Introduction
A knowledge and research collective at Humber College has been working to create, teach and evaluate a new course in the early childhood education program, Two-Eyed Land-Based Play and Co-Learning.
Etuaptmumk (eh-doo-ahp-duh-mumk) or Two-Eyed Seeing is the gift of multiple perspectives in the Mi’kmaw language.
We are Louise Zimanyi, professor and researcher of French-Canadian and Hungarian descent living as a guest in Tkaronto/Toronto, Ont., Treaty 13 territory, and Mi’kmaw Elder Albert Marshall, Moose Clan from Eskasoni, Unama’ki/Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, the territory of the Mi'kma'ki.
We are part of the Two-Eyed Land-Based Play and Co-Learning Knowledge and Research Collective and have been co-learning together since meeting in early 2020. Co-learning means enhancing each other’s understandings and perspectives, by sharing your gifts through relationships and the exchange of stories.
Two-Eyed Seeing inspired the reimagining of Humber’s nature program for young children, and is the focus of Louise’s doctoral work. Exploring children’s outdoor play through Two-Eyed Seeing led to rethinking post-secondary training for early childhood educators through this unique and timely course.
With support from the Lawson Foundation, we are contributing to advancing outdoor play practice and research in early learning and child care in Canada.