---
title: "Two-Eyed Seeing"
chunk: 1/2
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-Eyed_Seeing"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T04:22:03.475324+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

Two-Eyed Seeing (Mi'kmaq: Etuaptmumk) is a basis in viewing the world through both Western and Indigenous knowledges and worldviews. 
Two-Eyed Seeing was introduced by Mi'kmaq Elders Albert D. Marshall and Murdena Marshall from Eskasoni First Nation, alongside professor Cheryl Bartlett. Albert Marshall describes Two-Eyed Seeing as an approach to viewing the world "from one eye with the strengths of Indigenous ways of knowing, and to see from the other eye with the strengths of Western ways of knowing, and to use both of these eyes together". 
Two-Eyed Seeing was originally brought forward as a tactic to encourage Mi'kmaq university students to pursue an education in science. Since its implementation, the use of Two-Eyed Seeing has been integrated into various institutions' strategic plans, government policies, and research, some of which include the Canadian Institute of Health Research.

== Background ==

=== Integrative Science ===
In the 1990s, Murdena and Albert Marshall, and Cheryl Bartlett, began a grassroots effort to encourage Indigenous students to participate in science and science-related programs at Cape Breton University (CBU), by developing a science curriculum of both Mi'kmaw and other Indigenous knowledges (IK) and ways of knowing, with mainstream/western knowledge. Its inception began when Bartlett asked Murdena why there was a lack of Mi'kmaq enrollment; her reply: "Well, we Mi'kmaqs have been here for thousands of years—don't you think we've learned something about plants and animals?". The tendency for Western science to fragment and silo the world does not fall in with Mi'kmaw worldview, and thus another reason for a lack of enthusiasm from Mi'kmaq students to pursue an academic career in science.
Bartlett and the Marshalls are the parents of the Integrative Science academic program, conceptualized in the mid-1990s and brought into fruition in 1999 at CBU. The Integrative Science program was developed to shed light on the importance of acquiring knowledge from various perspectives. The curriculum included new science courses called Mi'kmaw for "everything together" (MSIT) as part of a new established undergraduate program called "Integrative Science" (in Mi'kmaw, Toqwa'tu'kl Kjijitaqnn for "bringing our knowledges together") as part of the Bachelor of Science Community Studies (BScCS) degree at CBU. 
In 2001, the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission approved the program and was then operational as an accredited university degree program in fall of 2001. In 2010, the program was formally assigned to the then new Department of Indigenous Studies. As of 2010, Albert, Murdena and Cheryl were no longer associated with the academic program of Integrative Science but have continued to work and promote the philosophies of Integrative Science. 

=== Marshall, Marshall, and Bartlett ===
Dr. Murdena Marshall (1942–2018) was clan mother of the Muin (Bear) Clan and a spiritual leader for the Mi'kmaq. Murdena was instrumental in establishing the Mi'kmaw studies program and was an Associate Professor of Mi'kmaw studies at CBU. Albert Marshall, husband to Murdena Marshall, is from the Moose Clan and has been instrumental in being a voice on environmental issues for Mi'kmaw Elders in Unama'ki. Albert, in 2004, brought to light the guiding principle of Two-Eyed Seeing. Both Murdena and Albert were awarded honorary doctors of letters by CBU in 2009 in recognition of their work encouraging the integration of both Indigenous and Western knowledges, and have subsequently been contributors to the Integrative Science (IS) co-learning journey at CBU, alongside Cheryl Bartlett. Dr. Cheryl Bartlett is a biologist, specializing in wildlife parasitology, and friend of Murdena and Albert. The trio have worked together professionally to weave Indigenous and Western knowledges within science curricula and projects. 

=== L'nu culture ===
The concept of Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyed Seeing) reflects the reality of L'nu (Mi'kmaq) constantly evolving as a nation due to colonialism and the ever-changing ecological circumstances of their territory. Two-Eyed Seeing, as a concept, has existed as part of L'nu tribal awareness since the early colonial period. A symbol, often associated with Two-Eyed Seeing, is Trees Holding Hands, conjured by late Mi'kmaw Chief of the Acadia First Nation, Charles Labrador. In Labrador's words, "you see the birch, pine, maple. Look underground and you'll see that all those trees are holding hands. We as people have to do the same".

== Challenges ==