Ancestral Science

Within this "active" Spring season of re-birth and re-growth, the Ancestral Science Podcast is taking a brief break to refresh and heal ourselves...so in deciding what episode to re-launch we were guided by the recent first thunder (amidst a thunderSNOW storm) that prompted the pop of the cottonwood buds, emerging crocus, and increased desires to reconnect with Native plants and our gardens, we thought...let's promote a previous guest Latifa of ALCLA Native Plants.

The episode was recorded in Fall 2023, on the Lands of the Blackfoot Confederacy, Tsuut’ina Nation, Îethka Nakoda First Nation, and more recently the Otipemisiwak Métis. 

The Ancestral Science Podcast was grateful to speak with LATIFA PELLETIER-AHMED, French Canadian with Bangladeshi roots, who is a botanist, herbalist, educator, artist, and co-owner of ALCLA Native Plant Nursery on Treaty 7 (just North of Calgary, Treaty 7). Latifa taught us about significance of critical thinking in science, plants as teachers and guides, the incredible adaptability and resilience of Native Plants, personalities of seeds, harm of mono-agriculture, honeybees aren't native, how to decolonize your lawn, and the importance of recognizing and learning about invasive species. 

Grab some herbal tea alongside a robin or crocus friend, and let's learn together about the importance of Native plants from Latifa Pelletier-Ahmed

For all you educators and curious folks who want to learn more, check out the shownotes here!

Remember, you can support the pod and rock some unique Indigenous Science merch at www.relationalsciencecircle.com/shop, all proceeds go towards Knowledge Keeper honoraria, following protocols, and keeping the pod going.

Please like, share, follow, and rate the pod, it goes a long way to share this knowledge.

Hand to heart to Indigenous Screen Office and Bespoke Productions Hub.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ancestral Science Podcast was grateful to speak with PHILIP STEVENS, San Carlos Apache, Director of American Indian Studies at the University of Idaho, about (global/Western) mathematics being like pornography or taxidermy, non-Euclidian tessellations in mesquite wood stacking, patterns of the Land, Apache ontologies, academic camouflage, and focusing on how to take care of our own garden/sphere of influence to broaden mathematical perspectives.

Upon Philip’s request, honoraria was gifted to someone we know that is in need. They were grateful, thank you.

Remember, you can support the pod and rock some unique Indigenous Science merch at www.relationalsciencecircle.com/shop, all proceeds go towards Knowledge Keeper honoraria, following protocols, and keeping the pod going.

Please like, share, follow, and rate the pod, it goes a long way to share this knowledge.

Hand to Heart to Indigenous Screen Office and Bespoke Productions Hub.

As always, for all you educators out there, extensive shownotes are HERE

Here are some fast cool links from the episode:

“A Woodcutter’s Story: Perceptions and Uses of Mathematics on San Carlos Apache Reservation” (article) by Philip Stevens

“‘A space for you to be who you are’: an ethnographic portrait of reterritorializing Indigenous student identities” (article) by Vanessa Anthony-Stevens, Philip Stevens

-Math as...

...arithmetic

       -in school math was a place to count

       -it was about memorization and abstract ideas, disconnect from self, culture, land, spirit

  ...pornography

           -Philip mentioned that the processes he was required to go through to understand global/western mathematics made him feel like a pornographer, because it removed all emotion and love. 

      ...taxidermy

             -Learning global/western mathematics was like hunting then killing mathematics, taking its life, its spirit, its energy, then stuffing it with inanimate, unfamiliar, unrelated...materials. It is no longer a relative, no longer connected to culture, Land, ceremony, community, or spirit.

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The Ancestral Science Podcast wanted to support our friend JUNO AWARD NOMINEE Walter McDonald White Bear....so... we decided to gather some friends, a few guitars, and some pizza. Along with some impromptu riffs and freestyle we got to chat about embodying music, spirit as an additional voice/instrument, connections between goosebumps and music, frequencies, songs, & language of the Land, the suppressed Native American Influence on Rock n Roll, Rhythm and Poetry, and the connection between snagging blankets and flutes. 

Hand to heart to support from Indigenous Screen Office and BESPOKE Productions HUB

Take a moment to like, share, follow, and rate, it is much appreciated.

