Transference of Indigenous Knowledge in
Aesthetic
Appreciation of Western Art
By Susan Thames for Masters Project in Cross
Cultural Studies
April 2010
Master's Project (pdf)
Introduction
Through my course of study for this degree I have developed my
own definition of an Indigenous Knowledge System: The Native way of knowing
is made up of a balance of human/environment interaction and spiritual consciousness.
Being aware of the inner and the outer world at the same time, and knowing
how they work co-dependently.
The “modern materialistic and technomechanistic
worldview,” puts
man above all else functioning independently and in competition with the
rest of the world around them. This competition creates turmoil between the
inner and outer worlds and prevents them from being able to exist harmoniously.
The elements of harmonious living, as stated in the article, Alaska Native
Education: History and Adaptation in the New Millennium, by Augayuaqaq
Oscar Kawagley come as a system of education, governance, spirituality, economy,
being, and behavior. There is a balance of all of these, providing technology
that is necessary for sustaining a level of lifestyle that emerged from this
balance. This balance gives the Indigenous World an acceptance of space within
the confines of time, they do not need to control the space or the time but
instead exist within it, and their existence within space and time give a
more holistic and cooperative approach to knowing and understanding (Kawagley,
1999).
A Native Knowledge System is circular in its reasoning. The framework
for their knowledge system comes from their respect and connection to their
environment and the interdependence that grows from that connection (Kawagley,
1995). The “body
of knowledge” develops over time and is built on knowledge that
is passed from generation to generation providing an independent way
of life for all those within the individual cultural community (Johnson,
1992). Wisdom of the Elders by David Suzuki and Peter Knudtson (1992)
reinforces this concept with each of the “Sacred Native Stories
of Nature,” pointing
out the Native connection to nature and the reality of one of the most
significant differences between Western and Indigenous cultures. Western
culture will not change to fit in with the environment. Instead, they
change the environment to fit their needs, and are destroying it in the
process. The Native culture sees their place as outsiders, respects the
system as it exists, and understands as an outsider they must adapt to
their environment, to change their ways to insure the sustainability
of their environment.
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