Two-Eyed Seeing Program

Text reads, "Share your thoughts. Poll closes tonight at 11:59pm."

A photo of the full sized mural WITH mirror options indicated. Generally speaking, the options are 1) to the left of the mural, 2) evenly spaced on the left and right sides of mural, 3) evenly spaced on either sides of the tree trunk in the center of the mural, or 4) going down the tree trunk

A photo of the full sized mural without mirror options.

THANK YOU to everyone who has shared your thoughts so far! Over 300 votes have been submitted!

This poll closes tonight, February 13, at 11:59pm.

Comment your vote below or vote using this link: forms.cloud.microsoft/r/C2j3zMjhYT

The Two-Eyed Seeing Logo. Below, text reads, "Seven Indigenous Women Powering STEM. February 11. International Day of Women and Girls in Science"

References include the Cradle of Aviation Museum, CBC News, Wikipedia, Simon Fraser University, and Tajikeimɨk's Facebook page.

- Dr. Murdena Marshall was a Mi’kmaw Elder and traditional knowledge expert. She was born in Whycocomagh and lived in Eskasoni. Along with her husband Albert Marshall and biologist Cheryl Bartlett, Murdena co-created the concept of Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyed Seeing). Her idea of connecting Indigenous and Western-Scientific ways of knowing has transformed approaches to health and science globally. - Dr. Laurie Rosseau-Nepton is Innu, a member of Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation in Quebec, and is the first Indigenous Woman in Canada to earn a PhD in astrophysics. She received her PhD from Université Laval in Québec City in 2017. - A member of the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation, Dr. Nadine Caron is the first female First Nations student to graduate from the UBC Faculty of Medicine and the first female Indigenous general surgeon in Canada. In 2024, she was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. - Mary G. Ross was the great-granddaughter of the Cherokee Chief John Ross. She lived in community and was always interested in STEM (despite being the only girl in her math class). She obtained her Master’s degree and was hired by Lockheed Martin in 1942, focusing on both defense and space exploration. She is known as the first Indigenous woman engineer.

- Dr. Lillian Eva Quan Dyck is the first First Nations woman in Canada to obtain her PhD in the sciences. Her father immigrated to Canada from China, and her mother was Cree and a member of Gordon First Nation. Dr. Dyck holds three degrees from the University of Saskatchewan, including a PhD in biological psychiatry. She was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 2005. - Julie Francis is a mother of three and a Mi'kmaw Registered Nurse from Eskasoni First Nation. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Dalhousie University in 2023. She has dedicated years to nursing, leadership, and research, including with Eskasoni, the IWK, the Aboriginal Children’s Hurt and Healing initiative, Cape Breton University’s Unama’ki College, and Tajikeimɨk – Mi’kmaw Health and Wellness. - Bessie Coleman was the first African-American woman and the first Indigenous person to hold a pilot’s license. She was the first known Black person to hold an international pilot’s license. Hearing aviation stories from World War I made Bessie interested in flying. As a woman and a person of colour, every aviation school she went to rejected her. She decided to learn to fly in France, where she excelled.

February 11th is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science!

We want to take a moment to reflect on the powerful role women and girls play in shaping our communities and our future. Today, we're showcasing a few of the influential Indigenous women leading and transforming STEM fields. 👩‍🔬

A picture taken at the MSVU Library. There are 4 glasses in a line with a bowl of beads.

Help make our mural more accessible by voting where the next mirrors should go.

Vote: forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/Respon...

Or visit the MSVU Library to vote in-person!

Painted is a woman in a tree, with her hair forming the trunk and branches. Around are 4 options for mirror placements. Text reads: We want to hear from you. Help make our mural more accessible"

We want to hear from you!

This mural in the MSVU Library includes a mirror, but it’s placed too high for many people to use.

Help us choose where two additional mirrors should go so more people can see themselves reflected in the art.

