Ancestral Science

This episode was recorded in fall 2024 at Star 6 Ranch at the Food Sovereignty camp hosted by HOWL (they do amazing land-based camps across Canada with youth). At this camp, the Ancestral Science Podcast was invited to learn from DARYL KOOTENAY about the science of smoke, the patience and resilience needed to live on the land, Indian popcorn, science of tending to the flame, moose noses and Elk brains, the need for multiple freezers, how smoke is the traditional Gore-Tex, and how food sovereignty can bring people together and is a massive step towards reconciliACTION.This episode was created with the support of TELUS Storyhive.Remember, you can support the pod and rock some unique Indigenous Science merch at www.relationalsciencecircle.com/shop, all proceeds go towards Knowledge Keeper honoraria, following protocols, and keeping the pod going.Please like, share, follow, and rate the pod, it goes a long way to share this knowledge. Thanks to Emil Starlight (@emilstarlight) of Limelight Multimedia for editing, videography, and editing as well as support from Bespoke Productions Hub. Intro composed and performed by Walter White Bear, Sharon Ann Foster, and Emil Starlight. Questions for the Pod? Email us at relational.science@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Smoketalk!If you haven't listened to the previous episode "Decolonizing Blood & Birth" with Alycia Two Bears, I recommend going there first then coming back to smoketalk to listen to the Pod Team's takes and expanded conversation about the previous episode.Check out Alycia's book "The Feast"If you are curious or an educator, here are some shownotes for additional content and links.Ancestral Science Podcast WebsiteAncestral Science Podcast MerchFollow us on IG and FBPlease like, share, follow, all the things...helps us to get these important conversations out there."Knowledge that isn't shared isn't knowledge" (Casey Eagle Speaker, Kainai) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Pod was grateful to learn from THE Alycia Two Bears, a Two-Spirit mixed Cree educator and author from Misatawasis Nêhiyawak First Nation, about her journey to become a midwife, what is a land-birth, how to decolonize and de-stigmatize blood,  reconnecting ceremony and community with birthing, reproductive justice and birth sovereignty, caregiving roles of men and partners within pregnancy, birth, and caregiving, and of course...moss bag science, adult moss bags, and one comfy swaddled podcast host!Grab a tea with honey, snuggle a small human or fluffy pet, and join us in this incredibly important conversation for EVERYONE (not just women) with ALYCIA TWO BEARS.Remember to check out Alycia's new poetry book "The Feast” about love, loss, sex, and ceremony through an Indigenous feminist lens.Curious for more resources or are you an educator? Check out the shownotes: here.You can support the pod and rock some unique Indigenous Science merch at www.relationalsciencecircle.com/shop, all proceeds go towards Knowledge Keeper honoraria, following protocols, and keeping the pod going. Please like, share, follow, and rate the pod, it goes a long way to share this knowledge. Thanks to Emil Starlight (@emilstarlight) of Limelight Multimedia for editing, videography, and editing. Alex for marketing and being a superstar oskâpêwis, as well as support from Bespoke Productions Hub. Intro composed and performed by Walter White Bear, Sharon Ann Foster, and Emil Starlight. Questions for the Pod? Email us at relational.science@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join the Ancestral Science Pod Team as we chat about the previous episode. We had some technical difficulties this week, so we decided to re-release a previous episode about a similar topic connected to Drew Hayden Taylor. But, "Smoketalk" going to be even cooler after the next episode drop on October 13 with Alycia Two Bears, sorry, THE Alycia Two Bears!Check out our webpage, which is being updated (again, stick with is!) https://www.relationalsciencecircle.com-lots of resources for educators and all you curious humans-and NEW MERCH!Thanks Emil Starlight for editing, audio, and video talent, Alex for marketing and being a superstar oskâpêwis, and Bespoke Productions Hub.The Ancestral Science pod crew, Emil Starlight, Alex Flett, and Kori Chewbacca (haha), chatted about INDIGENOUS SCIENCE FICTION while recording LIVE on location, beyond Earth...I mean... at the Calgary Comic Convention about how Science Fiction has been inspired by Indigenous Teachings, was Barf from Space Balls inspired by a rez dog? Thinking about how animals, trees, and the wind are Ancestors and therefore use language that goes beyond human-to-human, The Force, glitches in the Matrix or teachings from our Ancestors? Reconnecting with ancestral technology and DNA, our deepest fears and reoccurring dreams, and the future of Indigenous Science Fiction... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We were grateful to speak with contemporary storyteller Drew Hayden Taylor, Ojibwe from Curve Lake First Nation about learning to write through osmosis, dimensional hopping & portaging, how Indigenous stories make great Science Fiction, 1492 and Alien contact, anthropomorphizing animals and plants through relationality, humour as WD40, and science fiction as a metaphor for many of life’s issues. Remember, you can support the pod and rock some unique Indigenous Science merch at www.relationalsciencecircle.com/shop, all proceeds go towards Knowledge Keeper honoraria, following protocols, and keeping the pod going. Please like, share, follow, and rate the pod, it goes a long way to share this knowledge. Thanks to Emil Starlight (@emilstarlight) of Limelight Multimedia for editing, videography, and editing as well as support from Bespoke Productions Hub.Intro music composed and performed by Walter White Bear, Sharon Ann Foster, and Emil Starlight. Questions for the Pod? Email us at relational.science@gmail.com See related episodes of ASP: -Season 2 Episode 23 “Indigenous Science Fiction”-Season 1 Episode 9 “Space Justice & Cosmic Relationality” Full Shownotes: here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Pod Team decided to begin Season 3 by reconnecting over Smoketalk where we chat about what we have learned over the summer, our goals for season 3...from new segments to opening up more conversations with community and the pod listeners.  Remember, you can support the pod and rock some unique Indigenous Science merch at www.relationalsciencecircle.com/shop, all proceeds go towards Knowledge Keeper honoraria, following protocols, and keeping the pod going. Please like, share, follow, and rate the pod, it goes a long way to share this knowledge. Thanks to Emil Starlight (@emilstarlight) of Limelight Multimedia for editing, videography, and editing as well as support from Bespoke Productions Hub.Intro music composed and performed by Walter White Bear, Sharon Ann Foster, and Emil Starlight. Questions for the Pod? Email us at relational.science@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ancestral Science pod crew, Emil Starlight, Alex Flett, and Kori Chewbacca (haha), chatted about INDIGENOUS SCIENCE FICTION while recording LIVE on location, beyond Earth...I mean... at the Calgary Comic Convention about how Science Fiction has been inspired by Indigenous Teachings, was Barf from Space Balls inspired by a rez dog? Thinking about how animals, trees, and the wind are Ancestors and therefore use language that goes beyond human-to-human, The Force, glitches in the Matrix or teachings from our Ancestors? Reconnecting with ancestral technology and DNA, our deepest fears and reoccurring dreams, and the future of Indigenous Science Fiction...This is the final episode of SEASON TWO!! Stay tuned for some exciting pod fun happening over the summer, from an “Indigenous Youth Podcast Take-over” to more videos... email us at relational.science@gmail.com for more information.For all the EDUCATORS, check out the shownotes for additional links, expanded learnings, and much more!Hand to heart to Emil Starlight for editing & audio amazingness, and Indigenous Screen Office and Bespoke Productions Hub for their support.Grab a glass of Bantha milk or some Rootleaf Stew, and open your mind and heart to the topic of Indigenous Science Fiction with the Ancestral Science Podcast team...**cue the Wookie Grunt** Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ancestral Science Podcast was grateful to speak with TCHADAS LEO, from Xwemalhkwu and Stillaguamish Nations, a journalist and tv and podcast host (check out his pod "Our Native Land"). We chatted about his passion for being an Indigenous journalist and how he balances time constraints with protocols, his dream story to cover, the courage needed to "tell the truth," and artifact/ancestor rematriation. We heard more about his SOON TO BE LAUNCHED graphic novel named "Xwémalhkwu Hero Stories: A Graphic Novel", that shares stories of his Ancestral lands before and after colonization. We dug into the science within these stories, from food preservation and sensory hunting to clam digging in relation to moon cycles and sand stories. For all you teachers and educators, we have extensive show notes and additional links available here.  Hand to Heart to Indigenous Screen Office and Bespoke Productions Hub. Please like, share, follow, and rate the pod, it goes a long way to share this knowledge. Remember, you can support the pod and rock some unique Indigenous Science merch at www.relationalsciencecircle.com/shop, all proceeds go towards Knowledge Keeper honoraria, following protocols, and keeping the pod going. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Within this "active" Spring season of re-birth and re-growth, the Ancestral Science Podcast is taking a brief break to refresh and heal ourselves...so in deciding what episode to re-launch we were guided by the recent first thunder (amidst a thunderSNOW storm) that prompted the pop of the cottonwood buds, emerging crocus, and increased desires to reconnect with Native plants and our gardens, we thought...let's promote a previous guest Latifa of ALCLA Native Plants.The episode was recorded in Fall 2023, on the Lands of the Blackfoot Confederacy, Tsuut’ina Nation, Îethka Nakoda First Nation, and more recently the Otipemisiwak Métis. The Ancestral Science Podcast was grateful to speak with LATIFA PELLETIER-AHMED, French Canadian with Bangladeshi roots, who is a botanist, herbalist, educator, artist, and co-owner of ALCLA Native Plant Nursery on Treaty 7 (just North of Calgary, Treaty 7). Latifa taught us about significance of critical thinking in science, plants as teachers and guides, the incredible adaptability and resilience of Native Plants, personalities of seeds, harm of mono-agriculture, honeybees aren't native, how to decolonize your lawn, and the importance of recognizing and learning about invasive species.  