Trent appoints first chair of Indigenous knowledge

Trent University has blazed a new trail with its appointment of an inaugural chair in Indigenous knowledge.
On March 5, the prestigious university announced Mohawk faithkeeper Skahendowaneh Swamp, originally from Akwesasne, would fill the position.
Trent is already well known for its Indigenous studies program. In 1969 it was the first university in North America to establish a department dedicated to the study of Aboriginal peoples.
"I will be responsible for teaching undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D courses," he said. "Many of my students are non-Aboriginal, so it's important to have a good representation of heritages working together."
His courses typically go back to the creation stories, and he teaches the lessons learned in those stories, then moves on to the thanksgiving address given to the first man and woman.
"We need to show appreciation for all of creation, every day. We also discuss the origin of the clan system, as it's the structure and foundation of our society. It defines who we are, our relationships to each other and teaches us our responsibilities towards life."
He refers to the Haudenosaunee people, which in Mohawk means the builders of the house.
"The eastern door of the longhouse features the rising sun. The western door sees the setting sun. And the ground beneath us is like our floor of the long house, and the sky is our roof. The symbolic long house stretches across our territory, and we are part of one extended family, comprised of the five nations of the Mohawk, which includes the Oneida, Cayuga, Onondaga and Seneca. Later on, in the 1700s, we adopted the Tuscarora."
He admits that he's passionate about preserving and passing the traditions on, and will be actively involved in research and in transmitting Indigenous knowledge to students as well as departmental and university colleagues.
Swamp is already highly-respected for his knowledge of Aboriginal languages, and has spent many years teaching in various communities in Ontario and Quebec. He is fluent in Mohawk and has studied the other languages of his nation. While he grew up in Akwesasne, which straddles the border of the United States and Canada, he worked for many years as a teacher at the Six Nations community near Brantford, Ont. He also taught soapstone carving and painting through Akwesasne Child and Family Services where he worked for a time as a traditional support worker.
"After I moved back home, I met my wife, and we now have four wonderful children," said the 31-year-old.
"The family is all pleased that I have this great opportunity and is supporting me totally." His father, Jake Swamp, a well-known and highly-respected man, urged him to apply for the position, so it was an honor to be accepted.
One of his goals is to convince his students, his family, and the members of his community, that they can still maintain their traditions but move on to gain higher education, and live comfortably in two worlds, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, in peaceful coexistence.
"I'd like to be an example of someone who has successfully managed this, to be able to walk in this world, in the greater society, and to share the knowledge with which I was brought up with others," he said.
"We don't have to give up who we are to be successful in mainstream culture."
He remembers the culture shock of attending university, far from home and everything he knew well, and hopes that newly-arriving students at Trent will feel welcomed by his presence on campus.
Swamp earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology and Indigenous studies from McMaster University before taking teacher training from Brock University, so he's no stranger to urban campuses.
"Trent has been responsible for creating many firsts. Not only were we the first to have an Indigenous studies department, founded 40 years ago, but we were also the first to have a Native Studies Ph.D designation. And we are the first to have an Indigenous Environment Studies program, with a degree to be added this coming year," he added. "The Aboriginal beliefs follow so closely with good environmental practices that it's a natural combination." He hopes to see all universities and post-secondary colleges establishing more Aboriginal programs and services.
In his classes, his students are asked to interpret their understanding of Aboriginal teachings using traditional forms of expression, such as wampum belt weaving or carving, in addition to the conventional essays and text-based assignments.
"It's important for all citizens to be involved in the larger community. The study of the culture ties in many disciplines, from science to anthropology, and in many ways it enhances the awareness of all people, creating a peaceful co-existence of everyone in the world in which we live," he said.