JESSIE FIDDLER-KISS, a Métis mother, beader, entrepreneur, and educator, taught us about Science as relationships between Land and time, how children are the best teachers of truth, love and how to play, the significance of trickster stories, anti-septic properties of moss, and the connection between swaddling and brain development.
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-The Moss Bag Project
-Articles about Moss Bag Project on CBC, Avenue Calgary, Telus Spark Science Centre here
-the importance of community and Aunties supporting mothers. “the moss bag is the anchor” (Jessie Fiddler-Kiss)
-“children are our greatest teachers,” they are the closest to spirit, learning from the world around them; a method of learning often forgotten by adults. Children teach us about love, play, and new beginnings.
-education systems need to allow for children to learn through play, discovery, failure, and follow their own sparks.
-“Indigenous Methodology: Characteristics, Conversations, and Contexts” Margaret Kovach.
-think about the limitations Western academic processes and methods exert on knowledges that are connected with Land and Community? What are we missing if we don’t expand our minds and hearts to knowings and processes/methodologies that are community/land-based?
-Dr. Carmon Gillies, University of Saskatchewan
- A Critical Race Theory Analysis of Metis Teachers’ Counter-Stories. here
- Historical Racial Theories and Ongoing Racialization in Saskatchewan. here
-Trickster stories: Jessie is using “trickster stories” as a storytelling method for her Masters degree.
-the trickster is a common theme in many Native stories and teachings, with the purpose of teacher, making mistakes to teach humans.
-“Coyote the Trickster,” Syilx Okanagan & Secwepemc stories. "Trickster Tales," “Trickster: Native American Tales” Dembicki, Thompson, Perry (graphic novel, “Trickster,” Eden Robinson (books) (CBC show)
-who/what is a Trickster in your community/culture? How do you learn from these stories/knowledges?
-“Whiteness as Property,” Cheryl Harris
-“Critical Race Theory, an introduction,” Delgado & Stefancic
-Moss Bag Science: moss bag as a tool for survival so caregivers could continue to work with babies.
-Sphagnum moss, used as ‘diaper,’ is anti septic and anti fungal. Its absorbant properties meant there were little (if no) diaper rash. It is antibacterial and has been used on wounds to heal and protect them. It is reusable, when the moss is used up, it went back to the earth.
-“Antibacterial activities of some mosses...” Kang et al., here
- Swaddling mimics how babies are held in the womb and how they are delivered from the spirit world. It supports brain development in babies by continuing to hold them post birth. At this time, baby and mothers/fathers are flooded with hormones to allow for neuroplasticity- a perfect time for family healing, learning, and growth! Skin to skin regulates the baby, sleeping better when near loved ones.
-being in a moss bag, alongside those working, gathering, telling stories, allows for babies to be observant, always learning from their environment.
-Beading & Moss Bags. Each community/family has unique symbols, colours, & patterns of beading. Métis beading: colourful, usually on a black background, florals, plant medicines, and patterns of rotation & scale. Blackfoot beading: often geometrical with triangles, lines, and reflection.
Help re-matriate a Moss Bag Ancestor. Picture here, email here.
-Land-based Indigenous systems Education Program: programs for skills, conversations, and topics you wish you learned in school; eg. listening to aunties and grandparents talk in the kitchen, community land-based programs. fiddlerkissconsulting
-“Prison of Grass: Canada from a Native point of view,” Howard Adams. here
Gratitude to Sponsorship from BLUE MARBLE SPACE INSTITUTE of SCIENCE, and the editing skills of EMIL STARLIGHT of Limelight Multimedia.
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