An Indigenous Perspective of Doing Good Works at Camp - with Dan Henhawk - The Pudding #23
Relationality, Appropriation, Truth and Reconciliation, and Thanks-giving: Indigenous Perspectives on Summer Camps in North America
This episode of “The Pudding” features Dr. Dan Henhawk, a Mohawk scholar and assistant professor at the University of Manitoba. Dan speaks to Dr. Mandi Baker and Travis Allison about how camps can engage truth-telling about Indigenous experiences and knowledges. Dan describes his own journey of becoming aware and decolonizing his own thinking about sport in Indigenous communities and embracing notions of relationality. He illustrates how many Indigenous languages are heavily verb-based reflecting the interconnectedness of all beings and how we act in relation to one another. The conversation highlights cultural appropriation in camps (e.g., mock regalia and drumming, and decontextualized canoeing, lacrosse, and outdoor skills) and discusses how camps might engage truth and reconciliation, while cautioning against pan-Indigenous generalizations and romanticism. The podcast concludes by discussing “the thanksgiving address” (Kimmerer, 2013), a practice of expressing gratitude at the beginning of each day for the many resources the land gives - recognising that many camps use similar practices and deserve to give credit to Indigenous knowledge and teachings that have been adopted into summer camp culture.
00:24 Meet the Hosts and Dan’s Progression to Research
04:11 Contrasting “Head Thinks” of Indigenous and Settler Knowledge Systems
09:54 The Problem of “Pan Indigenous” Generalizations
16:38 Identifying Appropriation in Camp Culture
25:25 Truth and Reconciliation Actions for Camps
31:59 Relationality and Daily Practice
36:59 Recognizing Indigeneity in Settler/Colonial Society
40:06 Thanksgiving and the Teachings of Corn
43:11 Future Directions & Episode Wrap-up
Your Hosts
Dr. Mandi Baker, Researcher - Summer Camp, Outdoor Recreation, Sociology and Hospitality/Tourism - getlamped@gmail.com
Travis Allison, Summer Camp Consultant - Go Camp Pro - travis@gocamp.pro
Dan Henhawk - Assistant Professor - University of Manitoba - daniel.henhawk@umanitoba.ca
Additional Links of Interest
Braiding Sweetgrass -Books by Robin Wall Kimmerer
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