Niigani Miinigowiziiwin (we give these gifts to the future)
Anishinaabe gikendaasowin (our original way of knowing) offers insights into complexity and a systemic view of life based in kinship with each other and the natural world --- gidinawendimin (we are all related). I am on a wisdom journey to uncover pathways to address society's most entrenched problems through Anishinaabe ancestral teachings. Sit by the ishkode (fire) with me and have a cup of niibiishabo (tea). Some of these ideas were explored in depth in my doctoral dissertation, published in 2023, called Niigani Miinigowiziiwin.
niigani miinigowiziiwin
Niigani Miinigowiziiwin (we give these gifts to the future). That is how Elders Eleanor Skead & Bert Landon defined transformative systems change. This beautiful gaa-gii-kwe-win (teaching) is the story of my walk in the woods with complexity. Stories are mashkiki (medicine) and this spirit being has been brought to life through a collaboration with Greater Good Studio, Anishinaabe artist Ocean Kiana, and by yarning with my relatives Eleanor Skead & Bert Landon. Miigwech (thank you) for being here, to share in the telling of this story. You can view the story below (click on the side arrows below to advance through the storybook). You can also play the audio of me reading the story.
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Illustrator Ocean Kiana's iPad recording, progress on the composition for Niigani Miinigowiziiwin (we give these gifts to the future)
publications
Quick links to some of Dr. Melanie Goodchild's publications.
Relational Systems Thinking
Relational Systems Thinking: That's How Change is Going to Come, From Our Earth Mother (Goodchild, 2021) in the Journal of Awareness-Based Systems Change. Over 75,000 downloads to date!
Dibaajimowin
The Dibaajimowin (Story) of Re-Theorizing "Systems Thinking" and "Complexity Science" (Goodchild, 2022) in the Journal of Awareness-Based Systems Change.
Duck Shit Tea
Duck Shit Tea: Yarning & the Magical Space In-Between Things essay (Goodchild, 2022) online Wolf Willow Institute for Systems Learning
podcasts
Dr. Goodchild has been a featured guest on a variety of podcasts, radio shows and webinars.
positive deviants
In this 2-part episode, the first of the Positive Deviants Podcast series, Julian Norris, founding director of Wolf Willow Institute for Systems Learning sits down with Melanie Goodchild, an Anishinaabe complexity thinking scholar. She is Moose Clan from Biigtigong Nishnaabeg and Ketegaunseebee First Nations, and she is a visionary practitioner who is bridging Indigenous ways of knowing with systems thinking in ever evolving and creative ways.
complexability
First Nation experiences, perspectives and processes have much to contribute to understanding, making sense and taking action in complexity. The third session’s thinkers are: Melanie Goodchild (Wolf Willow Institute for Systems Learning), Tyson Yunkaporta from the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Lab (Deakin University Australia), Beth Smith and Dave Snowden Welsh Cynefin Centre colleagues (Wales). Together they challenge our assumptions about about knowledge sharing and co-creation and deepen our understanding as we learn through listening to their conversations. Together we will discover the extraordinary value of Indigenous ways.
first voices radio
Melanie joins her relative Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Lakota, on his long running radio program for a yarn.
Ancestral science
We chatted with Anishinaabekwe DR. MELANIE GOODCHILD and asked "what is science to you?" which lead to a conversation about how we talk to the universe, the three types of stories, being a Settler Whisperer, yarning with Duck Shit Tea, reconciliation through "the magical space," and the efficacy of science through art and language. Episode 6.
DOTS
Dialogues on Transforming Society & Self (DOTS) webinar. Dr. Melanie Goodchild, Indigenous Wisdom and the Civilizational Shift from Ego to Eco, with Dr. Otto Scharmer, Presencing Institute.
World Wildlife Fund
Fuller Seminar - Transforming Culture for an Evidence-In-formed Future, part of the Making Better Decisions - Advancing evidence-informed decision-making in conservation webinar series.
impact
Articles and papers across a variety of disciplines cite Relational Systems Thinking (Goodchild et al., 2021). This paper by colleagues at the Stockhome Resilience Centre address Relational Systems Thinking and its contribution to sustainability science. "Relational approaches to sustainability transformations: walking together in a world of many worlds"by West et al. (2023).
Dr. Goodchild is a contributor to Basecamp at the School for System Change as well as the Stepping Into Systems video series.
