This 23-year-old McMaster student wants to see more Indigenous perspectives included in science

Sage Hartmann, a fifth-year McMasterUniversity science student fromRed RiverMtisNation in Manitoba, is out to centre Indigenous perspectives within the school's Faculty of Science, something she says there is desire for but not yet enoughaction on.

"There seems to be a lot of desire for the integration of Indigenous [knowledge]," she said."[But] there doesn't seem to beany Indigenousrepresentation or folks knowing how to do so."

Hartmannorganized the university's World Water Day event with that in mind earlier this week, bringing a day-long program of speakers to introduce more people in the faculty and beyond to Indigenous perspectives and how they intersect withother teachings.

The event was to explore "the relationship that we have to water and the land," she told CBC Hamilton.

The 23-year-old is majoring in psychology, neuroscience and behaviourwith a minorin community engagement and Indigenous studies. She isa citizen of the Manitoba Metis Federation andhalf-German from her father's side.

Parallel to her studies,sheis also the director of the Cooperative of Indigenous Students, Studies and Alumni at the university and is also a project assistant withintheFaculty of Science.

Hartmann proposed to the faculty that sheorganize aconference withIndigenous and non-Indigenous scholars and scientistsabout issues related to water, health and the environment.

"I saw an opportunity to bridge Western and Indigenousworld views and knowledge in relation to water, environment and sustainability," she said."Generally World Water Day is a day where you can take action to talk about water crisis orbring attention to water-related issues, and the way I perceiveit,it's aunique opportunity to centre Indigenous voices," she said.

Perspectives on water

She said water has always been a topic of conversation within the Indigenous communities and herown life.Access to clean water and sanitation has also been something being talkeda lot about inher circles of academia, she said.

This observation helped her choose speakers for Tuesday's event, who broughtdifferent knowledge to the table.

Dr. Nidhi Nagabhatlaisa senior fellow with the United Nations University's Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studiesin Belgium and a sustainability science specialist. She spoketo the McMaster community Tuesdayonthe topic of global water security, including the insecurity many First Nations communities face withyears of boil wateradvisories.

She cited amulti-million dollar water treatment plant built in 2013 onSix Nations on the Grand River near Brantford a facility that was built by the government to provide access to clean water but which did not end up serving the community well, she said due to a lack of training and capacity.

Another speaker was Ojibwayelder Wendy Phillips, of the Bald Eagle Clan anda member of Wasauksing First Nationnear Parry Sound, Ont. She isa ceremonial leader, spiritual educator, cultural innovator and traditional Indigenous healer.

Shespokeabout Indigenous peoples' history in Canada, the Indian Act and the residential school systemthat was designed to assimilate the Indigenous people."We weren't considered humans untillike 1950s," she said.

Phillips also spoke about how water has a deepconnectionwith both Earth and people. Water is like blood to the Earth, she said, remindingthe audience that,like the human body, theplanet is made of mostly of water.

Describing the differences between world views, whether on the environment or language, she said, "with the Western context or ideology, it is very linear, from an Anishinaabe world view, it's holistic."

She explored the different meanings of waterfrom her perspective. For instance, according to Indigenous knowledge, she said,tears of joy aresaid to be good water, while crying in sadness produces salt water and makes eyes puffy and as a result is considered abad form of water.

Overall,Phillips said,Western society doesn't valueIndigenous knowledge andconsiders it "lesser than."

The observation resonateswith Hartmann.

"I think it is important to consider how Indigenous people have been living sustainablyfor generations, for decades and so I think Indigenous people have the knowledge available to help us navigate and come to a solution in regards to the crisis that we are in," said Hartmann.

The day's final speaker was Deborah McGregor,an Anishinabeklegal scholar, professor at York University andone of the founders of theDecolonizing Water project,whichaimsto "create a self-sustaining water and ecological monitoring program that will enhance protection of water resources and fulfill the promise of Indigenous water governance."

McGregorcomparedIndigenous and Western legal and ethical approaches to water and land.

Humans can become selfish and exploit land and water, she said, butIndigenous ethics teach usto treat them as living beings with respect.

Action plan for the faculty

According to Hartmann,thereason to have both Indigenous and non-Indigenous speakers this week wasbecauseit is not only the responsibility of Indigenous people to advocate for the protection of the water, it is also the responsibility of all living on the same land.

With the event drawing in attendees from different parts of the country and seen as a success, Hartmannwill continue with her efforts to make change within the Faculty of Science.

Specifically, she's hoping to continuehonouringIndigenous knowledge systems and practices,createIndigenous student support and mentorship programs and help with the recruitment and admission of more Indigenous students into sciences, she said.

Even though she graduates this year,she will continue to workwith the faculty, including with helping to incorporate Indigenous knowledge and speakers into future events, she said.

"My plan is to just basically keep doing what I am doing."