One of my favorite quotes by Timothy Tyson is, “If there is to be reconciliation, first there must be truth”. This quote perfectly encapsulates my journey toward reconciliation as I believe that before we can reconcile our past mistakes, we must first expose the truth behind our actions and understand the impact that they have had on Indigenous communities. However, the information that I had learned about Indigenous culture and spirituality in the whitewashed history textbooks did not equip me to gain an understanding of the indigenous point of view. Because of how this information was taught, I felt that I could not connect to the material and Indigenous issues felt so distant from me. These feelings were consistent until I was invited to participate in a sweat lodge ceremony. After this initial experience, I felt more open to learning about Indigenous culture. This experience allowed me to personally explore knowledge that had always felt so distant to me, thus beginning my journey towards reconciliation. I feel that to truly make a connection or understand the impact of a situation, we must first try to experience it or sympathize with those who have experienced it. During this course, I was able to take a deep dive into diverse ways of knowing, diversity, and differences that can impact learning and how this will impact me as a future educator. It also allowed me to reflect on my privileges as a Caucasian female. Both aspects connect to my exploration and representation of indigenous spirituality and their connection to nature and the medicine wheel and ways in which we can support the Indigenous communities, through funding or awareness.
Throughout elementary school and high school I have always been curious about indigenous spirituality and their connection to nature. I chose to explored aspects of indigenous spirituality, which included the connection to ways of knowing and the medicine wheel as well as their mystical connection to nature. Upon investigation of the meaning behind the medicine wheel I have discovered that it represents so many aspects of Indigenous culture and beliefs. According to Bob Joseph a member of the Gwawa’enuk Nation, and chief of the Gayaxala clan, the medicine wheel, also sometimes known as the scared hoop, represents “the process of how life evolves, how the natural world grows and works together, how all things are connected, and how all things move toward their destiny.” Joeseph’s explanation of the significance of the medicine wheel references many aspects such as the shape, colors, and directions. The circular shape of the wheel represents the Indigenous belief of interconnectedness, which is the belief that all aspects of a person’s being are connected to nature and vice versa. The sacred hoop is then split into four quadrants representing the four directions: North, east, south, and west. Each direction corresponds with a color, season, animal, element, and stage of life. For example, North is associated with the color white, the season of winter, the wolf, the element of Air, and old age or elders. The four quadrants acted as a tool to educate people about the repetition of cycles within nature such as the seasons and the cycle of life and death. It also represents the connection between mind, body, spirit, and emotion, and how each function and combine to make a person whole. In my research I have discovered that the medicine wheel connects to the concept of diverse ways of knowing and sharing. For the Indigenous peoples of Canada this is the way that they view and understand the world. While this may seem strange to us it does not make it wrong. It is similar to the separate ways that everyone absorbs information. Some people are visual learners and require a teacher to connect their lessons to images or demonstrations, while others are kinesthetic learners who learn by doing rather than being shown. We all learn differently and have our own ways of processing information or ways in which we perceive the world. I believe that if we are willing to accept this fact that we can achieve reconciliation. We can learn from our differences and adopt them to better understand their point of view rather than judging them. So many people be so quick to judge people or ideas that challenge they are without considering the effect that this might have on others. Education is our salvation and will lead us towards a better and brighter future.
Another substantial portion of my journey is exploring different ways to bring awareness to Indigenous issues and or methods of funding that aid those in need. As a Caucasian woman I acknowledge my privilege and that others face challenges that I have not experienced. Because of this I wanted to explore the ways in which I could show my support, help those less fortunate, and bring awareness to Indigenous issues. One of the ways that I can show my support is by wearing an orange shirt on September 30th. According to the Orange Shirt Society, Orange shirt day was created to “to commemorate the residential school experience, to witness and honor the healing journey of the survivors and their families, and to commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation.” Wearing an orange shirt bring awareness to the atrocities committed at the residential schools all over Canada. Indigenous children were plucked from their homes and sent away to these schools where they experienced countless instances of mental, physical, and even sexual abuse, of which people are still recovering from. Another way to support Indigenous communities is by donating money to foundations such as the Indian Residential School Survivors Society, who are “a provincial organization with a twenty-year history of providing services to Indian Residential School Survivors.” Many of us are unaware of the privileges we have. Ignorance is one of the biggest issues that society must overcome. This can be achieved by educating ourselves and actively supporting Indigenous communities. Our efforts will heal the wounds which have plagued Indigenous peoples for centuries and will inevitably push us towards reconciliation.
My aesthetic representation’s purpose is to encompass both the ideas of exploring the connection between indigenous ways of knowing and the medicine wheel as well as ways in which we can connect the knowledge that has been shared and support Indigenous communities. My piece was done in Conte, which is a drawing medium similar to chalk pastels. The piece’s main focal point is the contact made between the Caucasian male and the Indigenous male. I specifically chose the point of contact to be the forehead to symbolize the transfer of knowledge and truths. It also symbolizes a connection to mindfulness and awareness between the two men. The cascading trees and he feathers are meant to represent our dependance on nature as both men depend on nature to supply them with a means to live. We all depend on nature to live creating common ground between the two men. Finally, the medicine wheel represents the ways in which we understand the world, while both men are different and hold different beliefs of the world, they are both connected through the Sacred hoop. We are all one body and soul and I wanted to represent that through my piece. Despite all our differences we have much to learn from another and we can both help each other grow and reach common ground.
I believe that before we can reconcile our past mistakes, we must first expose the truth behind our actions and understand the impact that they have had on Indigenous communities. To be able to make a connection or understand the impact of a situation, we must first try to experience it or sympathize with those who have experienced it. Throughout the course, I was able to explore diverse ways of knowing and to reflect on my privileges as a Caucasian female. Both aspects connect to my exploration and representation of the connection between indigenous ways of knowing through the medicine wheel as well as ways in which we can connect the knowledge that has been shared and support Indigenous communities through wearing an orange shirt and donating to organizations such as the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.