Blog Post #3: Mishkos Kenomagwen: Braiding Sweetgrass - Melding Science with Indigenous Ways of Knowing

This chapter discusses a variety of topics that pertain to our discussion of transdisciplinary research. One of the key points that the author talks about is the idea of the rigorous mold of the scientific process and how when she arrived at the idea of researching sweetgrass. She wanted to combine indigenous knowledge with the scientific aspects of botanical research, however this proved to be difficult given the nature of academia and the strict scientific method that allowed for little deviation.

This chapter helps to explore how we can utilize transdisciplinarity as tool within the scientific community. One way that this may be achieved could be to utilize participatory acton research (PAR), in this context with the basket weavers, and the biologist conducting the experiments on the sweetgrass. In my mind this may allow for the basket weavers to hold a higher position with the research and allow them to interpret the data that was collected that may aid in their basket weaving. This would allow both the scientists to collect the data needed for the experiments, but also heighten their appreciation for the sweetgrass by looking at it through the lens of the basket weavers. 

The notion of transdisciplinary research looks different in many contexts and I believe that the rigid scientific method has its place in academia as it always has. However, there are instances where it may decrease the diversity to which a potential experiment may help a particular people, or hinder. Through the context of our class I believe the incorporation of many different disciplines can develop different aspects of each of the researchers, which will be beneficial in creating well rounded people and researchers as well. 

-Silas Goetz for Dysbiosis to Pluriversebiosis