Millennia of Experience: Drawing on Indigenous Knowledge in Responding to COVID-19. 

This dialogue originally aired on November 12, 2020

Collaboration between Indigenous knowledge and science can improve public health outcomes throughout Canada in the face of COVID-19. Preliminary reports from Indigenous Services Canada suggested that First Nations communities have experienced 1/4 of the infection rate and 1/5 of the mortality rate from COVID-19 experienced by the general Canadian population. The session explored how Indigenous Peoples have leveraged their millennia of experience enduring past pandemics to protect their people and foster their resilience in the face of new public health challenges.

Speakers Elder Dr Dave Courchene, Jr, an Anishinaabe Elder and spiritual leader; Grandmother Katherine Whitecloud, a Dakota knowledge keeper and Indigenous health and wellness advocate; Miles Richardson, OC, a Haida political leader and negotiator focused on Nation-to-Nation relationships between Indigenous Peoples and Canada; Tom Swanky, JD, a historical researcher focused on the role of smallpox in the foundational relationship between Indigenous Peoples and the Crown in British Columbia; and Dr Sabina Ijaz, a medical doctor who has built deep relationships in Indigenous communities, in dialogue with moderator Darrin Mah, JD, discussed the history of what Indigenous Peoples have learned in responding to pandemics, how this informed their responses to COVID-19, and what could be learned more broadly within Canadian society and the global community from these lessons.

Speaker biographies

Elder Dr Dave Courchene, Jr

Known to many as Nii Gaani Aki Inini (Leading Earth Man), Dave Courchene has touched many lives through his teachings. A respected Elder and knowledge keeper of the Anishinaabe Nation, he has devoted his life to creating a healthy environment for current and future generations, carrying messages of hope and peace around the globe, and learning the knowledge and traditions of Indigenous Peoples around the world. Serving as a member of the Wisdom Keepers of the United Nations since 1992, he has acted in an advisory capacity to the UN in areas of spirituality and sustainable environmental stewardship. In his efforts to bring message of peace and hope to the world, Elder Courchene founded Turtle Lodge International Centre for Indigenous Education and Wellness – a partner in the Reconciling Ways of Knowing: Indigenous Knowledge and Science project – as a place of learning, healing and sharing for all people, in 2002. He has built alliances with institutions, academics, and policy makers across the country, and is known for his ability to inspire dialogue and cross-cultural understanding. Elder Courchene’s work has been recognized with many prestigious honours, including, most recently, an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Winnipeg.

ELDER Katherine Whitecloud

Knowledge keeper Katherine Whitecloud, Mother and Grandmother, is a community leader and Knowledge Keeper from Wipazoka Wakpa Dakota Nation. Chosen at the age of 16 to represent her people, she has been a spokesperson for her Nation for over 30 years. Over this time, she has worked for her community in several roles, including as Chief and Director of Education, and with a focus on Indigenous health and wellness. She was also Chief Executive Officer of the Assembly of First Nations, Director of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, and Manitoba Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. Her work lies in ensuring the life and teachings articulated and envisioned by her forefathers are honoured and protected. Knowledge keeper Katherine Whitecloud is a member of the Turtle Lodge National Council of Elders and Knowledge Keepers. She is currently engaged in drawing on the knowledge of Indigenous knowledge keepers worldwide to build greater momentum for Indigenous-led Indigenous health systems across the country.

Miles G. Richardson, OC

Miles G. Richardson is a citizen of the Haida Nation and an Officer of the Order of Canada. Early in his career, he directed the establishment of the Haida Gwaii Watchmen program. Then, while serving as the youngest President of the Council of the Haida Nation (1984-1996), he led the drafting of the Constitution of the Haida Nation; development of the first comprehensive Haida Nation land and marine use plan, enacted under Haida law; and negotiation of the Gwaii Haanas Agreement, the first Nation-to-Nation agreement between the Haida Nation and Canada. He also served as a Commissioner and then Chief Commissioner of the BC Treaty Commission. Mr. Richardson serves and has served on the boards of directors or advisory boards of several influential Indigenous organizations and non-governmental organizations, including the Indigenous Leadership Initiative and David Suzuki Foundation, partners in the Reconciling Ways of Knowing: Indigenous Knowledge and Science project. He currently serves as Director of the National Consortium on Indigenous Economic Development, a joint initiative of the Gustavson School of Business and Faculty of Law, at the University of Victoria.

Tom Swanky, JD

Tom Swanky (Juris Doctor, University of Alberta) was born in Quesnel, British Columbia (BC) where the “Chilcotin Chiefs” were martyred in 1864. At the invitation of several Tsilhqot’in leaders, Swanky learned more about this event as it is taught by Elders and spent six years reviewing the primary written record as well. With guidance from Tsilhqot’in knowledge keeper Ivor Myers, in 2012, Dr. Swanky published his book on this experience, The Great Darkening. This book covers the Tsilhqot’in War from an Indigenous perspective and provides an overview of how smallpox was spread throughout the North Pacific colonies during 1862. In 2014, Swanky made a case to the BC Premier for exonerating the “Chilcotin Chiefs.” When BC exonerated the “Chilcotin Chiefs” later that year, the Premier acknowledged the dark history leading up to their execution. In recognition of his research, including his learning from Tsilhqot’in oral histories, the Tsilhqot’in invited Swanky to deliver the keynote address at the formal exoneration ceremonies. Swanky has also written about the spread of smallpox by colonists in other Indigenous territories in BC, including that of the Nuxalk and Haida Nations, as published in his books The Smallpox War in Nuxalk Territory and Trails of Blood. The Smallpox War Against the Haida (forthcoming).

Dr. Sabina Ijaz

Dr Sabina Ijaz is a primary care physician who has also worked in emergency rooms and as a hospitalist in Indigenous communities in Manitoba over the last 20 years. For over 30 years, she has also worked closely with the Turtle Lodge International Centre for Indigenous Education and Wellness and a national group of Indigenous knowledge keepers on numerous Indigenous-led health, education, justice and climate initiatives in community. She is a volunteer medical consultant to the Giigewigamig First Nation Health Authority. In 2020 Dr. Ijaz was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by Doctors Manitoba, in recognition of her work with Indigenous knowledge keepers. She recently co-authored “Indigenous-led Health Care Partnerships in Canada,” as published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Darrin Mah, JD

Darrin Mah is an Associate Lawyer practicing in the areas of Aboriginal and Indigenous law at Munnings Law in West Vancouver, BC. His practice focuses on assisting First Nations clients in structuring businesses, partnerships, and joint ventures to achieve short and long-term financial objectives, while maintaining alignment with community values and planning priorities; as well representing First Nations before the Specific Claims Tribunal of Canada. Prior to joining Munnings Law, Darrin managed the National Consortium for Indigenous Economic Development at the University of Victoria, where he developed a program focused on advancing the knowledge of best practices, economic enablers and institutional mechanisms that foster economic development of community and individual Indigenous entrepreneurs; and served as a business instructor through the Northwest Aboriginal Canadian Entrepreneurs program, in collaboration with the University of Victoria. Darrin is also a lead organizer of the Reconciling Ways of Knowing: Indigenous Knowledge and Science project, working to bring the vision and objectives of its advisory planning committee to life.

The Reconciling Ways of Knowing: Indigenous Knowledge and Science project is grateful to the Victoria Forum and National Consortium on Indigenous Economic Development for the opportunity to bring our initiatives together in this event.