Indigenous Two-Eyed Seeing: Fisheries Research & Management

This article presents Two-Eyed Seeing (Etuaptmumk) as an actionable Indigenous framework to revolutionize fisheries research and management by fostering coexistence of Indigenous knowledges and mainstream science. Defined by Elder Dr. Albert Marshall, it involves 'learning to see from one eye with the strengths of Indigenous knowledges and ways of knowing, and from the other eye with the strengths of mainstream knowledges and ways of knowing, and to use both these eyes together, for the benefit of all.' Unlike passive integration, it carries an explicit action imperative: knowledge transforms the holder, imposing a responsibility to act. The paper critiques knowledge dichotomies and draws global parallels to frameworks like Two-Eyed Seeing from other Indigenous traditions. It operationalizes the concept through three Canadian case studies in aquatic and fisheries contexts. First, co-developing research questions with Indigenous communities to address salmon management, blending oral histories with population modeling for sustainable harvest strategies. Second, knowledge documentation via participatory mapping, where Elders' place-based insights inform habitat restoration models, leading to policy recommendations for protected areas. Third, co-producing insights on climate impacts, combining ecological telemetry data with traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) to predict fish migration shifts and adapt governance. Practical details include protocols for reciprocity (e.g., sharing data sovereignty with communities), capacity-building workshops training youth in both scientific and cultural methods, and multi-stakeholder forums for decision-making. Outcomes demonstrate enhanced resilience: improved stock assessments, culturally relevant policies, and empowered Indigenous stewardship. Challenges addressed include navigating institutional barriers through Two-Eyed governance structures. This practitioner-oriented guide equips fisheries managers with step-by-step methods—such as joint data validation workshops and braided reporting formats—to implement knowledge complementarity, yielding tangible benefits like reduced overfishing and restored ecosystems[5][7].