Indigenous Studies and Ea
When I think of Indigenous Studies, I often think not of the technicalities associated with an academic discipline but of people, communities, and nations. I think of the ʻŌlelo Noʻeau “Ua lehulehu a manomano ka ʻikena a ka Hawaiʻi,” which translates to “great and numerous is the knowledge of the Hawaiians” and my belief that this statement is true of the wisdoms and worldviews of all Indigenous Peoples. As I think about the evolution of Critical Race Theory in education, the word “organic” comes to mind. I am reminded of the way that scholars have adapted CRT to serve the needs of their communities (ex. LatCrit, TribalCrit, AsianCrit, Kanaka‘ŌiwiCrit) and the ways in which Indigenous Studies similarly encompasses numerous iterations that emerged out of calls to serve the needs and circumstances of different tribes and peoples.
Moreover, I believe the Hawaiian term “Ea,” which is commonly understood as sovereignty, breath, and life is a particularly apt way to describe Indigenous Studies. Through the tireless work of Indigenous ancestors who identified colonialism’s insidious roots in academia, Indigenous Studies exists and provides Indigenous scholars with a place to exercise their inherent right to sovereignty in the production and dissemination of research, which may arguably be an equally insidious word for Indigenous communities (Tuhiwai Smith, 1999).
By providing spaces for students and educators to meet and collaborate with Indigenous Peoples from around the world, this discipline also demonstrates the power in acknowledging the collective breath that Indigenous Peoples take every day in ensuring our survivance on this earth. I think about the power that I felt during an undergraduate course on “Indigenous Nationalism” while learning about historical movements for self-determination by Indigenous Peoples in Canada, Aotearoa, and Australia. It is through these connections in classes and in research that our collective breath is heard and felt by communities worldwide.
Naturally, because Indigenous Studies includes researchers who identify as Indigenous and who conduct research for the benefit of their peoples, Indigenous Studies is life itself. It is a discipline that is connected to the identities of researchers and to the ancestors that are invoked in the explorations of their distinct histories and cultures. By this logic, Indigenous Studies is continuously evolving. Although it remains grounded in the understanding of the value and credibility of Indigenous wisdoms, it nevertheless changes as new scholars emerge and offer new perspectives to interpret and solve issues that arise in our respective communities.
In contemplating the continuity of life and its numerous cycles, it is also important to consider the potentiality of Indigenous Studies. Ea is just one of many interpretations of this discipline, but I think it is useful in thinking critically about how Indigenous Studies also serves as a vehicle to envision a global society that recognizes the inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples. Ea is therefore not only a powerful symbol of perseverance and Indigenous excellence but also a reminder that our work is just beginning.