Cheer on Bear at the JUNOS and check out his website www.walterwhitebear.com

For all you educators or if you just want to learn more about all the cool stuff we talked about, check out the SHOWNOTES. These are also available here.

Grab a non-alcoholic beer or a Bepsi, grab your favourite instrument, and come jam along with Bear and friends.

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We were honoured to be recording in a cedar longhouse on the ancestral Nisqually lands of Hweqwidi HANFORD MCCLOUD. The pod chatted with Hanford alongside relatives Juan Carlos Chavez, Alvin Harvey, and a furry friend for support. Amongst the aroma of cedar and displays of relational and practical science of canoe and basket-making, we chatted about cedar bark as insect repellant, trees as teachers and wise helpers, FishWars, how to make waterproof woven cedar baskets, the difference between a canoe and a boat, and using your hands to teach and heal through pulling cedar.

This episode of the Ancestral Science Podcast was recorded on location in January on the misty Lands of the Nisqually Nation just South of Seattle, by the Nisqually River. 

Hand to heart to support from Indigenous Screen Office and BESPOKE Productions

Take a moment to like, share, follow, and rate, it is much appreciated.

Check out some of Hanford's cedar hats, woven with science, spirit, and ancestral stories, at MccloudCreations.

Full SHOWNOTES: (great for educators!!) here

Grab your latest beading or sewing project, brew a pot of berry tea, and come learn alongside HANFORD MCCLOUD.

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The Ancestral Science Podcast was honoured to be gifted some time with TERRI CARDINAL from Saddle Lake Cree Nation. We chatted about Nêhiyaw teachings of death and dying, the science of soothing when grieving, connection between hair and senses / love and grief, death as a transition not an end, disconnecting fear from death, and the how jokes and laughter at the seemingly most inappropriate times is incredibly healing.

Terri donated her honoraria to Good Hoops, a grassroots basketball program out of Edmonton Alberta, creating opportunities through basketball. 

Check out Terri and Amber’s podcast called 2 Crees in a Pod, where they have created space for Indigenous resurgence and stories!

Remember, you can support the pod and rock some unique Indigenous Science merch at www.relationalsciencecircle.com/shop, all proceeds go towards Knowledge Keeper honoraria, following protocols, and keeping the pod going.

Please like, share, follow, and rate the pod, it goes a long way to share this knowledge.

Hand to heart to Indigenous Screen Office and Bespoke Productions Hub.

FULL SHOWNOTES: these are great resources for educators and learning more!

Available here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With increased conversations about journeying beyond Earth, to Mars and beyond....we thought we would re-release this timely episode we recorded in Fall 2023.

We were grateful to speak with Dr. ALVIN HARVEY a Navajo/Diné Scientist about Space Justice, the ethics of travelling beyond Earth, what it means to be in relationship with Space, how space is ALIVE, and why humans really shouldn't do donuts on Mars. Alvin is a doing his post-doc on Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT.

Remember, you can support the pod and rock some unique Indigenous Science merch at www.relationalsciencecircle.com/shop, all proceeds go towards Knowledge Keeper honoraria, following protocols, and keeping the pod going.

Please like, share, follow, and rate the pod, it goes a long way to share this knowledge.

Hand to heart to support from Indigenous Screen Office and Bespoke Productions Hub.

Educator and those interested in learning more, full detailed shownotes with additional links, videos, books, articles ect, are here. Also check out https://www.relationalsciencecircle.com/ to learn more about Indigenous Science and Education.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join the Ancestral Science Pod and learn from CHEYENNE SEGO, about about the scientific significance of the teachings of gut feelings, Anishinabek Mathematics, stories of the time when sturgeon had legs and beavers were giants, economic reconciliation, and the resurgence of Indigenous peoples, science, and the seven sacred teachings.

Cheyenne generously donated her honoraria to Na-Me-Res, an organization that provides temporary and transitional housing to Aboriginal men, located in Toronto.

Want to learn more? Or are you a teacher and want to dig deeper into these teachings? Check out the extended shownotes: Here.

Also, you can check out previous episodes, shownotes, and UNIQUE Indigenous Science MERCH at relationalsciencecircle.com

Hand to heart to support from Indigenous Screen Office.

Take a moment to like, share, follow, and rate, it is much appreciated.

