#10 - Indigenous Thought: Communicating and Transforming Academic Knowledge for Tribal Communities
07/10/20 • 92 min
In this episode, the IRC team discusses how we can communicate indigenous thought and knowledge gained from academic institutions to our tribal communities. The episode starts with the Snyeʔstn, a scout song used to welcome back the scout that was sent out to gather knowledge of enemies and game near the camp. Whenever a Scout was seen returning, loping his horse, riding in a zigzag manner, and singing it was known he was bearing news and had seen something. A party of men, old and young, went to meet him. They advanced in a line, singing the song. The people of the camp would then gather and go out from the camp to some spot and would stand there. They had a leader and he would stand out from the crowd and drop a blanket on the ground; that is where the scout would stop. He must have power, and the power tells him where to throw down the blanket.” He drops the blanket in a bundle, not spread out, and then backs away from it to the waiting crowd. The leader has a stick, and after the scout has dismounted and come to the blanket, the leader strikes him with the stick. It is a signal to him that he may talk. Then the scout tells whatever news he has, whether good or bad.
The IRC Team used this song as a springboard to discuss their experiences in completing their academic degrees and the process of disseminating this knowledge to tribal and academic communities. The IRC team finds that the presence of witnesses from their family and community is an important part of validation for the knowledge they gained and how that gained it.
The IRC team continues the discussion after listening to a clip of the Sninyultmtn or parade song. There are several different types of Parade Songs. Some were associated with warriors returning from war or raids, weddings, telling of deeds, etc. Parades seem to have been quite common. This song was for a parade was called, “Sninyultn” and could be held at any time. This resembled the ride around the camp circle of returning victorious warriors except that it was held for entertainment. Both men and women participate in horseback riding parallel in rows. There would be a number of these rows of mounted people. A man and woman would often ride double. This parade would take place inside the camp circle and it would move around the row of teepees. Both men and women would join in singing the song.
The IRC Team finished their discussion by exploring ways to transform the academic process that may align more closely with a traditional way of informing their communities of the knowledge they have gained. The Team finds that a variety of modes of communication may work best to capture and repackage academic knowledge that is useful to Tribal communities.
Have answers? Suggestions? Agree? Disagree? Join the conversation at one of our social media sites. Your input is valuable to advance our understanding.
Hosts: Aaron Brien, Kamiah Dumontier, Serra Hoagland, Salena Hill, Marty Lopez, Shandin Pete
Website http://irc.skc.edu
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ircskc/
Twitter https://twitter.com/IRCSKC
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/106832977633248/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWwuqsg39_mE76xMxER5MSQ
In this episode, the IRC team discusses how we can communicate indigenous thought and knowledge gained from academic institutions to our tribal communities. The episode starts with the Snyeʔstn, a scout song used to welcome back the scout that was sent out to gather knowledge of enemies and game near the camp. Whenever a Scout was seen returning, loping his horse, riding in a zigzag manner, and singing it was known he was bearing news and had seen something. A party of men, old and young, went to meet him. They advanced in a line, singing the song. The people of the camp would then gather and go out from the camp to some spot and would stand there. They had a leader and he would stand out from the crowd and drop a blanket on the ground; that is where the scout would stop. He must have power, and the power tells him where to throw down the blanket.” He drops the blanket in a bundle, not spread out, and then backs away from it to the waiting crowd. The leader has a stick, and after the scout has dismounted and come to the blanket, the leader strikes him with the stick. It is a signal to him that he may talk. Then the scout tells whatever news he has, whether good or bad.
The IRC Team used this song as a springboard to discuss their experiences in completing their academic degrees and the process of disseminating this knowledge to tribal and academic communities. The IRC team finds that the presence of witnesses from their family and community is an important part of validation for the knowledge they gained and how that gained it.
The IRC team continues the discussion after listening to a clip of the Sninyultmtn or parade song. There are several different types of Parade Songs. Some were associated with warriors returning from war or raids, weddings, telling of deeds, etc. Parades seem to have been quite common. This song was for a parade was called, “Sninyultn” and could be held at any time. This resembled the ride around the camp circle of returning victorious warriors except that it was held for entertainment. Both men and women participate in horseback riding parallel in rows. There would be a number of these rows of mounted people. A man and woman would often ride double. This parade would take place inside the camp circle and it would move around the row of teepees. Both men and women would join in singing the song.
