Two-Eyed Seeing

Stephen Posner, Director of Pathways to Planetary Health with the Garrison Institute, was invited to facilitate a public conversation with Albert Marshall, a Mi’kmaw Elder, and Cliff Kapono, a scientist and pro surfer. The dialogue focused on Etuaptmumk, also known as Two-Eyed Seeing – a philosophy that inspires us to view the world from one eye with the strengths of Indigenous ways of knowing, and from the other eye with the strengths of Western ways of knowing.

Pathways to Planetary Health is embracing this approach in contributing to the first ever U.S. National Nature Assessment, where Stephen has been selected by federal leadership as a co-author, and in partnering with Ulnooweg Education Centre on a land-based education program with Mi’kmaw youth. 

Two-Eyed Seeing brings together Western science and Indigenous knowledge for holistic understanding. Envisioning the world this way serves as a guiding principle for life as a co-learning journey that harmoniously blends different knowledge systems and points of view.

“[We] look upon this concept as a fundamental principle for how we go through life – not just being cognizant and mindful of the actions that you’re going to take, but being mindful of whether these actions would somehow compromise the balance of what you’re doing with nature… Overall, our first objective is to encourage people to come together as one.” – Mi’kmaw Elder Albert Marshall

The conversation revolved around the central importance of considering multiple perspectives and deep interconnectedness when understanding nature and society. 

All three speakers emphasized the need for shared responsibility to address social and planetary health challenges. Embracing a holistic approach to life means preserving ecological integrity in decision-making, prioritizing collective responsibility, and mitigating harm to all nature.

“We need everything in our power to maintain the inherent responsibilities that we have to always make sure that the present and the future will be better off because of the actions that we have taken while we were here.” – Mi’kmaw Elder Albert Marshall

Honoring science and diverse ways of knowing is a powerful way to become more aware of prejudices and cultivate respect for the natural world and each other. Two-Eyed Seeing can be a foundation for building harmonious relationships that helps us recognize the vital importance of diversity to a peaceful and compassionate world. 

Respectfully celebrating the gifts of Indigenous knowledge and western science can bring cultures together to create transformative change and work toward common objectives such as energy transitions, individual and shared resilience, and designing economic institutions that contribute to the common good.

In the video recording of the conversation below, the speakers explore how Two-Eyed Seeing applies across topics, including: 

• The central importance of not compromising ecological integrity through our actions and keeping in mind the well-being of the next seven generations of humans; 
• Opportunities to evolve our scientific understanding of the universe (which changes over time), while recognizing our ancient wisdom traditions (which are timeless);
• Creating and using maps to orient to place, illuminate previously unfamiliar terrain, deepen relationship with place, and develop a sense of belonging and affinity with nature; 
• Intentions and motivations underlying applications of technology in space and on Earth;
• What it means to “see change” through a Western science lens and an Indigenous way of knowing.

This conversation was created through a partnership among Pathways to Planetary Health and See Change Sessions, and was filmed at a flagship event in late February 2024 on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain at Hula in Burlington, Vermont. This event introduced the power of applied contemplative practice to a diverse audience of change makers. Our goals were to develop insight into inner dimensions of outer change making. We engaged with innovative social presencing practices led by Arawana Hayashi to build capacity for awareness-based systems change. Two-Eyed Seeing builds on work by Elder Albert Marshall, Dr. Murdina Marshall, Dr. Linda Tuhiwai Smith, Dr. Daniel Longboat, and others who have described approaches that bring together multiple knowledge systems in ways that are based on mutual benefit, respect, authenticity, and innovative collaboration.  

Albert Marshall is a Mi’kmaw Elder and Moose Clan from Eskasoni, Unama’ki/Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, the territory of the Mi’kma’ki. Elder Marshall originated Etuaptmumk and shares it as a guide in co-learning journeys that blend different knowledge systems. 

Cliff Kapono, PhD is a professional scientist and National Science Foundation Fellow who co-founded the next generation research facility, Mega Lab. Cliff is also a professional surfer and Kanaka Maoli person living in Hawaii who focuses on Indigenous knowledge and science for the benefit of all.  

Stephen Posner, PhD is Director of Pathways to Planetary Health with the Garrison Institute. Stephen lives in Vermont and applies the education and training he’s received in science, Indigenous research methods, and contemplative practice across traditions to teach and conduct engaged planetary health research with communities.