigenous communities, approaches, and ways of thinking, which means we are supporting communities, approaches, and ways of thinking that are responsible for protecting more than 80% of global biodiversity. This is important because biodiversity is one of our greatest tools in mitigating climate change – through protection of forests and ecosystems and protecting their intricate biology that ensure survival of these ecosystems, we simultaneously maintain the atmospheric balance that allows us to live and survive.
- We are called upon to make space for Indigenous voices and approaches, that promote reciprocity and valuing of relationships, which are intrinsically aligned with Net Zero – a climate action goal the world over has committed to. As Darrion Letendre, a Land-Based Educator at NorQuest College puts it (and as he learned from his Kokum Shirley Letendre), “When you take something, you give something back. So when we take carbon out of the ground, what can we do to give something back?” Thus, incorporating Indigenous Approaches means we are embedding fundamental perspectives that support a sectoral shift as we strive for Net Zero in our buildings and landscapes.
- We are called upon to protect and support the health and sustainability of Indigenous lands, as a direct connection to supporting and protecting Indigenous culture and traditions. However, climate impacts create difficulties and change historical relationships people have with the land – thus addressing climate change means better protecting Indigenous lands and traditions.
- We are called upon to respect and regard valid Indigenous knowledge, science, and stories that have been passed down for generations. We regard these as equal to settler/ Western approaches to science in their importance and validity to understanding our world, our climate, and our environment – that is, when we integrate ALL of the information we see so much more than if we only use one eye – this fulsome view is also known as Etuaptmumuk 2-Eyed Seeing.
- Lastly, as we are opening our minds, behaviours, and hearts to a new way of seeing things, and making room for either Indigenous viewpoints, or prioritizing an ecological future, we open a door for change. We should not waste this chance at deconstructing our current ways of thinking and doing – we should reorganize our approaches to the building trades in a way that includes Indigenous perspectives AND the environmental perspective.
But this is just the start and we encourage you to continue to listen, be open, and have courage and faith.
Cited sources:
Bartlett, C., Marshall, M., Marshall, A. (2012). Two-eyed seeing and other lessons learned within a co-learning journey of bringing together indigenous and mainstream knowledges and ways of knowing. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, 2, 331–340.