Microsoft form: forms.cloud.microsoft/r/C2j3zMjhYT

A photo collage of different pictures of the Two-Eyed Seeing Program in 2025. Text reads "Thank you for the great year! Thank you to everyone who supported us this year. We hope you have a magical holiday season and wish you a happy new year — Pusu’leg Puna’ne!"

We want to take a moment to offer a sincere thank you to everyone who supported and walked alongside us this year. 2025 was a year of growth and the building of beautiful relationships. We hope you have a magical holiday season and wish you a happy new year - Pusu’leg Puna’ne!

Program Coordinator, Cheyenne, holding a plastic bin filled with book kits. Standing outside in front of the Four Father's Memorial Library sign.

Book kit deliveries are going well! Thank you so much to everyone for their interest!

Introducing the Two-Eyed Seeing Book Kits! 📚✨

We’re delivering free book kits to NS public libraries and Mi’kmaq community schools across the province.

We hope to encourage people of all ages to co-learn, celebrate Mi'kmaw authors, and talk more about Two-Eyed Seeing.

EXCITING THINGS ARE HAPPENING! More information coming soon... 📚💭

Weligwet | Growing Well
 
The meaning behind Weligwet: a woman’s braid becomes a tree, her mirror wrapped in sweetgrass -- symbols of ancestry, growth, and reflection. The mural reminds us of connection, balance, and the importance of Two-Eyed Seeing.
 
Read more: www.msvu.ca/academics/ba...

Thank you SO much to everyone who came to the big mural unveiling. The room was full, and it was a meaningful evening of relfection, learning, and celebration! The mural is now a permanent installation in the MSVU Library.

THIS WEEK!

UNVEILING EVENT:
Wednesday, October 22
4:30pm
MSVU Library

We've updated our menu to have lots of Indigenous Inspired foods, including four-cent bread, sausages, and cake!

Meet the artists, ask questions, and learn more about Two-Eyed Seeing. SEE YOU THERE!

One week to go! Join us for the mural unveiling:
📅 October 22
⏰ 4:30pm
📍 MSVU Library
Meet the artists • Learn about Two-Eyed Seeing • Celebrate Mi’kmaw culture • Enjoy free Snacks!
This project is supported by the MSVU President’s Fund – Special Projects Program and NSERC PromoScience.

Cheyenne (’23 Child and Youth Study, MSVU) is the Coordinator + Comms Assistant with the Two-Eyed Seeing Program.
“Working on the mural has been a joy. Through celebrating Mi’kmaw culture, I’ve learned about beautiful aspects often missing in education. I'm excited to share that beauty through art"

“It means a lot that I can express myself at MSVU during this project. I have ADHD and a learning disability. I hope my work shows others that different kinds of learners belong in academic spaces."
- Grace, 14-year-old Afro-Indigenous artist
Mural unveiling: Oct 22, 4:30PM, MSVU Library

What a time at the Kinu Tourism and Education Conference!
Thank you to everyone who took the time to learn more about our program. We had a blast at our break-out session.
We were honored to help support this wonderful conference. A BIG thank you to the Kinu team for bringing it all together!

October is Mi'kmaw History Month! This year’s theme is A’tukwemk aq A’tukowinu’k – Storytelling and Storytellers.
Official posters and more info: mikmaqhistorymonth.ca
Stay tuned for exciting projects this month tied to storytelling through art, the works of Mi’kmaw authors, and workshops!

September 30th is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. October 1 is Treaty Day and the start of Mi'kmaw History Month in NS.
The TES Program will be taking Tues+Wed as days of reflection.
For more information on events on and off campus, check out this link: www.msvu.ca/national-day...

In just 1 week we will be taking part in the Kinu Tourism and Education Conference!

📅 October 3 & 4
📍 166 Bedford Hwy

This fantastic event is open to the public:
Tickets are $100 each OR free for MSVU and high school students.

Come say hi and join our breakout session: “Tree-ty Press-ervation.”

