BY CAROL PATTERSON
INNOVATINGWITH
TRADITION How a Telus Spark exhibit about Indigenous parenting is changing the conversation around ways of knowing. ack in March, a permanent stories into its programming, but it also demexhibit devoted to Indigonstrates an innovative approach to learning at enous teachings and stories Calgary’s premier science-education institution. on child-rearing practices “I don’t know of any other science centre in opened in the Creative Kids Canada that is talking about this particular facet Museum at Telus Spark. of Indigenous sciences,” says Zack Anderson, Visitors to The Moss Bag Spark’s director of group experiences. Project learn how moss bags keep babies snugly “As part of the Truth and Reconciliation wrapped in a warm, womb-like environment, Commission [Calls to Action], we’re all tasked and hear Elders sharing traditional teachings with doing our part to take our reconciliation or stories, while mothers and journey,” Anderson says. “So, Indigenous parents can use the Spark has undertaken that work space to share, too. and started that process. [The The exhibit is a collaboration Moss Bag Project exhibit] is part between Spark and The Moss of that.” Western science is one Bag Project (TMBP), a nonway of knowing, he adds, but it’s profit founded by Indigenous not the only way. “It’s really imeducation and organizational portant to us at Spark, because consultant (and a member of we are located on the traditional Avenue’s Top 40 Under 40 Class lands of Niitsítapi (Blackfoot of 2022) Jessie Fiddler-Kiss. Confederacy), the Tsuut’ina TMBP supports Indigenous First Nation, the Îethka Nakoda mothers and Two-Spirit parents First Nation and Métis Nation of ZACK ANDERSON through creating and sharing Alberta Region III, to be able to TELUS SPARK moss bags and by providing share these contexts.” scholarships. TMBP also offers Fittingly, the process of bringeducational sessions about traditional parenting. ing the exhibit to life did not follow a path typical With the exhibit, all visitors are welcome of a Western science display. Spark reached out to experience this traditional way of knowing. to TMBP with Indigenous protocol, offering “What we have set up there together is a space kindness and reciprocity. That step of being for moms and children to interact with moss invited in, in a way that was familiar, resonated bags and learn what [they] are and how they are with Fiddler-Kiss, who is a member of Métis used from an Indigenous perspective, because Nation Region III. “Not to have to come in and sometimes when things are presented about us teach first about what we need before we even without actually understanding the teachings, it begin, it feels welcoming,” she says. doesn’t always align because our paradigms are so different,” Fiddler-Kiss says. For more information about The Moss Bag Project The Moss Bag Project is in line with Telus exhibit visit, sparkscience.ca/indigenous-ways-ofSpark’s goal to bring more Indigenous voices and knowing-science/moss-bag-project
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