b'THINKING: REMATRIATIONseparate from the evaluation process andThese ongoing ceremonies have been requires us to go deeper within ourselvesfundamental in uniting Fearn, her as evaluators and expand outward,colleagues and community Elders in this inviting many perspectives. It unveilsshared rematriation goal and visioning the process and a pathway to achievingtheir next steps. At the same time, they play evaluation that is inclusive of Spirit anda foundational part in preparing everyone grounded in feminine principles. for the ensuing journey. Moving forward in healing the field of global evaluation Through the transformative act of rema- really begins with tending spirits, Fearn triation, continues Fearn, Metuaptmumkexplains. We embody the principles of becomes more instructive, moving healthrelationality and care, and care begins with evaluators from theory into practice.tending the spirits and then tending the What seems like a simple addition of aspirit of ourselves. That means our own letter on the surface unlocks a deeperhealing and well-being as evaluators doing understanding and one that invites thethis work, but also tending the global field layered histories and stories that restand those who are part of our networks that within various knowledge systems. Ourare doing this relational work and evaluative knowledge systems are as vast and comework globally.from Indigenous Nations around the world, Fearn explains. So, when weThe Turtle Island Institute has its part bring in the collective in our under- to play. It serves as a physical and digital Rematriation involves reawakening the ancestralstanding and evaluation work, we comelearning lodge where members across the feminine lens that has been erased over time,up with a deeper and more complexworld lead transformative change. Here, especially from the Mikmaq languageunderstanding of how to be in a relation- Fearn says, the real work is being done to ship with the work that were tryingdefine what it means to rematriate global to understand. evaluation and share these teachings. Were planning to publish academically The challenge is that much of todaysThis is merely one demonstration ofon the topic in 2023, but the work goes global evaluation models and practiceshow restoring the sacred feminine todeeper than that, she notes. A large part were developed by non-Indigenous menIndigenous languages brings greaterof this work is about awakening artistic and remain rooted in Western ways ofdepth to the fields of evaluation. In soexpressions and honouring our creative knowing and doing. Projects are measureddoing, rematriation serves to uphold thepractice, because its through artistic in terms of their end goals and outcomesspiritual integrity of the work and makeexpression that folks can come to know rather than the learnings and experi- the field of evaluation more actionableand be in relationship with knowledge ences along the way. Our thinking is toand accountable. What youre doingand wisdom.approach global evaluation through anis creating relational accountability and Indigenous feminine perspective andshifting from a quantitative way of beingYou can write a 40-page report [of which] turn those models inside out becauseinto a qualitative way of understanding,people only read the executive summary, we dont start at the end. The evaluationFearn shares. but not the rest. But in my 13th Moon process is all about living into the process,journey, what we did was we expressed Fearn says. As one of my Elders says, weall the knowledge that I gained from that must untrain and unravel the coloniza- GETTING THE WORD OUT journey and made a ribbon skirt that tion within us. And thats what we do. WeFor Fearn, the path towards rematria- embodies a living story within it. So there develop uniquely Indigenous approachestion began with looking inward duringneeds to be a reawakening and space made to deep systems awareness, of which13 Moons around the Sacred Fire ofglobally within evaluation that enables that evaluation is a big part. Peace at the Soul of the Mother Lodge.to be seen, Fearn explains.During this time, she and several of her The process of rematriation is moreIndigenous sisters who are now forgingRematriating global evaluation and than theoretical. For example, the termchange in the evaluation fieldKim vanlanguage is no small ambition. But with Etuaptmumk, coined by Albert andder Woerd, Nicole Bowman, Sofia Vitalisthe wisdom, history, and support of Turtle Medina Marshall in 2004, is appliedand Gladys Rowecame together toIsland Institute and her community, Fearn frequently in health evaluation. Meaningbegin exploring what it meant to restorefeels ready for a reawakening. Were Two Eyed Seeing it implies that we canthe sacred feminine in the field of evalua- really excited about how we can cultivate view situations through both a Westerntion and the part they might play. and bring about the social innovation and Indigenous lens (or eye), take thefield of evaluators who want to lean into best of both worlds and move forward. Through this ceremony, the intentionunderstanding Indigenous knowledge was to tap into a connection with oursystems from a feminine lens, she says. In our work, were reconceptualizingAncestors to understand the pathwayIn three or maybe seven years, our vision Two Eyed Seeing through the feminineforward and to regenerate our spirits asis that evaluators in the world go back to lens, Fearn says. We do that by adding anwe do this work, Fearn recalls. Its whattheir own original Indigenous roots and M onto the beginning of that word, so itled me to uphold this work in whatdecolonize their languages and reclaim becomes Metuaptmumk. By adding thatsome call decolonizing evaluation. Butthose lost feminine stories. That way, M, the word becomes very energetic;really, its about revitalizing the field ofthey may unveil new pathways forward to it adds complexity and becomes multi- evaluation and creating space for theground and guide their work for future dimensional. It reminds us we are notfeminine lens. generations to come. 22Spring/Summer 2023'