In a recent conversation with Sasha Djakovic, Geography Lab Technician at Douglas College, I was struck by how deeply experiential and relational geography education can beâespecially when it is tied to land-based knowledge and Indigenous ways of knowing.
Sashaâs work, both in the lab and on the land, bridges high-tech tools like GIS and LiDAR drones with ancient stories, place names, and protocols rooted in the Lilâwat Nationâs territory. Through the Lilâwat Archaeological Research Project, he and colleagues like Bill Angelbeck, with guidance from Indigenous leaders such as Jennifer Anaquod, have facilitated a rare kind of learning: one that pairs digital mapping with spiritual respect, physical geography with oral tradition, and student development with cultural humility.
The Geography lab’s augmented reality sandbox, for instance, helps students visualize topography and contour lines in three dimensions. But Sasha reminds us that the best geography lab is still outside. In Lilâwat territory, stories like the Copper Canoe become topographical narrativesâlegends validated not only by tradition but also by modern science. The land itself, with its steep terrain and active volcanoes, speaks back to these stories in powerful ways.
What stood out most in our exchange was the emotional transformation students undergo during their time on these digs. From opening ceremonies with drumming to observing protocols around sacred sites and funerals, students are asked not just to learnâbut to feel, to listen, and to honour. This is not just skill-building. Itâs soul-building.
At a time when generative AI is rewriting the rules of what skills we offload to machines, Sashaâs reflections remind us of what we must not offload: spiritual sensitivity, ethical responsibility, and deep relational awareness with the land and its stories. These are not just Indigenous ways of knowingâthey are human ones, and theyâre more vital than ever.
And…good timing! This article about the archeological work came out shortly after our recorded dialogue: Archeological dig on Lilâwat territory uncovers ancient histories and reframes research relationships
