Mod#1-Post#4: Two-eyed Seeing Approach

One key insight that I gained throughout this first module is that culture matters. As such, I am curious to learn more about the integration of indigenous culture in instruction design and the classroom practices. While exploring this topic, I came across “Two-eyed seeing” concept, developed by Mi’kmaw Elder Albert Marshall. It is a culturally responsive approach to learning in which students learn to see from one eye with the strengths of Indigenous knowledge and methods of knowing, and from the other eye with the strengths of Western knowledge and methods of knowing (The Green Interview, 2019, January). In his interview with Silver Donald Cameron, Marshall says the concept was initially used with the youth in his community, “to look at everything from another perspective” and constantly learn from one other. He adds: “The fundamental principles of two-eyed seeing are not meant to question the integrity of something, of an action, of a word but rather to encourage you to put your curiosity in a higher gear, invoke that curiosity so that you can fine-tune this action or this word to be much more reflective so you will be that much more effective as a community member or a nation.” (The Green Interview, 2019, January, para.6). I believe the incorporation of approaches like this may help all students, educators, and professionals better understand and appreciate Indigenous values, learning styles, and traditional ways of knowing. Below is the YouTube video of the interview.

References

• The Green Interview (2018, September 12). Albert Marshall

  . Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fwg2MEsr9WI&t=389s

• The Green Interview. (2019, January). Albert Marshall: Learning to see with both eyes. Retrieved from https://thegreeninterview.com/interview/learning-to-see-with-both-eyes/