Dr. Redbird’s idealism and unshakable belief in the inherent goodness of people, and the inherent perils of the institutions that we all inhabit, helped lay the foundations for the Indigenous programming now offered at OCADU.  His vision helped define a new way forward for the program that will serve it for many years to come.  This is what a Path Breaker does.  He brings knowledge, confidence and fearless hope either in the classroom or the studio or sitting across the table at a buffalo stew lunch.”

- DR. BONNIE DEVINE, FOUNDING CHAIR OF INDIGENOUS VISUAL CULTURE PROGRAM AT OCADU

WATCH: ELDER REDBIRD RECEIVE HIS HONORARY DOCTORATE FROM OCAD U FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS

In November 2020, 10 Indigenous media scholars and artists convened at MIT — virtually — for the inaugural Indigenous Digital Delegation. In a week-long series of gatherings, the delegation met with over 60 MIT scientists, staff, fellows, and students. The theme of the gathering was “Indigenous Knowledge, Artificial Intelligence, and Digital Worlds.”

“Wisdom is not a topic that is taught or studied in the curriculum in our schools or universities, nor is it a practice in modern life,” said Ojibwe elder, artist, and scholar Dr. Duke Redbird, in the delegation’s keynote public lecture titled “A Dish with One Spoon.” “Technology can put a man in space or a nano-computer in every creature on Earth. Yet technology cannot answer this question that should be asked of anything. And it is an Indigenous question: ‘Is it wise?’”

https://news.mit.edu/2020/indigenous-knowledge-technology-mit-is-it-wise-1203