Ethical Space

The concept of “Ethical Space” was initially introduced by Dr. Willie Ermine, described as a theoretical space between thought worlds, often applied in the context of Indigenous and Western ways of knowing, that reflects a space where the uniqueness and diversity of each lens is respected and the strengths of each are elevated. Ethical Space acknowledges the existence of bias, injustice, and conflict, but aims to create a space that is, instead, grounded in shared values such as respect, trust, humility, and responsibility. For Ethical Space to be achieved, all parties have to be equally willing to respect each other, restore power balance, and resolve conflict; as such, this is a fundamental starting point to weaving knowledge systems and decolonizing current environmental practices.