The Surprising Indigenous Origins of Modern Technology | McGill PTP Ep.4

Ep 4. “Indgenizing Technology”. Read the full article on Substack: “Indgenizing Technology” Blog: The Normative Network: https://substack.com/@thenormativenetwork Is there an inherent conflict between Indigenous culture and technological progress? In this episode of the PTP Podcast, Alex sits down with Robbie Dillon to discuss his recent article on the Normative Network Substack. Robbie unpacks the "Double Bind": the catch-22 where Indigenous people are viewed as "unauthentic" if they adopt modern technology, but "primitive" if they don't. We explore: The Erasure of History: Indigenous inventions like the syringe, aspirin, and the baby bottle. Metaphysical Worldviews: Comparing the "Dominion" model of the West with the "Relational" model of Sky Woman. Epistemic Humility: Why approaching the "Great Mystery" leads to more sustainable technology. The Oka Crisis (1990): The significance of Robbie’s shirt and the ongoing fight against land expropriation. 💡 About the McGill PTP Lab The McGill Philosophy, Technology & Policy (PTP) Lab brings the tools of philosophy to bear on pressing questions in technology ethics and policy. We investigate the interconnections between AI, social media, gaming platforms, and other emerging technologies, examining how they collectively shape human experience. Our mission is to articulate and help realize the good digital life and just digital society. Subscribe for more discussions on technology, ethics, and policy! 🌐 Connect With Us: Website: https://www.mcgillptplab.com X / Twitter: https://x.com/mcgill_ptp_lab Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcgill.ptp.lab/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mcgill-philosophy-technology-and-policy-lab/ YouYube: https://www.youtube.com/@McGillPTPLab #TechEthics #AIEthics #PhilosophyOfTech #DigitalPolicy #McGillUniversity #TechGovernance #HumanLabor