Two-Eyed Seeing

"Confederation Bridge" by Tuer Geist

Monday of "Time & a Place" was devoted to Aboriginal History. The day started with talks by 2 Mi'kmaq elders from Cape Breton, Albert Marshall and Murdeena ____. Integral to their talk was the idea of "two-eyed seeing," of First Nations today taking the best from both the aboriginal and Western worlds. Two-eyed seeing could well be said to have become the theme for the day: we travelled to Lennox Island First Nation, and met Mi'kmaq seeking to retain their culture while engaging fully with the modern world. The brand spanking new Mi'kmaq-owned Minigoo lobster processing plant, being managed by an Icelander with employees from all over, was indicative of that. The thinking behind "Time & a Place" is to study a small place broadly, as something of a model for the larger world. The day at Lennox Island -- a small island tucked against the larger one that is the province -- ended up serving as a nice model for the overall week, oddly. (PS: At lunch at Minigoo, I introduced myself to a man who turned out to be PEI's Minister of Energy & Environment, Richard Brown. He's tagging along throughout "Time & a Place." Small places encourage such access, I guess. Glad to see you involved this week, Richard.)

I can't sign off without mentioning we ended the day with a bang, Donald Worster delivering a public lecture on "North American in an Age of Limits." I'm still processing; more to come.

And I can't sign off without thanking archaeologist Helen Kristmanson, who inadvertently supplied the quote of the day. Describing one find, she spoke (by the seashore) of "oyster shells showing signs of shucking." Try to say that 3 times with a mouth full of (oyster) crackers.

Such thinking may seem natural to environmental historians, at least in terms of integrating the arts and sciences. In any case, two-eyed seeing could well have been the theme