A conversation of national and planetary significance.

The David Suzuki Institute works with the Reconciling Ways of Knowing Society and other partners to facilitate conversations between Indigenous Peoples (and their governments) and Canadians (and their governments).

Reconciling Ways of Knowing brings together Indigenous knowledge and science to care for our shared home, Earth. It recognizes that a nation-to-nation relationship is far more than a government-to-government relationship between official representatives and structures. It is a relationship between the Peoples and their ways of being and knowing. It recognizes that each is different in its ways of being and knowing and that neither is superior or inferior to the other.

As useful as science is, it is often reductive, exploring a phenomenon or hypothesis in isolation. It’s a specific way of knowing that must be situated within a broader context to be significant and relevant.

In many ways, Indigenous knowledge is more encompassing and profound. It embraces gratitude, love, respect and a deep sense of responsibility. Scientists scrub such emotions in the name of objectivity and try to find universal principles that can be replicated anywhere.

Indigenous knowledge is the accumulated observations, trials and errors, successes and failures of Peoples living in place. It’s critical for a Peoples’ survival and has been tested and proven by their continued survival and thriving in their homelands over thousands of years.

Both science and Indigenous knowledge are needed for a fuller understanding of our place in the world.

Through interactive online dialogues (and in-person forums once the pandemic has ended), as well as reports and other communications, we hope to facilitate a better understanding of our relationship with Earth and explore ways to resolve the environmental crises we face, together as Peoples.