Women in Glassmaking
An Indigenous woman in glass
� Dr Calahoo pouring glass in her current laboratory at Genics Inc.
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hile in academia, Dr Calahoo was surprised to discover that glass helped her to bridge the gap between science and Indigenous communities. Outreach programmes with a focus of glassmaking allowed her to speak with Indigenous students on their experiences in a neutral, low-stress environment. She therefore believes glass science and technology could be an ‘objective way’ to interact with Indigenous communities.
There is still a lot of mistrust between Indigenous communities and wider society, not to mention the scientific community. In worst cases, anthropologists have taken sacred artefacts and not returned them, disregarding their cultural significance. Dr Calahoo believes the relationship can be healed, but it will require organisations to be patient and listen to the people within Indigenous communities on what needs to be done.
“It’s great that the Canadian government is trying to form a strategy and is acknowledging these communities. But it’s not going to be easy to overcome that sort of history.” Dr Calahoo, who is of Mohawk and Cree descent, grew up in Alberta, Canada. Like many Indigenous families, her family was forced onto a reserve; they needed permission to leave and sell Continued>>
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The study of glass not only helped Indigenous scientist Dr Courtney Calahoo* interact with Indigenous communities, she believes it could also aid in bringing these communities and wider society closer together. Jess Mills met with Dr Calahoo to discuss further.
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