Grab some herbal tea alongside a robin or crocus friend, and let's learn together about the importance of Native plants from Latifa Pelletier-Ahmed For all you educators and curious folks who want to learn more, check out the shownotes here!Remember, you can support the pod and rock some unique Indigenous Science merch at www.relationalsciencecircle.com/shop, all proceeds go towards Knowledge Keeper honoraria, following protocols, and keeping the pod going. Please like, share, follow, and rate the pod, it goes a long way to share this knowledge. Hand to heart to Indigenous Screen Office and Bespoke Productions Hub. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ancestral Science Podcast was grateful to speak with PHILIP STEVENS, San Carlos Apache, Director of American Indian Studies at the University of Idaho, about (global/Western) mathematics being like pornography or taxidermy, non-Euclidian tessellations in mesquite wood stacking, patterns of the Land, Apache ontologies, academic camouflage, and focusing on how to take care of our own garden/sphere of influence to broaden mathematical perspectives. Upon Philip’s request, honoraria was gifted to someone we know that is in need. They were grateful, thank you. Remember, you can support the pod and rock some unique Indigenous Science merch at www.relationalsciencecircle.com/shop, all proceeds go towards Knowledge Keeper honoraria, following protocols, and keeping the pod going. Please like, share, follow, and rate the pod, it goes a long way to share this knowledge.Hand to Heart to Indigenous Screen Office and Bespoke Productions Hub.As always, for all you educators out there, extensive shownotes are HEREHere are some fast cool links from the episode:“A Woodcutter’s Story: Perceptions and Uses of Mathematics on San Carlos Apache Reservation” (article) by Philip Stevens“‘A space for you to be who you are’: an ethnographic portrait of reterritorializing Indigenous student identities” (article) by Vanessa Anthony-Stevens, Philip Stevens-Math as......arithmetic       -in school math was a place to count       -it was about memorization and abstract ideas, disconnect from self, culture, land, spirit  ...pornography           -Philip mentioned that the processes he was required to go through to understand global/western mathematics made him feel like a pornographer, because it removed all emotion and love.       ...taxidermy             -Learning global/western mathematics was like hunting then killing mathematics, taking its life, its spirit, its energy, then stuffing it with inanimate, unfamiliar, unrelated...materials. It is no longer a relative, no longer connected to culture, Land, ceremony, community, or spirit.                   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ancestral Science Podcast wanted to support our friend JUNO AWARD NOMINEE Walter McDonald White Bear....so... we decided to gather some friends, a few guitars, and some pizza. Along with some impromptu riffs and freestyle we got to chat about embodying music, spirit as an additional voice/instrument, connections between goosebumps and music, frequencies, songs, & language of the Land, the suppressed Native American Influence on Rock n Roll, Rhythm and Poetry, and the connection between snagging blankets and flutes. Hand to heart to support from Indigenous Screen Office and BESPOKE Productions HUBTake a moment to like, share, follow, and rate, it is much appreciated.Cheer on Bear at the JUNOS and check out his website www.walterwhitebear.comFor all you educators or if you just want to learn more about all the cool stuff we talked about, check out the SHOWNOTES. These are also available here.Grab a non-alcoholic beer or a Bepsi, grab your favourite instrument, and come jam along with Bear and friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We were honoured to be recording in a cedar longhouse on the ancestral Nisqually lands of Hweqwidi HANFORD MCCLOUD. The pod chatted with Hanford alongside relatives Juan Carlos Chavez, Alvin Harvey, and a furry friend for support. Amongst the aroma of cedar and displays of relational and practical science of canoe and basket-making, we chatted about cedar bark as insect repellant, trees as teachers and wise helpers, FishWars, how to make waterproof woven cedar baskets, the difference between a canoe and a boat, and using your hands to teach and heal through pulling cedar.This episode of the Ancestral Science Podcast was recorded on location in January on the misty Lands of the Nisqually Nation just South of Seattle, by the Nisqually River. Hand to heart to support from Indigenous Screen Office and BESPOKE ProductionsTake a moment to like, share, follow, and rate, it is much appreciated.Check out some of Hanford's cedar hats, woven with science, spirit, and ancestral stories, at MccloudCreations.Full SHOWNOTES: (great for educators!!) hereGrab your latest beading or sewing project, brew a pot of berry tea, and come learn alongside HANFORD MCCLOUD. