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Carving truth from the earth: integrating geophysics and Indigenous knowledge in the journey toward truth, before reconciliation
Brunson, Alexandra DakotaTomi
Brunson, Alexandra DakotaTomi
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2024
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This thesis investigates the intersecting realms of geophysics, Indigenous knowledge, and the movement for truth and reconciliation concerning the impacts of Indian Residential Schools on Indigenous peoples and tribal communities in Northern America. Through a critical examination of non-invasive geophysical practices—specifically, ground-penetrating radar (GPR), magnetometry, and frequency-domain electromagnetics (FDEM)—this work examines how these technologies contribute to the detection of unmarked graves and the restoration of cultural heritage, serving as essential tools in operationalizing truth and reconciliation efforts. This research engages with Indigenous perspectives and underscores the limitations of conventional geophysical methodologies to advocate for integrating Indigenous knowledge systems, which encompass unique understandings of land and memory, with geoscientific applications to enhance both cultural sensitivity and scientific efficacy. Informed by post-positivist, critical Indigenous theory and rooted in community collaboration, this thesis emphasizes the role of geophysics in addressing historical and ongoing harms of settler colonialism, positioning scientific inquiry as a collaborative pathway to justice and healing with Indigenous communities. By advancing culturally responsible approaches in both STEM education and geophysical applications, this research seeks to bridge geophysical practice with Indigenous ways of knowing, contributing to a framework that supports reconciliation and truth-telling efforts across North America.
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