Decolonizing Western-Indigenous Dialogues
Interwoven Epistemologies for Multiple Modernities
Published on 2. October 2025
Book
Hardback
296 pages
978-1-350-42520-0 (ISBN)
Description
This groundbreaking book offers a unique collection of Indigenous and non-Indigenous approaches to decolonizing international development.
The world is facing enormous challenges, from ever-growing global inequality to climate change to the continuing fallout from the Covid pandemic. It is becoming increasingly clear that the origin of these challenges lies in the economic models and imperial lifestyles perpetuated by the Global North. In order to find new answers to the world's biggest challenges, then, it is necessary for the Global North to acknowledge Indigenous knowledge systems as unique and legitimate epistemologies and to engage in dialogues with them.
This collection brings together contributions from Indigenous and non-Indigenous authors to promote that dialogue. It provides a unique, rare forum for discourse between the expressive potentials of differing world views, and ultimately, for developing cooperation in the terms of Eisenstein's notion of interbeing, which counteracts the "History of Separation" between nature and culture and between Global South and Global North. What emerges is a path forward towards a new, interwoven modernity characterized by an embrace of separate, but mutually constitutive, ways of knowing.
For its wide topical and geographic breadth, and for its bringing together of Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars around the world, this book is a must-read for researchers and students interested in indigenous studies and decolonial approaches to international development.
The world is facing enormous challenges, from ever-growing global inequality to climate change to the continuing fallout from the Covid pandemic. It is becoming increasingly clear that the origin of these challenges lies in the economic models and imperial lifestyles perpetuated by the Global North. In order to find new answers to the world's biggest challenges, then, it is necessary for the Global North to acknowledge Indigenous knowledge systems as unique and legitimate epistemologies and to engage in dialogues with them.
This collection brings together contributions from Indigenous and non-Indigenous authors to promote that dialogue. It provides a unique, rare forum for discourse between the expressive potentials of differing world views, and ultimately, for developing cooperation in the terms of Eisenstein's notion of interbeing, which counteracts the "History of Separation" between nature and culture and between Global South and Global North. What emerges is a path forward towards a new, interwoven modernity characterized by an embrace of separate, but mutually constitutive, ways of knowing.
For its wide topical and geographic breadth, and for its bringing together of Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars around the world, this book is a must-read for researchers and students interested in indigenous studies and decolonial approaches to international development.
Reviews / Votes
Decolonizing Western-Indigenous Dialogues: Interwoven Epistemologies for Multiple Modernities is a profound and necessary contribution to the urgent global project of epistemic justice. This compelling volume brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous voices in a rich, respectful, and reflective dialogue that challenges dominant paradigms and affirms the value of diverse ways of knowing. It offers critical insights into decolonial thought and practice across contexts, making it an essential resource for students, scholars, educators, policymakers, and practitioners committed to transforming education, research, and inclusive development. By promoting an ethic of listening, reciprocity, and relational accountability, this book does not merely advocate for decolonisation but embodies it. * Mpumelelo E. Ncube, professor of social work at the University of the Free State, RSA * By exploring Indigenous knowledge systems and their interconnectedness with Western perspectives, this book provides innovative and visionary theoretical, conceptual and practical pathways to face current and future global challenges. A must read! * Helmut Spitzer, professor of social work at Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, Austria *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
605 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-350-42520-0 (9781350425200)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Gregory Cajete is Professor of Native American Studies and Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies at the University of New Mexico, USA.
Ditlhake Kefilwe Johanna is a social worker and Lecturer at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Maria do Carmo dos Santos Goncalves is the Director of the Scalabrinian Centre for Migration Studies (CSEM), Brazil.
Ronald Lutz is Lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences of Wuerzburg-Schweinfurt, Germany, Lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences of Erfurt, Germany, and Research Associate at the School of Social Work, University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Karsten Kiewitt is Professor of Inclusive Education at the Clara Hoffbauer University of Applied Sciences, Potsdam, Germany.
Ditlhake Kefilwe Johanna is a social worker and Lecturer at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Maria do Carmo dos Santos Goncalves is the Director of the Scalabrinian Centre for Migration Studies (CSEM), Brazil.
Ronald Lutz is Lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences of Wuerzburg-Schweinfurt, Germany, Lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences of Erfurt, Germany, and Research Associate at the School of Social Work, University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
Karsten Kiewitt is Professor of Inclusive Education at the Clara Hoffbauer University of Applied Sciences, Potsdam, Germany.