Krista Collier-Jarvis wearing a medallion made by local artist Crystin Edwards and gifted to Krista by Dr. Margaret Robinson on the day of her PhD defence. (Nick Pearce photos)

A promotional poster that says "Two-Eyed Seeing Program. Mural Unveiling. Save the Date. October 22, 2025. 4:30pm. MSVU Library. Thank you to NSERC PromoScience and the MSVU President’s Special Projects Program for making this possible!

A sneak peek photo of the mural. There is a brown section connected to a brown swirl, and orange, purple, and blue underneath.

Krista Collier-Jarvis (L’nu/Mi’kmaw) is an Assistant Prof in English & Co-Lead of the Two-Eyed Seeing Program. “Two-Eyed Seeing lets me unapologetically be myself. As a mixed Mi’kmaw/settler, I’ve often questioned my place in community. TES allows me to explore what it means to be Indigenous today.”

“Through the TES Program, I’ve had the privilege of meeting and learning from wonderful people. These experiences inspire me to mentor others, share Mi’kmaw culture, and encourage creativity as a path to healing.”

- Jessica Jerome: Two-Spirited Mi’kmaw artist, graphic designer, illustrator

Check out this awesome event our friends at Captain Crow's Café Soup Kitchen & the Garden Society are hosting! We’ll be there...come join us!

September 19
12:30–1:30pm
Meeting point: The Rook’s patio (campus pub)

@msvuhalifax.bsky.social

A promotional poster that says "Two-Eyed Seeing Program. Mural Unveiling. Save the Date. October 22, 2025. 4:30pm. MSVU Library. Thank you to NSERC PromoScience and the MSVU President’s Special Projects Program for making this possible!

A sneak peek of the mural so far. The photo depicts turquoise and brown points, meshing with each other vertically from top to bottom

SAVE THE DATE! OCTOBER 22!

Our artists have been working hard to paint the mural and it is looking BEAUTIFUL. Our unveiling event will be taking place on October 22 on MSVU campus.

From now until then we will be sharing sneak peek pictures and artist bios.

We can’t wait to see you there!

YouTube video by Krista Collier-Jarvis Two-Eyed Seeing Boat Project

Have you heard about the Two-Eyed Seeing program?
@lnuonhorror.bsky.social @tesprogram.bsky.social

youtu.be/SUZIdRa2Pdo?...

Krista, Elder Albert, and Shannan taking a selfie with big smiles on their faces.

Shannan holding up a jar of blueberry-cranberry sauce made by Krista. The background behind the jar is a deck with white railing, and some trees.

Just look at those smiles! Krista and Shannan had a beautiful afternoon in Unama’ki with Elder Albert. As a thank-you, Krista gifted homemade blueberry-cranberry sauce, made with the Two-Eyed Seeing Program’s recipe. We’re so grateful for Elder Albert’s wisdom and support every time our team visits.

Our colleague Ann Sylliboy teaching families how to make luskinikn, a traditional Mi'kmaq bread. Ann is standing beside a large desk, facing several families sat at tables and chairs. This photo was taken at Pier 21, in Halifax NS.

4 people looking at a laptop. One person is holding a hand drum, and there is a smaller hand drum on the table in front of them. This is a photo of an activity we hosted with Native Council called Voice of the Drum, where we connected science and frequencies with the individual sounds each hand drum emits.

A photo of Krista, Cathy, and Cheyenne...the Two Eyed Seeing Program core staff!

6 people from one of our partnering communities kneeling in front of a boat made with the Two-Eyed Seeing Program. 5 of the people, all youth, are wearing Two-Eyed Seeing Program hoodies.

Testing, testing…is this thing on? We’re so excited to be joining Bluesky! 🦋

Our program is based in #Halifax #NovaScotia and built on the value of Etuaptmumk (Two-Eyed Seeing)-- looking at the world through more than one perspective.

Learn more about our program here: www.msvu.ca/academics/ba...