Support the podcast through buying come cool Ancestral Science merch which supports Elder honoraria, editing, and keeping the podcast going. This week's shirt is "My Ancestors were Mathematicians. Navigating using trigonometry of spirit, stars, and stones."
“Ancestral Science: Journeying by Spirit, Stars, & Stones” with Dr. JUAN-CARLOS CHAVEZ began with the question “what is science to you?” which led to conversations about the elements as relationships, navigating by stars, sticks, the corner bush, and whistle frequencies, significance of the teachings of spirit, harms of re-naming, modern maps, “exploration”, and the “white picket fence,” melting icebergs and viruses, and thinking about what is our place in the universe?
Elements as Relationships: the four elements connect to a variety of stories across Turtle Island, with the significance of the number four (4 winds, 4 directions, 4 colours, 4 peoples, 4 ways of living etc.) and how they balance one another. Within the Circle of Life (sometimes referred to as the Medicine Wheel), the four elements - water, fire, earth, air, represent the balance of creation, the relationships between each element, and humans in relation to the Earth. Casey Eagle Speaker (Kainai Nation) says “We are the Land. Our skeletons the mountains/rocks, our breath the wind, our tears the water, our emotions and spirit like the fire.” Sacred Defenders of the Universe @ TELUS Spark Science Centre
Boarders: boarders often disconnect (through politics or conflict), but Dr. Chavez challenges us to think about how boarders can connect by recognizing every tribes unique location (with unique medicines, winds, animals, stories) and each human’s unique gift. How can we better gather together as inter-tribal peoples to learn from one another? Great article by Marcy Angeles of Nednhi Chiricahua Apache.
Senses & Navigation: because of easy access to google maps, humans have become so disconnected from the Land and navigation. Next time you are outside, pay attention to your senses, how can you use them to navigate? Listen to the patterns of the birds, the flow of the rivers, the waves of the ocean, the smells of the flowers, observe the pathways of the sun in relation to the horizon/mountains/stars.
Significance of Names: names are identity and can represent gifts, significant moments/achievements, are often gifted in ceremony, and can hold responsibilities. When names are changed, be it a human or a place, these connections to culture and identity are lost. Next time you are driving or walking, pay attention to the street, river, valley, mountain names, whose stories do they reflect? Indigenous Naming Practices, Renaming, Renaming in Canada, Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada.
Polyanesian Wayfinding: People have been journeying across Mother Earth (over Land and Waters, and in the Sky) for thousands of years, to connect with other communities, trade medicines and food, follow animal migrations, and share knowledge. Navigation using relationships between sky, land, and water, is extremely complex, mathematical, and relational, and stories of the Hokulea are a great way to begin your journey in better understanding this type of Indigenous and Relational science. Hawaiian Navigation, Sticks to Navigate.
Tipis & Telescopes: an incredible Indigenous Science Knowledge gathering hosted by the one and only Wilfred Buck. Humans have all looked up at the same skies, but every community, across continents and lands created stories (connected to their own culture, animals, medicines, knowledges, weather) in connection to the stars. Unfortunately, there is often a singular story and name, often from Greek/Roman origin, that we connect with the stars. Tipis and Telescopes embraces and shares stories from various Indigenous communities about the stars and the sky.
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Blue Marble Space Institute of Science Editor: Emil Starlight
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