Traditional knowledge and healing

"There are more things in heaven and earth!"

Abstract not to be publish

"A revisiting of Freire's (1972) notion of fully human practice"

From these pages I hope at least the following will endure: my trust in people, and my faith in men and in the creation of a world in which it will be easier to love.’ Freire (1972:19)

A revisiting with Freire has excited my 21^st century middleclass heart and mind. I am wondering why this is not often quoted. Freire’s (1972:20-21) understanding that treating people as ‘fully human’ is in itself an act of love is controversial within market based political/economies where relationships have often become transactional rather than human to human. When fully human practice is considered within the context of professional relationships within the social work process it is at the heart of a 21^st century emancipation and liberation of Maori and other oppressed groups in Aotearoa.  It breaks down Freire’s (1972:10) notion of the ‘culture of silence’ where the ignorance and letahargy of oppressed are a direct result of being the recipients of dominance and paternalism. The result is practice that is co-constructed and transformative. In this paper I will explore the notions of ‘culture of silence’ and treating people as ‘fully human’ and transformative practice.

Freire, P. (1972). The pedagogy of the oppressed. Middlesex, Penguin

"Testing the waters: Building relationships through a Two Row Research Paradigm"

This experiential workshop is based on the Haudenosaunee Two Row Research Paradigm developed by Haudenosaunee Knowledge Keepers and a group of Indigenous-non-Indigenous scholars in dialogue about how to incorporate the theoretical concepts of the Two Row Wampum and the Covenant Chain of Friendship: Kariwiio (good mind/equal justice), Kasastensera (strength in unity/respect), and Skenn:ne (Peace).  During one dialogue, a community researcher from Deyohaha:ge suggested that "we put these ideas into action."  With approval from the group, Dr. Bonnie Freeman developed a community focused pilot project that attempts to reach an understanding of these concepts by means of action.  The ‘Testing the Waters: Building Relationships through a Two Row Research Paradigm’ pilot project came together to understand how alliances and relationship are formed and maintained among Haudenosaunee and allied research scholars, incorporating the Two Row Wampum and the Covenant Chain of Friendship.

The narrative that will be presented in the workshop is about the experience of two researchers as they traveled on a three-day canoe journey, putting into action an Indigenist research paradigm by means of the "Canoe and the Grand River". The ‘search for knowing’ that Dr. Bonnie Freeman (Haudenosaunee) and Dr. Trish Van Katwyk (Dutch ancestry) embarked upon occurred through the development of a water-based/land-based consciousness while journeying 54 kilometers on the Grand River in a canoe.  In the workshop, we will use participation and an experiential activity to consider the experience of canoeing as journey, critical auto ethnography, and relationship that is based in the Two Row Wampum Paradigm