Writing from a Relational Systems Thinking Standpoint

A Commentary

Authors

  • Melanie Goodchild Algoma University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47061/jasc.v4i1.8121

Keywords:

Indigenous, Relational, spirituality

Abstract

Dr. Melanie Goodchild (Anishinaabe, moose clan) shares story about the complexities of academic writings that engage with Indigenous ancestral wisdom traditions and thinking patterns.  The commentary offers considerations for co-authoring papers and citing Indigenous authors from a place of deep engagement and relationship.  This is a humble offering on how to write from a Relational Systems Thinking (Goodchild, 2021) standpoint.

Author Biography

Melanie Goodchild, Algoma University

Dr. Melanie Goodchild, Anishinaabe (Ojibway), moose clan, is a design and innovation strategist with over 30 years’ experience working with First Nations communities.  Her practice has transitioned from applied sociology to Anishinaabe, decolonial and participatory approaches to better understand how to tackle complex systems challenges.  With a Ph.D. in Social and Ecological Sustainability from the University of Waterloo, she has worked on transformative systems initiatives with other practitioners and scholars around the world.  Melanie is a contributing faculty member with the Presencing Institute'su-school for Transformation at MIT and the Wolf Willow Institute for Systems Learning.  She is passionate about utilizing complexity-aware tools together with Anishinaabe gikendaasowin (our original ways of knowing) to support innovation at scale.  She is a Systems Changer in Residence with the Canadian Association of Science Centres (CASC); the Academic Director of Makwa Waakaa’igan at Algoma University; and a research associate at NORDIK Institute.  Melanie is a certified 3 Horizons facilitator and a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Awareness-Based Systems Change.  She is currently an advisor to the Edge Finance Accelerator at Solvable; a member of the Measuring Systems Practice Development Group with the Social Impact Exchange in New York City; a Systems Coach with the Center for Care Innovations in California; and she serves as a member of Policy Horizons Canada’s Deputy Minister Steering Committee.  Melanie holds an MA and HBA in Sociology from Lakehead University and she was a university finalist for the Alumni Gold Medal at the doctoral level in the Faculty of Environment, 2023 recipient.  She is an alumna of the International Women’s Forum Leadership Foundation’s Fellows Program (2015/16) sponsored by Harvard Business School and INSEAD.  Dr. Goodchild is from Biigtigong Nishnaabeg, Aroland, Couchiching and Ketegaunseebee First Nations and she resides in Bawating with her family.    

References

Bishop, M. (2021). Don’t tell me what to do’ encountering colonialism in the academy and pushing back with Indigenous authoethnography. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 35(5), 367–378. https://doi.org/10.1080/09518398.2020.1761475

Goodchild, M. (2021). Relational Systems Thinking: That’s How Change is Going to Come, From Our Earth Mother. Journal of Awareness-Based Systems Change, 1(1), 75–103. https://doi.org/10.47061/jabsc.v1i1.577

Goodchild, M. (2022): Duck shit tea, Yarning & the magical space in between things [Blog].Wolf Willow Institute. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5edef2eb3032af28b09b8cc3/t/636c6d31450b0f0bc4b9aaeb/1668050232743/DuckShitTea_22-11-09_vf.pdf

Goodchild, M. (2022, April 3). Radio Kingston with guest Melanie Goodchild [Radio broadcast]. First Voices Radio. https://radiokingston.org/en/broadcast/first-voices-radio/episodes/with-guest-melanie-goodchild

Kovach, M. (2010). Conversational Method in Indigenous Research. First Peoples Child & Family Review, 5(1), 40-48.

Richardson, L. (2000). Writing: a Method of Inquiry. In Denzin, Norman K. & Lincoln, Yvonna S., (Eds), Handbook of Qualitative Research (2nd Ed.) (pp. 923–948). Sage Publications.

Udoewa, V., & Gress, S. (2023). Relational Design. Journal of Awareness-Based Systems Change, 3(1), 101–128. https://doi.org/10.47061/jasc.v3i1.5193

Whitinui, P. (2013). Indigenous Autoethnography: Exploring, Engaging, and Experiencing “Self” as a Native Method of Inquiry. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, 43(4), 456–487. https://doi.org/10.1177/0891241613508148

Wilson, S. (2008). Research is Ceremony: Indigenous research methods. Fernwood Publishing

Yunkaporta, T. (2019). Sand talk: How Indigenous thinking can save the world. HarperOne.

Yunkapporta, T. (2023). Right story, wrong story: Adventures in Indigenous thinking. Text Publishing Company

© Nathalie Van Volson 2024. Digital drawing of leaves, pods and branches against abstract background of color wash, in green, purple, pink, black and white

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Published

2024-05-31

How to Cite

Goodchild, M. (2024). Writing from a Relational Systems Thinking Standpoint: A Commentary. Journal of Awareness-Based Systems Change, 4(1), 11–18. https://doi.org/10.47061/jasc.v4i1.8121

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2024): Journal of Awareness-Based Systems Change

Section

Commentary from the Field

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Melanie Goodchild

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.