The Honorable Dr' Lillian Eva Quan Dyck,

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The Medicine Wheel and Science
The Honorable Dr. Lillian Eva Quan
Dyck, Senator University of Saskatchewan
January 2006
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My family of origin
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the Regal café, Killam, Alberta
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Moms Tombstone in Killam, Alberta
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Dads Tombstone in Swift Current
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Grade 12 Graduation, S.C.C.I., 1963
Clever bright is Lillian Quan In Biochemistry,
shell never go wrong
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My chemistry teacher
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Lynda Ham, grade 9
Would someone please dig the chalk out of my ears?
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My high school teachers were excellent

• I got a solid foundation in a wide range of
  subjects
• I was actively encouraged to go to University
• Scholarships

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Post- secondary education University of
Saskatchewan B.A., Biochem 1966 Honours,
Biochem 1968 M.A., Biochem 1970 Ph.D., Biol
Psychiatry 1981
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Convocation, 1981, PhD, Biol Psychiatry, U of S
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Gender does matter in being a scientist!
Western culture is dualistic. Masculine
qualities, such as speaking, are usually
considered to be superior to feminine
qualities, such as listening. Womens talents
are still undervalued. Balancing work family
is still seen as a womens issue.
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Women in science have not yet achieved parity.

• While the percentage of women studying science at
  the undergraduate level has increased,
• there is still an under-representation of
  female faculty in science faculties.
• The faculty at most universities is still
  predominantly male.

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Our society views men women differently.
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Changing the culture of science
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Ones cultural beliefs also matter in science!
Western culture sees itself as superior to
others. Especially with respect to science, its
methods and findings. Anglo-Saxons are seen as
the control or Normal, while other groups are
viewed as faulty or inferior. Different cultures
ask different research questions.
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Seeking out my Cree cultural beliefs
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What is Aboriginal Science?

• A1. Traditional or Ancestral Knowledge of
  astronomy, agriculture, medicine past knowledge
• A2. Traditional or Ancestral ways of Knowing
• The process of gaining knowledge
• Observational skills
• Oral tradition
• Elders
• Holistic world view

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The Medicine Wheel
An ancient Indian symbol used to understand
ideas, to show how all things are connected. The
foundation of human development. Describes the
four aspects of all things. Underlies the
concept of Balance.
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The Bighorn Medicine Wheel in Wyoming From The
Sacred Earth, Courtney Milne
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From Dyck LE , Native Studies Review 11 89-102
(1996)
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East Door Physical Aspect

• The Initial Training Phase of Science
• Learning the language of science
• the methods
• the Tools, Hands-on science
• Observation

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South Door - Emotional

• The Emotionally Appealing Phase of Science
• Living and loving science
• Science as fun
• Defending your findings
• Becoming hooked on science

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North door - Mental

• The Wisdom Aspect of Science
• Learning the current state of knowledge
• Contributing new knowledge via
  research activities
• Developing wisdom via experience
  and age
• Collaborative science

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West door - Spiritual

• The Intuitive or Creative Aspect of Science
• Is thought not to be part of science
• Using Inner wisdom
• Gut hunches, intuition
• Night-time dreams
• Spiritual insight
• Consideration of ethical moral
  issues

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North
Thinking
Tools
East
West
Love, hate
No way!
South
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OOPS!

• So the way we begin to teach science is like
  a breech birth into science!
• Because we enter through the West door
  instead of the East door.
• More notably, we do not acknowledge the
  East door in Western science.

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What aspects of the Medicine Wheel are we missing
in Recruitment?
The Eastern door, the spiritual aspect is
missing. To address this door we can Build on
those things that inspire our target
audience. Build on the inner spark, the inner
drive or motivation of our target group.
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The Medicine Wheel and Recruitment into Science

• Identify strategies to attract Women,
  Aboriginals, and others into the study of Science
• We seek the First and Best, but do we seek
• The Inspired, the Purposeful and the
  Imaginators?

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Using the Medicine Wheel to attract students into
Science
N
Doing science to make a difference or to help
people
Science with a purpose
Hands-on sciences
Science is fascinating
W
E
Science and inspiration
Science is fun
S
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The Medicine Wheel can identify Obstacles in
Science
N
Academically challenging
Fears of technology or equipment
Not spiritual No Awe
W
E
No room for intuition
Isolation, alienation
S
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The Medicine Wheel Finding Solutions to
Obstacles
N
Provide tutors, mentors
Keep the spirit alive
Show how to use the Tools of the trade
E
W
Respect others
Honor intuition
Offer support, befriend
S
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Retention of Women and Other Minorities in Science

• The Medicine Wheel can identify obstacles or
  challenges in the four aspects of science.
• Once the obstacles or hoops are known,
• strategies to get around them can be developed.
• Do the HOOP DANCE!

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Summary
The Medicine Wheel can be used as an analytical
tool. Doing so, shows that Western Science is
unbalanced there is no Eastern door or
Spiritual aspect in science. Including the
Spiritual aspect in the way we teach science and
in the way we recruit students may improve
recruitment of women and Aboriginals and may
increase their retention.
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The phone call from the Prime Ministers office!
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Being sworn in as a Senator, April 2005
Speaker Hays, me, Clerk Belisle
Nathan, me, Winston
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My new office in Ottawa
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Education is our buffalo.L éducation est notre
bison.Paskwa mooswa kis-kinaw mah-sowin.
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Mr. A. John Dyer his girls, 2000
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The crazy-making workplace culture
We, people who are different, are
told Youve got it made. You receive special
treatment. Youre not discriminated
against. Youre treated the same way as the
guys. Youre treated fairly or better than
fair.