Cajete Chapter 2

870456162, 3610, Dr. Lovern, 8/21/2017, Paper Two
Katlyn Ford
Valdosta State University Chapter two of Native American Science written by Cajete (2000), focuses primarily on the perception of science, as well as the cosmological interconnected universe. Ideas on these topics as well as perspectives of Native science and Western science is compared to bring out an understanding of their differences. Bringing about the worldview of Native and Western Science. Since Western science has always thought the only way to obtain accurate data it through holding an objective standpoint, while subjective views are seen as taboo and illiterate. However, Cajete (2000), discourses how Native science found on being subjective
Natives use peyote as a facilitator during ceremonies in hopes of coming-to-know. This is a process of understanding that is systemically learned. Knowledge is acquired in a different way than Western science, therefore, this is another reason Native science is criticized. Chapter three of Cajete (2000) book informs the reader on the importance of relationships and the ways they are formed. The way a relationship is formed with the help of the community aids in forming the person-hood and communal soul of their people. This also ties into the thought that Native culture of communities is an important process of learning. This brings the author to the topic of how a native community functions on different levels during the education process. One of the ways Cajete (2000) begins asserting this topic is through leadership within the community. Starting with how it was not an individual goal for that person but rather it was that person’s commitment to others and the community. This helped create unity within the community which reinforces “coming to know”. While also Cajete (2000) illuminates on the fact that community begins with extended family and branches out. While also each person is the community, that is why it takes a collective conscience of everyone for that communities long term
Cajete (2000) speaks of how these activities reinforced relationships with each other as well as established a respect for the processes within themselves. These practiced relationships with nature also established experienced knowledge as well as empathy towards the natural world. These relationships help bind the natives to their physical environment. Relationships go beyond this into architectural for buildings within tribes. The process of building reinforces knowledge and establish stronger relationships for those working on the