Episode 14: Dan Longboat - The Importance of First Nations Traditions, Language and Knowledge Now

"Being faced with COVID and the complexity of it, science is just beginning to understand how those things are interconnected with one another, but our elders still have that knowledge and so it is critically important that science begin a process of engaging with indigenous communities to really understand the complexity of the world we live, both the seen and unseen."Dr. Dan Longboat, Roronhiakewan - "He Clears the Sky" - is the founding Director of the Indigenous Environmental Studies and Sciences Program -- the first of its kind in North America -- at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario. Dan has spent his life dedicated to First Nations issues, stressing the importance of learning from Elders and Knowledge Holders as the foundation for identity, vision and life purposes. In this thoughtful and fascinating interview, he and National Chief Bellegarde discuss why, in this moment of COVID-19 and environmental crisis, the traditional teachings, languages, visions and knowledge of indigenous people are critically important to returning the earth to balance.Dan is a Turtle Clan member of the Mohawk Nation and a citizen of the Rotinonshón:ni (Haudenosaunee - People of the Longhouse), originally from Ohsweken - the Six Nations community on the Grand River. A special thanks goes out to the Red Dog Singers of Treaty 4 territory in Saskatchewan for providing the theme music for this podcast.The Ahkameyimok Podcast is produced in Ottawa by David McGuffin of Explore Podcast Productions.