Introduction

What the paper says

This special issue of JAED is dedicated to an enhanced understanding of two-eyed seeing.More specifically, it focuses on the ways in which Indigenous individuals can "see" not only from their Indigenous, spiritual, decolonized, communalist mindset, but also from a Western, scientific, colonial, capitalist, neo-liberal ideology.The two-eyed perspective suggests that this dual ability will allow individuals to learn about, then consciously and actively participate in both the Indigenous as well as the Western worlds-standing with one proverbial foot in each.In line with the theme of this issue, the following is a review of two books by Robin Kimmerer, written 11 years apart in 2013 and 2024.This collaborative review, articulated by three scholars-academic leaders who are actively examining the evolving field of Indigenous economics, business, and economic development locally, nationally, and internationally-covers two key areas of interest, the first of which is clarifying how Kimmerer combines an understanding of Indigenous knowledge with Western science to support a natural collaborative way in the world.Second, they consider how lessons provided in Kimmerer's first book support the thesis presented in her second book that the underutilized natural eco-system metaphor can be useful when contemplating contemporary alternatives to a flawed Western capitalist approach.This consideration culminates in ideas on how individuals might collectively "see" Indigenous economic development in a different and enhanced light from two perspectives.Whenever I read or hear about management decision-making, organizational problem-solving, or the contemplation of unique and transformational community development projects utilizing parable or allegory, I get excited!Why?Because in the early 1990s, while looking for materials to use in my initial delivery of a university course called Introduction to Organizational Behaviour, I stumbled upon a useful text called Images of Organization by Gareth Morgan (1997).For me, given my interest in Indigenous organizations, it was a game-changer.According to Morgan, all theories-in his case, those of organization and management-are based on implicit images or metaphors that lead us to see, understand, and act in distinctive yet partial ways.In other words, the use of metaphor implies a way of thinking and a way of seeing.Further, metaphor, such as the ones Kimmerer utilizes, can assist individuals and Book Review Section