One of the most commented on elements of the 2023 OEGlobal conference in Edmonton was the integration of Indigenous perspectives via the conference vision of Two-Eyed Seeing and Braiding.
I am just out of a conversation from our Norquest College conference organizer @rlawson780 Robert shared that he and colleagues @Darrion and @DawnWitherspoon are writing a paper on the application of braiding in their programs and practices. Both Robert and Dawn will be n Brisbane, and we encourage you to talk to them to learn more.
line5066 flickr photo by NOAA Photo Library shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license
Can we carry braiding into the 2024 conference, by thinking about the ways we can bring different perspectives, ideas, together? That image of braided rivers above (I braid in my education in geology) also makes a connection to this fantastic new OER shared via our CAUL colleagues.
He Awa Whiria: Braiding the knowledge streams in research, policy and practice
“He Awa Whiria” is an edited text showcasing examples of research, policy and practice where Māori and Western science conventions have been combined using He Awa Whiria: the braided rivers framework.
We already see here in OEG Connect that @paulstacey is applying this to his Interaction Zone activity Reimagining Open at the Crossroads.
Last year we aimed to generate more activity in the OEGlobal 2023 Braiding space – see more detail on what we suggested.
We ask the community here, whether in Brisbane or not, how they might think about and apply braiding in 2024. It can be as simple as making connections, or perhaps braiding your knowledge, experience, resources to someone else’s presentation or post.
I have no recipe or formula here, but hope you as a reader might have something to braid in.