Cosmovisions

of the pacific

Advancing Indigenous–non-Indigenous Collaboration with Integrity

Cosmovisions of the Pacific brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous persons interested in networking to collaborate and co-creating across cultures. 

Since the dawn of humanity, science and exploration have connected people, communities, countries and cultures. Indigenous peoples of the world have observed the Earth and the heavens above, and this Earth-sky connection has been a fundamental element in the development of their culture. The sky above helped them to define their culture, religion, agriculture and livestock cultivation, spiritual, and even temporal points of view (Cramer, Uzzo, Catricheo, Spuck et al., 2019). In addition, observations of the sky have been used to establish calendars, units of measure, the most optimal time to harvest or sow, travel time, orientation, etc. Through this worldview or cosmovision, Indigenous peoples have established connections with everything that surrounds them, including the rivers, plants and animals, and the stars and planets above (Cramer, Uzzo, Catricheo, Spuck et al., 2019). 

We define cosmovision as an individual or culture’s way of knowing and being, emanating from the wholistic natural cosmic processes that have led to the present state of the universe and what is yet to come (Begay, Catricheo, Kimura, Maryboy, and Spuck, 2022).

Cosmovisions logo. A circle with a four-point star at the top. The center is divided by a a wavy line. The bottom half of the circle is filled with horizontal stripes.

Cosmovision’s Objectives

Develop a Network

Develop a network of Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers, educators, knowledge holders and others who are committed to collaboration across cultures and ways of knowing.

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Identify Opportunities

Identify opportunities, in particular in high-need areas, for Indigenousnon-Indigenous collaboration.

Develop a Guide

Develop a guide for successful Indigenous and non-Indigenous collaboration.

Yasmin Catricheo, a leader of the Cosmovisions project, leans on a podium and speaks to a presenter and a seated group of attendees.
Participants sit at tables configured in U shape.

Cosmovisions of the Pacific has been possible thanks to the support of:

Heising-Simons Foundation Logo
AUI logo
Indigenous Education Institute logo
Heising-Simons Foundation Logo
AUI logo
Indigenous Education Institute logo