Week 11 Indigenous Methodologies

The article, "Indigenous Methodologies Characteristics, Conversations, arid Contexts," by Margaret Kovach, is a conversation on indigenous methodologies.  Indigenous epistemology is a form of philosophy that focuses on the study of knowledge.  My focus is on what the author uses within her article to explain education through generations.  Indigenous methodologies flow from tribal knowledge, and while they are allied with several western qualitative approaches, they remain distinct through history.  The author uses different theories through the article like decolonization, self-culture, and ethics.   In the article, there is a moment where the author uses a quote from Dyke, 1986: 132.  "The first step to liquidating a people ... is to erase its memory ... before long a nation will begin to forget what it is, and what it was.  The world around it will never forget even faster."  After this quote, Margaret explains that many indigenous people do not know their heritage language and there are some that attempt to relearn what was part of their history.  I agree that over time certain people become comfortable, and due to that as newer generations are born there is neglect in learning languages that are not used as heavily as they were.  I use my own family as an example, my family's descent comes from some of Mexico and Spain.  When I get approached by someone of the Mexican culture there is confusion and almost anger from those individuals because I do not know the Spanish language.  Almost like I was offending their culture by not knowing the language.  


There is part in the article later on where the author says, "From a holistic epistemology, one relationship is not more significant than another.  Rather, it has a balance of all.  Relational balance is holistic epistemology.  Indigenous epistemologies are action-oriented."  From what I gathered from this quote I believe that the author is trying to say that the relations of another are what makes our education.  I do think that this quote is relevant to focus on because the passing of education is not just within indigenous people.  The last part in this quote where she says epistemologies are action-oriented is what stood out to be the most within this because even though the author is making the point within indigenous people this still holds true to knowledge passed through generations.  The indigenous methodology is an important contribution to the emergent discourse of research that can be used by researchers of all backgrounds.  



Comments

  1. India BeachNovember 5, 2021 at 4:44 PM

    Brenden, I enjoyed your analysis of this week's reading. You made several well written points about how oppressors aim to erase a culture and the importance of language. My suggestions to improve is to use an artwork to evaluate. An artwork is needed in the reflections you write each week. Also one of your sentences uses the phrase “heritage language”. That’s not wrong, it just reads funny, maybe try “ancestral language” or something similar. Nice job!

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  2. Cayla PeasleeNovember 6, 2021 at 12:47 PM

    Brenden,

    I enjoyed your blog and how you focused on Kovach's explanations for the passing of knowledge from generation to generation. This is something that can be seen widespread but it is important to note that western culture does not take many indigenous methods seriously and discredits their knowledge. The interrelationship between people and surroundings is very different when we look at the USA compared to almost every other country, western culture tends to want to separate from all other things because there is a deep seeded belief that we are superior. Great job breaking down this weeks reading! I did notice that you didn't include a relevant artwork or citations for your sources which would make your post even better.
    -Cayla

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  3. Yvonne_HumeNovember 6, 2021 at 9:18 PM

    Hello Brenden,
    Nice job on your blog and understanding of this week's reading. I appreciate how you took out some quotes and applied it to your personal experience and research of all backgrounds. I found it interesting that the article brought how if one wants to erase a culture that they first eliminate the language. By eliminating language you destroy the people and its memory. Especially in the indigenous culture since much knowledge is passed through story telling and skilled orators. The only critique I have for your blog you mentioned how indigenous epistemology is action-oriented and that it "holds true to knowledge passed through generations". I would just like you to expand on that statement more and explain how..Overall, I liked your blog.

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