Decolonising the Cosmos: How Indigenous Science Centres Reshape Knowledge Systems Through Astronomy
Original framing: “Find connection in the stars with Indigenous Science Night at the Spark Centre” — bing news
Indigenous science is not a subset of Western science but a distinct epistemological system that prioritises oral transmission, land-based learning, and reciprocal relationships with the cosmos. Events like Indigenous Science Night at TELUS Spark are critical in disrupting the colonial myth of scientific objectivity by centring Indigenous astronomers like Dr. Heather Williams (Cherokee) or Dr. Janna Mosely (Cherokee/Choctaw), whose work bridges traditional knowledge with modern astrophysics. The omission of these voices in mainstream science narratives reinforces the erasure of Indigenous contributions to astronomy, such as the Anishinaabe Star Map or the Māori star lore recorded in the *Whare Tapa Whā* framework. This dimension restores the agency of Indigenous peoples as both subjects and authorities in scientific discourse.
The Indigenous Science Night at TELUS Spark is not just an educational event but a strategic intervention in a centuries-long struggle over who defines scientific authority.
By centring Indigenous astronomers, knowledge keepers, and marginalised voices within a Western science institution, the event exposes the colonial fractures in mainstream knowledge systems while offering a vision for repair. The convergence of Indigenous cosmologies—where stars are ancestors, stories, and ethical guides—with Western astronomy forces a reckoning with the reductionist limits of empirical science, revealing how Indigenous frameworks prioritise relationality, reciprocity, and long-term stewardship. However, the success of such initiatives hinges on dismantling institutional barriers that still gatekeep Indigenous science, from academic publishing to funding structures. The trickster energy of these events lies in their ability to invert power dynamics, turning the 'science centre' into a space where Indigenous epistemologies outmanoeuvre colonial authority—not through confrontation alone, but through the creative, spiritual, and communal reclamation of narrative sovereignty. The path forward demands Indigenous-led institutions, land-based research, and data sovereignty, all of which must be funded and governed by Indigenous communities to ensure that the decolonisation of science is not performative but transformative.