Psychology Diorama Exhibition 加方课程心理学成果展

The grade 11 Psychology students used a hands-on and creative approach to demonstrate their understanding and appreciation of a Mi’kmaq (one group of many Indigenous peoples in Canada) term of Etuaptmumk, which translates into English as “Two-Eyed Seeing”. This concept encourages individuals to take the best knowledge gained through an Indigenous lens and combine it with the best knowledge gained through a Western scientific lens to see, grasp, and comprehend life more deeply. 

Students were paired up and prompted to select one of fourteen psychological topics ranging from “addiction and overcoming”, “dreams and unconsciousness, “mental health and healing”, to topics like “identity and self-understanding”, “mindfulness and presence”, “grief and loss”, and “child-rearing practices”. Each diorama and accompanying written explanation illustrates how Indigenous and Western perspectives are balanced and integrated through the use of symbols and objects that are deeply connected to the chosen psychological topic. 

An exhibition space was set up to allow the creators of the diorama to not only display their artwork but to be provided with the opportunity to appreciate the artistic visions and work of their cohort-mates. Students were encouraged to visit the exhibition both independently and together as a class. During the class walk-through, students were empowered to individually express, in English, their preferred diorama and reasons for their choice.