The IRC Team finished their discussion by exploring ways to transform the academic process that may align more closely with a traditional way of informing their communities of the knowledge they have gained. The Team finds that a variety of modes of communication may work best to capture and repackage academic knowledge that is useful to Tribal communities.
Have answers? Suggestions? Agree? Disagree? Join the conversation at one of our social media sites. Your input is valuable to advance our understanding.
Hosts: Aaron Brien, Kamiah Dumontier, Serra Hoagland, Salena Hill, Marty Lopez, Shandin Pete
Website http://irc.skc.edu
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ircskc/
Twitter https://twitter.com/IRCSKC
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/106832977633248/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWwuqsg39_mE76xMxER5MSQ
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#9 - Highlights: Ep. 1 - Love Medicine & Ep 2. - The Power of Songs
In this bonus episode, listen to highlight from the IRC research team discussion on the implication of traditional understandings situated into modern Indigenous life and love. Also, the exploration of modern issues facing cultural revitalization and foundational worldview characteristics important to research by Indigenous scholars. Also highlighted are discussions on the power of songs in an Indigenous worldview. Of interest is the spiritual power of songs and how they can be situated in a modern context. The question arises whether songs, as one of the most important parts of Indigenous spirituality and lifeway, can have a space in modern academics and research. How can Indigenous scholars and communities reclaim this knowledge authentically?
Featuring: Aaron Brien, Kamiah Dumontier, Serra Hoagland and Shandin Pete
Website http://irc.skc.edu
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ircskc/
Twitter https://twitter.com/IRCSKC
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/106832977633248/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWwuqsg39_mE76xMxER5MSQ
Next Episode
#11 - Good Deeds: Current Concepts of Tribal Recognition of Accomplishments
In this episode, the IRC team discusses how we can retain or revitalize tribal protocols for the recognition of accomplishments and good deeds. The episode starts with a Crow song used for the telling of war deeds. Public acknowledgment and witnesses to the narration of deeds are one of few times an individual can boast of their accomplishments. The IRC Team used this song as a springboard to discuss how Tribal groups currently acknowledge the accomplishments of individuals and the importance of songs in this process. How can this remain situated in today's everchanging changing world? The reality of war as an overarching event has diminished, what are equivalent deeds and accomplishment today?
The IRC team continues the discussion after listening to a song for the Sn̓t̓l̓eʔseʔ , “Dance of Bodies Meeting”. This dance marked the end of the Daytime Syulm. The women, during this Syulm had worn the clothing, weapons and adornment of the men and the men had assisted them in dressing and preparation. Even the women’s hair was dressed in the men’s style. In the Sn̓t̓l̓eʔseʔ, a row of women will dance forward until they are in contact with the men. Either foot is advanced in front of the other and a woman with the feet retaining this position shuffles forward. The line of women dancers then move backward with the same step and the row of men follows them. The row of men advances until they touch the row of women. Then the row of men begins to move back and the row of women immediately moves towards them. The distance between the two rows is about two feet during this movement. Both men and women sang the words while the two rows were moving back and forth.
The IRC Team finished their discussion by examining ways to revitalize this dance and the accompanying "Telling of war deeds." Further, the Team discusses equivalent deeds today that would merit this event to occur.
Have answers? Suggestions? Agree? Disagree? Join the conversation at one of our social media sites. Your input is valuable to advance our understanding.
Hosts: Aaron Brien, Kamiah Dumontier, Mike Laframboise, Brenda Shepard, Shandin Pete
Website http://irc.skc.edu
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ircskc/
Twitter https://twitter.com/IRCSKC
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/106832977633248/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWwuqsg39_mE76xMxER5MSQ
Tribal Research Specialist: The Podcast - #10 - Indigenous Thought: Communicating and Transforming Academic Knowledge for Tribal Communities
Transcript
Welcome to podcast IRC conversations with indigenous scholars to advance understandings and gain new knowledge hosted by the indigenous Research Center at Salish kootenai College Okay, so that was a scout song, and apparently no you know and in the olden times there there was a scout sent out every day. Now I don't know if this was true, like when our ancestors or what have you, we're in their winter camps or they're more permanent camps but a
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