IDEV 2000 discussion post
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University of Guelph *
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Course
2000
Subject
Arts Humanities
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
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4
Uploaded by CountDog3716
My learning story
Site 1-Indigenous Student Centre
While embarking on the self-guided portion of the campus tour, I walked with two others to the
Indigenous center. However, we quickly forgot the directions given to us and asked others on
campus. We found that most students were completely unaware of its location, and all the maps
on campus did not mention it at all. Finally, we were able to find it after searching it on Google
Maps. While walking up to the center, we reflected on how hidden it was, and we assumed the
location was an inconvenience. After having conversations with the people running the centre,
my previous preconceived notions were proved wrong. There was a lot of thought put into the
placement and the building location of the Indigenous Student Center. The location was picked
by Indigenous students attending the university. It was picked for its proximity to green spaces
and space that had the ability to host a garden. The particular building was chosen because there
are no smoke/fire detectors, but rather heat detectors. This allows smudging ceremonies to take
place regularly and without interruption. Another feature that is quite helpful for smudging
ceremonies is the fact that all of the windows in the building are able to open, which is extremely
uncommon for most buildings on the university campus. After this conversation, I thought a lot
about how buildings and infrastructure can also perpetuate colonialism. The aim of colonialism
was to “improve society” and architecture was used as a tool to demonstrate a successful society
(McGaw et al., 2011). The designs, architecture, placement, and materials used to construct
buildings are culturally informed based on previous designs and the assumed use of the
building(McGaw et al., 2011). Buildings on the University of Guelph campus were built in
several time periods, with the earliest building being built in the 1870s, with others being built in
the 19th century(
Historic Buildings · Brutalism at Guelph: Concrete in a New Light · Digital
Exhibits
, n.d.). As such, a large proportion of buildings are not fit to use for Indigenous cultural
practices. I found the knowledge I gained through conversations with people who were
knowledgeable about the location of the Indigenous Student Center to be particularly interesting
as isn’t acknowledged as a formal academic source, nor can this information be found online.
This goes against the pedagogy of Western universities where informal conversations are often
discredited.
Site 2 -
Uhmikwahdeze, “The Beaver”
After having that conversation, I took a walk around the Indigenous Student Center and found a
small sculpture of a beaver. While I reflected on what the meaning of the sculpture might be, I
realized I felt I was missing a large portion of the narrative around the sculpture itself. I did some
research and found out that the sculpture was installed in 2010, and also has a companion
sculpture at the art gallery on campus. After doing some research I Learned that The beaver was
sculpted by Mary Anne Barkhouse who belongs to the Nimpkish band, Kwakiutl First Nation.
Her work often uses animal imagery to examine environmental issues and Indigenous culture. In
this piece, the beaver is particularly important because it is a national symbol of Canada. When
European settlers arrived, beavers were heavily used in the fur trade, thus serving as a symbol of
Canadian formal colonization. During the fur trade, beavers nearly went extinct. To Barkhouse, it
represents nature's ability to persevere in times of hardship.
Site 3- Colony
After learning of the companion sculpture at the Art Gallery of Guelph, I walked over to the
partner sculpture. While looking at the sculpture I noticed Misshipeshu, who i recognized from
visiting an Indigenous centre on a previous trip to Lake Superior. Misshipeshu is an underwater
an underwater lynx prominent in Ojibway mythology. Misshipeshu is associated with protection.
Misshipeshu is carved into a rock, and on top of it sits a beaver, identical to the one I saw at the
Indigenous Student Centre. I reflected again on the symbolism of the beaver, as it appeared a
second time. Beavers are survivors, they reinvent and shape their surrounding ecosystems
through hard work. As previously mentioned, beavers also survived near extinction. I feel this
sculpture as well as its partner Uhmikwahdeze, speaks to the need for protection and respect of
land and non-human entities through Indigenous environmental leadership practices.
Final thoughts
Throughout this activity, I found I gained a lot of knowledge in ways that contrasted with the
Western pedagogy used in university classrooms. While at the Indigenous student centre, I was
able to gain important knowledge from conversations. This knowledge was exclusive to the
people who held that knowledge and was not available anywhere else. When I visited the
sculptures, I allowed land and place to be my teacher as I evaluated why the sculptures were
placed there as well the significance of the images and symbols. I also reflected on my
place/positionality in relation to the land. I felt frustrated because I didn’t understand the
meanings behind the beavers and the placement of the sculptures, and I realized how much
learning I needed to do in order to truly understand Indigenous culture. Land reminded me that
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allyship and decolonization are a constant, ongoing process that should evolve un-learning and
re-learning, no matter how knowledgeable we assume ourselves to be.
References
Historic buildings · Brutalism at Guelph: Concrete in a New Light · Digital exhibits
. (n.d.).
https://digex.lib.uoguelph.ca/exhibits/show/brutalism/blending-of-old-and-new/historic-buildings
McGaw, J., Pieris, A., & Potter, E. (2011). Indigenous Place-Making in the City: Dispossessions,
occupations and implications for cultural architecture.
Architectural Theory Review
,
16
(3), 296–311.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13264826.2011.621544
University of Guelph. (n.d.).
Uhmikwahdeze
. https://www.uoguelph.ca/maps/locations/the-beaver