Canada shares the land with around six hundred First Nations while within the United States, there are five hundred seventy-three tribes. Their collective Indigenous knowledge shares many similar ideas including,
"Everything is connected.
The world is a gift.
The sacred is a vital part of knowing.
We are always learning."
The first chapter explores what this means by taking each idea and providing examples from Indigenous knowledge. For example, to explain the first Indigenous concept, Yellowhorn demonstrates the connection between pecan nuts and the squirrels who collect them as food. In this chapter readers learn about the Menominee Nation who manage a sawmill with forest conservation practices that ensure the forest will exist generations from now. Other Indigenous practices such as learning to use the cocao beans to make a delicious drink or repurposing the qulliq, an oil lamp once used by the Inuit to heat their homes and cook food is now part of Inuit ceremonies.
In the Mi'kmaq language, Etauapmumk means "two-eyed seeing": "One eye sees with the strengths of Indigenous ways of knowing and the other eye sees a scientific worldview. Etuapmumk means learning to use both eyes together for the benefit of all." As an example, the Inuit who live in the Arctic can observe the changes climate change has brought about in the sea ice and the animals that live there. They inform the scientists who study the effects of climate change.
Chapter 2, Water Knowledge explores the knowledge that comes from the Indigenous belief that water is sacred and needs to be protected. The beaver is an example of the connection between water, animals and humans. Indigenous use of water knowledge is given in a few examples: the Hohokam canals used to irrigate crops, the Mi'kmaw use of waterways to travel great distances and the Calusa in Florida who "built their watercraft from hollowed-out cypress logs."
This chapter highlights some of the issues Indigenous peoples have experienced regarding water: the effect dams like the Grand Coulee Dam have had on salmon runs on the Columbia River, lack of potable water for over fifty years in the Anishinable community of Grassy Narrows in northwestern Ontario. This chapter also profiles several Indigenous activists who have worked to protect water.
Chapter 3 considers Fire and Smoke knowledge. It's believed that smoke connects our breath to the heavens and fire is a great gift that cooks our food and can be part of the life cycle. This chapter explores smudging and sacred pipes as well as the Navajo Fire Dance. It also presents the ways Indigenous peoples used cultural burns to help keep forests healthy.
Chapter 4 explores Indigenous knowledge as it relates to food security. The Mi'kmaq term, Netukulimuk informs Indigenous ways. It means, "take only what is needed and waste nothing." In this chapter the gifts of the buffalo, the salmon and plants are explored. Some of the topics covered include the restoration of free-roaming buffalo to the Great Plains in both Canada and the U.S. by Indigenous scientists, the reclaiming of ancient aquaculture such as restoring ancient clam gardens used for centuries by the Coastal peoples in British Columbia, Alaska and Baffin Island, and the use of the "three sisters" - corn, beans and squash to feed Indigenous peoples for centuries.
Chapter 5 Healing Knowledge Ways explores how "Indigenous peoples think about health and healing." It is a system based on the belief that there must be harmony between the body, mind and spirit. Indigenous healing focuses on restoring that harmony. This includes the Medicine Wheel, the Sweat Lodge and playing games. Indigenous knowledge also focuses on restoring harmony between man and the environment. One of the examples in this chapter is the Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation who are leaders in boreal forest conservation.
Sky Knowledge, Chapter 6 focuses on how "Indigenous astronomers studied the sun, moon, planets and stars to give us our maps, our calendar, beliefs about how to govern, and even directions for building our homes." In this chapter, Wayfinding using Polaris, marking time using the lunar cycle and Indigenous scientists who now study the sky are the focus here.
How Indigenous peoples are working to ensure their knowledge is not lost, is the focus of Chapter 7. Oral narratives were the means Indigenous peoples passed knowledge from one generation to the next. How this was done is the focus here with the importance of language in the transfer of knowledge discussed. The profiles of several Indigenous knowledge keepers is highlighted.
In Sky Wolf's Call, Chapter 8, the story of the Sky Wolf encourages us to work together as everything in our world is connected, to cherish the gifts of our world, and to give thank for these gifts.
Discussion
Sky Wolf's Call is a fascinating look into the various types of Indigenous Knowledge and how it is being applied by today's Indigenous peoples and Indigenous scientists.
Yellowhorn begins by introducing his readers to what makes up Indigenous knowledge and how it is passed on and retelling the Blackfoot story of cultural hero and trickster,Naapi and the Sky Wolves who helped Indigenous peoples survive on the new world that Naapi had created. Using this Blackfoot story of the lessons the Sky Wolves gave, Sky Wolf's Call goes on to present the various kinds of Indigenous knowledge beginning with water knowledge.
A constant theme in this informative book is the braiding together of Indigenous knowledge with Indigenous peoples stories, the teachings of the Elders and Knowledge Keepers, and Indigenous observations and inventions. The authors use Indigenous stories to showcase their beliefs and how these informed their practices, particularly in the management of natural resources.
One special strength of Sky Wolf's Call are the Meet sections where the contributions of a specific Indigenous Knowledge Keeper is featured. There are plenty of photographs to engage younger readers and Yellowhorn includes plenty of very interesting facts.
SkyWolf's Call is both informative and engaging, offering readers a window into the beliefs and practices of Canada's Indigenous peoples. It is a unique approach to the natural world and the understanding of the interconnectedness between humans and our world and offers a call to all peoples to work to preserve the gift of our planet.
Includes a Glossary, Selected Reading, Sources and Contacts, Image credits and an Index.
Book Details:
Sky Wolf's Call by Eldon Yellowhorn and Kath Lowinger
Toronto: Annick Press Ltd.
120 pp.
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