Content
Introductions
1. Introduction - On the Decolonization of Dialogues, Karsten Kiewitt
2. What is Native Science? Greg Cajete
i. Dialogues
3. To Know from Within, Benno Glauser
4. To be Open for Constructive Strangeness: Experiences with Intercultural Knowledge Exchange in Development Cooperation and Science, Peter Strack
5. Embodied Knowledge: Decolonizing Philosophy by Turning to the Nature that We Are, Barbara Schellhammer and Stan Wilson
6. Perhaps we Didn't Need a Bridge: In Dialogue with Indigenous Mathematics, Edward Doolittle & Amber Hughes
7. Western and Indigenous Knowledge Systems: Attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Umunthu Developmental Approach, Chance Chagunda
8. Kitheka Ki Matu: A Forest has Ears, Mark Lawrence
II. Challenges
9. Conceded Land Rights, Indigenous Territoriality, and Cooperation: Contradictions and Challenges, Volker von Bremen
10. Spirited Five Fingers Model: A Way of Reconnecting to the Spirit of Reciprocity in Social and Community Work, Ksenija Napan
11. Mobilities in the Global South and New Circuits of Affects, Maria do Carmo dos Santos Goncalves
12. Indigenous Social Security Systems for Endogenous Social Development in Southern Africa, Ndangwa Noyoo
13. Indigenous in Europe: The Challenge in Bringing back Livonian, Valts Ernstreits & Gunta Klava
14. The Hijab and Faith: Fashion and modesty, Samira Adel Osman
III. Perspectives
15. Thirty Years of Democracy in South Africa: Reflecting on Social Work and Climate Change Challenges Through Ubuntu Lense, Kefilwe Johanna Ditlhake
16. Decoloniality as Total Disentanglement with Modern Capitalist and Neo-Liberal Complex: Social Work Perspective, Mbazima Simeon Mathebane
17. Indigenous Youth and the Recomposition of Community Life: Some Experiences in Oaxaca, Mexico, Eduardo Bautista Martinez & Maria Leticia Briseno Maas
18. 'Not About Us, but With Us!' Perspectives of Insurgent Research with Children of the Global South, Manfred Liebel
19. From alternative epistemologies to alternative aesthetics. A plea for a decolonial environmental aesthetics, Werther Gonzales Leon
20. Buen Vivir and Sustainability: Relation Between Indigenous Knowledge and Western Concepts, Ronald Lutz
Conclusion
21. Decolonising Knowledge, Ronald Lutz
Bibliography
Index
1. Introduction - On the Decolonization of Dialogues, Karsten Kiewitt
2. What is Native Science? Greg Cajete
i. Dialogues
3. To Know from Within, Benno Glauser
4. To be Open for Constructive Strangeness: Experiences with Intercultural Knowledge Exchange in Development Cooperation and Science, Peter Strack
5. Embodied Knowledge: Decolonizing Philosophy by Turning to the Nature that We Are, Barbara Schellhammer and Stan Wilson
6. Perhaps we Didn't Need a Bridge: In Dialogue with Indigenous Mathematics, Edward Doolittle & Amber Hughes
7. Western and Indigenous Knowledge Systems: Attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Umunthu Developmental Approach, Chance Chagunda
8. Kitheka Ki Matu: A Forest has Ears, Mark Lawrence
II. Challenges
9. Conceded Land Rights, Indigenous Territoriality, and Cooperation: Contradictions and Challenges, Volker von Bremen
10. Spirited Five Fingers Model: A Way of Reconnecting to the Spirit of Reciprocity in Social and Community Work, Ksenija Napan
11. Mobilities in the Global South and New Circuits of Affects, Maria do Carmo dos Santos Goncalves
12. Indigenous Social Security Systems for Endogenous Social Development in Southern Africa, Ndangwa Noyoo
13. Indigenous in Europe: The Challenge in Bringing back Livonian, Valts Ernstreits & Gunta Klava
14. The Hijab and Faith: Fashion and modesty, Samira Adel Osman
III. Perspectives
15. Thirty Years of Democracy in South Africa: Reflecting on Social Work and Climate Change Challenges Through Ubuntu Lense, Kefilwe Johanna Ditlhake
16. Decoloniality as Total Disentanglement with Modern Capitalist and Neo-Liberal Complex: Social Work Perspective, Mbazima Simeon Mathebane
17. Indigenous Youth and the Recomposition of Community Life: Some Experiences in Oaxaca, Mexico, Eduardo Bautista Martinez & Maria Leticia Briseno Maas
18. 'Not About Us, but With Us!' Perspectives of Insurgent Research with Children of the Global South, Manfred Liebel
19. From alternative epistemologies to alternative aesthetics. A plea for a decolonial environmental aesthetics, Werther Gonzales Leon
20. Buen Vivir and Sustainability: Relation Between Indigenous Knowledge and Western Concepts, Ronald Lutz
Conclusion
21. Decolonising Knowledge, Ronald Lutz
Bibliography
Index