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ancestral Science Podcast was honoured to be gifted some time with TERRI CARDINAL from Saddle Lake Cree Nation. We chatted about Nêhiyaw teachings of death and dying, the science of soothing when grieving, connection between hair and senses / love and grief, death as a transition not an end, disconnecting fear from death, and the how jokes and laughter at the seemingly most inappropriate times is incredibly healing.Terri donated her honoraria to Good Hoops, a grassroots basketball program out of Edmonton Alberta, creating opportunities through basketball. Check out Terri and Amber’s podcast called 2 Crees in a Pod, where they have created space for Indigenous resurgence and stories!Remember, you can support the pod and rock some unique Indigenous Science merch at www.relationalsciencecircle.com/shop, all proceeds go towards Knowledge Keeper honoraria, following protocols, and keeping the pod going. Please like, share, follow, and rate the pod, it goes a long way to share this knowledge.Hand to heart to Indigenous Screen Office and Bespoke Productions Hub.FULL SHOWNOTES: these are great resources for educators and learning more!Available here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With increased conversations about journeying beyond Earth, to Mars and beyond....we thought we would re-release this timely episode we recorded in Fall 2023. We were grateful to speak with Dr. ALVIN HARVEY a Navajo/Diné Scientist about Space Justice, the ethics of travelling beyond Earth, what it means to be in relationship with Space, how space is ALIVE, and why humans really shouldn't do donuts on Mars. Alvin is a doing his post-doc on Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT. Remember, you can support the pod and rock some unique Indigenous Science merch at www.relationalsciencecircle.com/shop, all proceeds go towards Knowledge Keeper honoraria, following protocols, and keeping the pod going. Please like, share, follow, and rate the pod, it goes a long way to share this knowledge. Hand to heart to support from Indigenous Screen Office and Bespoke Productions Hub.Educator and those interested in learning more, full detailed shownotes with additional links, videos, books, articles ect, are here. Also check out https://www.relationalsciencecircle.com/ to learn more about Indigenous Science and Education. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join the Ancestral Science Pod and learn from CHEYENNE SEGO, about about the scientific significance of the teachings of gut feelings, Anishinabek Mathematics, stories of the time when sturgeon had legs and beavers were giants, economic reconciliation, and the resurgence of Indigenous peoples, science, and the seven sacred teachings.Cheyenne generously donated her honoraria to Na-Me-Res, an organization that provides temporary and transitional housing to Aboriginal men, located in Toronto.Want to learn more? Or are you a teacher and want to dig deeper into these teachings? Check out the extended shownotes: Here.Also, you can check out previous episodes, shownotes, and UNIQUE Indigenous Science MERCH at relationalsciencecircle.comHand to heart to support from Indigenous Screen Office and Storyhive.Take a moment to like, share, follow, and rate, it is much appreciated.Episode correction: Cheyenne commented on there being “more student-to-student abuse in residential schools” but meant to say “there was more student-to-student abuse in residential schools than the researchers were expecting.”Gratitude to the support from JUAN-CARLOS CHAVEZ, the editing and audio skills of EMIL STARLIGHT of Limelight Multimedia, and ALEX FLETT for marketing and pod support. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ancestral Science podcast got to learn from Dr. Michael YELLOW BIRD, by first beginning with a guided meditation to ground ourselves and focus on the present, then we explored a mathematical equation for decolonization, how Auntie jokes can protect the brain, the effects of colonization on our bodies and brains, the smell of bacon and well-being, mindfulness and systemic racism, and ancestral eating.Hand to heart to support from Indigenous Screen Office and Storyhive.Take a moment to like, share, follow, and rate, it is much appreciated.Full Shownotes Doc (great for educators!): hereAs always, if you want to share the knowledges gifted from the pod, please respect oral traditions and protocols by connecting the knowledges with the Knowledge Keeper and the Lands they are from. This ensures the knowledges are not appropriated, not pan-Indigenized, and retain connections to the peoples and Land they are from.Get comfy with your fav blanket or meditation pillow, by a houseplant or a window to connect with the sky, open all your senses and heart to wellness teachings from Dr. Michael Yellowbird. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ancestral Science podcast fam ALL got to chat with Sahtu Dene mother, wife, activist, political organizer, and podcast host MICHELLE ROBINSON (they/them) about the game and everyday application of mathematics, how nature talks back to us, the silence of snow as a teaching, dogs as ancestors, natural law vs. colonial law, colonization,  addictions and uranium, and how the future and sustainability of the earth lies with the teachings of reciprocity, respect, and circle of life of Indigenous Peoples.Michelle generously donated her honoraria to www.skippingstone.ca, and organization that empowers trans folks here in Treaty 7.  Remember, you can support the pod and rock some unique Indigenous Science merch at www.relationalsciencecircle.com/shop, all proceeds go towards Knowledge Keeper honoraria, following protocols, and keeping the pod going.Full SHOWNOTES: hereImportant Reconciliation Resources:Truth & Reconciliation Commission of Canada8Th Fire, Wab Kinew article, videohttps://www.nativecalgarian.comThe Indian ActNational Indigenous Economic StrategyUNDRIPPam Palmater: Idol no MoreTreaty Right to Health, UBC Treaty Rights to HealthRichard Van CampAmerican Indian Codetalkers of WWIIhttps://www.nativecalgarian.comwww.skippingstone.caGratitude to the support from JUAN-CARLOS CHAVEZ, the editing and audio skills of EMIL STARLIGHT of Limelight Multimedia, and ALEX FLETT for marketing and pod support. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ancestral Science podcast fam ALL got to chat with Sahtu Dene mother, wife, activist, political organizer, and podcast host MICHELLE ROBINSON (they/them) about the game and everyday application of mathematics, how nature talks back to us, the silence of snow as a teaching, dogs as ancestors, natural law vs. colonial law, colonization,  addictions and uranium, and how the future and sustainability of the earth lies with the teachings of reciprocity, respect, and circle of life of Indigenous Peoples.Michelle generously donated her honoraria to www.skippingstone.ca, and organization that empowers trans folks here in Treaty 7.  Remember, you can support the pod and rock some unique Indigenous Science merch at www.relationalsciencecircle.com/shop, all proceeds go towards Knowledge Keeper honoraria, following protocols, and keeping the pod going.Full SHOWNOTES: hereImportant Reconciliation Resources:Truth & Reconciliation Commission of Canada8Th Fire, Wab Kinew article, videohttps://www.nativecalgarian.comThe Indian ActNational Indigenous Economic StrategyUNDRIPPam Palmater: Idol no MoreTreaty Right to Health, UBC Treaty Rights to HealthRichard Van CampAmerican Indian Codetalkers of WWIIhttps://www.nativecalgarian.comwww.skippingstone.caGratitude to the support from JUAN-CARLOS CHAVEZ, the editing and audio skills of EMIL STARLIGHT of Limelight Multimedia, and ALEX FLETT for marketing and pod support. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Ancestral Science Podcast was grateful to chat with Blackfoot Physicist COREY GRAY about inspiring to be the "Blackfoot MacGyver," the connection between the Blackfoot language and Albert Einstein, how we are all a part of space-time, chirps and hairy neutron stars, supermassive blackholes and wolf eyes, and the importance of seeing people that "look like you" in science and physics. Hand to heart to support from Indigenous Screen Office and Storyhive.Take a moment to like, share, follow, and rate, it is much appreciated. Now, open your minds and heart to teachings from the very very big to the very very small. Remember, you can support the pod and rock some unique Indigenous Science merch at www.relationalsciencecircle.com/shop, all proceeds go towards Knowledge Keeper honoraria, following protocols, and keeping the pod going.Cool links:-Gravitational wave SOUND:   https://www.ligo.caltech.edu/video/ligo20160211v2-https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/corey-gray-siksika-blackfoot-nation-mcgyver-1.5145208-https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/npr/1211597243/the-first-ever-detection-of-gravitational-waves-and-the-powwow-that-preceded-itFull Shownotes (a great resource for teachers and educators): hereCheck out https://www.relationalsciencecircle.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Relaunching one of our favourite episodes as the Pod-fam takes some time to plan upcoming episodes, edit, and prepare our merch for upcoming holiday markets!We began the conversation with DR. NICOLE REDVERS (Deninu Kųę́ First Nation) with defining both "science" and "healing," which lead to a conversation about how "everyday can be a healing experience," berries changing genetics, Indigenous Medicine Science as a reawakening, Land as healing and the effects of amplifying these connections through consciousness, differences between spirit and soul, what is a gut feeling?, and decolonizing and recolonizing our microbiome. Remember, any support from the "Ancestral Podcast MERCH" helps pay Elders, Knowledge Keepers, to follow protocols and keep this podcast going, and keeping the pod going.Dr. Redvers graciously donated her honoraria to: Arctic Indigenous Wellness FoundationSHOWNOTES: here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.