Mîyo Pîkiskwatitowin (Speaking to Each Other in a Good Way): The Significance of Culture Brokers in Cross-Cultural Collaboration with Aboriginal Peoples

This study explores the contribution of culture brokers in bridging dialogue between, on the one hand, Aboriginal Elders and Knowledge Keepers, and on the other, non-Aboriginal writers, publishers, teachers, and consultants in the development of the Pearson Saskatchewan Science textbook resources. This thesis employs a multiple qualitative methods approach that observes the critical elements of Indigenous research methodologies, and is interpreted and presented through the metaphor of learning to drum and sing. Much of the cultural work for this study relied on the wisdom of Nehiyaw (Cree) Elder Mary Lee and Knowledge Keeper Delvin Kanewiyakiho. Insights are drawn from the narratives of four participants, two Aboriginal and two non-Aboriginal, who were instrumental in the Pearson Saskatchewan Science textbook collaboration (PSSC). The results suggested that (1) a greater understanding of local ways of knowing, culture, and protocol are needed; (2) oskâpêwisak (Elders’ helpers) often played a significant role as local culture brokers during the PSSC; (3) reflexivity is a vital trait that culture brokers need in order to really grasp the local context and cultural protocols; and (4) reflexivity creates a condition whereby culture brokers are open to the development of the ability for two-eyed seeing