S03 #174 Unmasking Indigenous Knowledge | Aleya Banwari, Delicia Govender, and Shihaam Domingo
Loading player...
Shaping Global Innovation with a Pan African Lens.
The conversation opened powerfully with the reclamation of Indigenous Knowledge as vibrant, living wisdom rather than a relic of the past. Shihaam emphasised the timeless rhythm of traditional practices, highlighting that “food journeys are different based on seasons” and communities are deeply “dependent on location.” She illustrated this vividly, describing women who “forage mussels at the right time of the season and pickle them in the old ways,” demonstrating that true custodianship and sustainability arise naturally from alignment with nature’s calendar, not imposed schedules.
Delicia challenged us further, reminding everyone that colonial legacies persist deliberately: “Colonisation was intentional, and maintaining these structures is intentional.” She urged us to rethink success, stating clearly, “Our measure of success should not be our proximity to whiteness,” but rather our connection to ancestral traditions and community-centred practices. She underscored the critical point that in indigenous communities, “money was never the currency—knowledge was the currency.”
Both speakers highlighted storytelling as a powerful medium for safeguarding heritage, with Delicia stating that even modern expressions, such as “a comic book…is still very much a rock painting or a cave painting,” serve as contemporary vessels for ancient narratives. Shihaam emphasised practical steps to genuinely reconnect, including speaking with elders and engaging directly with cultural practices like dream walks and moon ceremonies.
The conversation opened powerfully with the reclamation of Indigenous Knowledge as vibrant, living wisdom rather than a relic of the past. Shihaam emphasised the timeless rhythm of traditional practices, highlighting that “food journeys are different based on seasons” and communities are deeply “dependent on location.” She illustrated this vividly, describing women who “forage mussels at the right time of the season and pickle them in the old ways,” demonstrating that true custodianship and sustainability arise naturally from alignment with nature’s calendar, not imposed schedules.
Delicia challenged us further, reminding everyone that colonial legacies persist deliberately: “Colonisation was intentional, and maintaining these structures is intentional.” She urged us to rethink success, stating clearly, “Our measure of success should not be our proximity to whiteness,” but rather our connection to ancestral traditions and community-centred practices. She underscored the critical point that in indigenous communities, “money was never the currency—knowledge was the currency.”
Both speakers highlighted storytelling as a powerful medium for safeguarding heritage, with Delicia stating that even modern expressions, such as “a comic book…is still very much a rock painting or a cave painting,” serve as contemporary vessels for ancient narratives. Shihaam emphasised practical steps to genuinely reconnect, including speaking with elders and engaging directly with cultural practices like dream walks and moon ceremonies.