Episode correction: Cheyenne commented on there being “more student-to-student abuse in residential schools” but meant to say “there was more student-to-student abuse in residential schools than the researchers were expecting.”

Gratitude to the support from JUAN-CARLOS CHAVEZ, the editing and audio skills of EMIL STARLIGHT of Limelight Multimedia, and ALEX FLETT for marketing and pod support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ancestral Science podcast got to learn from Dr. Michael YELLOW BIRD, by first beginning with a guided meditation to ground ourselves and focus on the present, then we explored a mathematical equation for decolonization, how Auntie jokes can protect the brain, the effects of colonization on our bodies and brains, the smell of bacon and well-being, mindfulness and systemic racism, and ancestral eating.

Thanks to the Indigenous Screen Office for the support of this episode.

Take a moment to like, share, follow, and rate, it is much appreciated.

Full Shownotes Doc (great for educators!): here

As always, if you want to share the knowledges gifted from the pod, please respect oral traditions and protocols by connecting the knowledges with the Knowledge Keeper and the Lands they are from. This ensures the knowledges are not appropriated, not pan-Indigenized, and retain connections to the peoples and Land they are from.

Get comfy with your fav blanket or meditation pillow, by a houseplant or a window to connect with the sky, open all your senses and heart to wellness teachings from Dr. Michael Yellowbird.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ancestral Science podcast fam ALL got to chat with Sahtu Dene mother, wife, activist, political organizer, and podcast host MICHELLE ROBINSON (they/them) about the game and everyday application of mathematics, how nature talks back to us, the silence of snow as a teaching, dogs as ancestors, natural law vs. colonial law, colonization,  addictions and uranium, and how the future and sustainability of the earth lies with the teachings of reciprocity, respect, and circle of life of Indigenous Peoples.

Michelle generously donated her honoraria to www.skippingstone.ca, and organization that empowers trans folks here in Treaty 7. 

Remember, you can support the pod and rock some unique Indigenous Science merch at www.relationalsciencecircle.com/shop, all proceeds go towards Knowledge Keeper honoraria, following protocols, and keeping the pod going.

Full SHOWNOTES: here

Important Reconciliation Resources:

Truth & Reconciliation Commission of Canada

8Th Fire, Wab Kinew article, video

https://www.nativecalgarian.com

The Indian Act

National Indigenous Economic Strategy

UNDRIP

Pam Palmater: Idol no More

Treaty Right to Health, UBC Treaty Rights to Health

Richard Van Camp

American Indian Codetalkers of WWII

https://www.nativecalgarian.com

www.skippingstone.ca

Thanks to the Indigenous Screen Office for the support of this episode.

Gratitude to the support from JUAN-CARLOS CHAVEZ, the editing and audio skills of EMIL STARLIGHT of Limelight Multimedia, and ALEX FLETT for marketing and pod support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ancestral Science podcast fam ALL got to chat with Sahtu Dene mother, wife, activist, political organizer, and podcast host MICHELLE ROBINSON (they/them) about the game and everyday application of mathematics, how nature talks back to us, the silence of snow as a teaching, dogs as ancestors, natural law vs. colonial law, colonization,  addictions and uranium, and how the future and sustainability of the earth lies with the teachings of reciprocity, respect, and circle of life of Indigenous Peoples.

Michelle generously donated her honoraria to www.skippingstone.ca, and organization that empowers trans folks here in Treaty 7. 

Remember, you can support the pod and rock some unique Indigenous Science merch at www.relationalsciencecircle.com/shop, all proceeds go towards Knowledge Keeper honoraria, following protocols, and keeping the pod going.

Full SHOWNOTES: here

Important Reconciliation Resources:

Truth & Reconciliation Commission of Canada

8Th Fire, Wab Kinew article, video

https://www.nativecalgarian.com

The Indian Act

National Indigenous Economic Strategy

UNDRIP

Pam Palmater: Idol no More

Treaty Right to Health, UBC Treaty Rights to Health

Richard Van Camp

American Indian Codetalkers of WWII

https://www.nativecalgarian.com

www.skippingstone.ca

Thanks to the Indigenous Screen Office for the support of this episode.

Gratitude to the support from JUAN-CARLOS CHAVEZ, the editing and audio skills of EMIL STARLIGHT of Limelight Multimedia, and ALEX FLETT for marketing and pod support.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.