Western is home to one of Canada s only Indigenized astronomy courses, balancing traditional Indigenous and Eurocentric approaches to science.
The course, Two Eyed Seeing and Astronomy, uses the strengths of Indigenous knowing to promote class engagement in the ethics of astronomy and Indigenous history. It was first introduced to Western University undergraduate students as a science credit in September 2019 and is running this semester.
The course creators â Sasha Doxtator of the Oneida Nation, Brianne Derrah of New Post Ojibwe and Huron Metis of the Mattawa harvesting area and Rob Cockcroft of the United Kingdom, now living in southern Ontario â worked together to create a learning space that uses astronomy as a gateway to Indigenous culture, history and the processes of decolonization and reconciliation.