Indigeneity, Technology and Education
Dr Gregory Cajete is the Director of Native American Studies at the University of New Mexico. In this talk he explains how Aboriginal ways of knowing are indeed compatible with western science.
He is very much involved in integrated curriculum development that is culturally responsive and aims to engage Aboriginal learners.
Module 4, post 5.
https://www.culturalsurvival.org/
This is a great site dedicated to advocating for Indigenous rights and supporting Indigenous communities on their journeys to self-determination. It releases quarterly publications and produces video, radio and other media to this end.
Module 4, post 4.
This is a fantastic site with resources for teaching about Indigenous peoples from all over the world. http://www.iwgia.org/index.php
It categorizes these resources to make it useful for teachers of science, languages, humanities and more.
I was particularly interested in their pages on Traditional Ecological Knowledge.
Module 4, post 3
This looks like an interesting program which was developed at UVic. http://web.uvic.ca/igov/
Their description gives a nice overview:
Indigenous Governance follows an approach to learning that is characterized by personal dedication to Indigenous values and a commitment to community. IGOV supports the use of innovative teaching methods and aims to provide a sound and challenging educational experience. Our faculty, staff and students are held to very high standards of academic performance and ethical conduct, and our program of study integrates critical and intellectually challenging coursework, an Indigenous ethical framework for conducting research, and requires the establishment of long-term and mutually productive working relationships with Indigenous communities.
Module 4, post 2
This is a great TED video that looks at the past practices in education in remote aboriginal communities. It then looks forward at the evolving roles of the educators in these locations.
It’s well worth your 15 minutes! Module 4 post 1
I had no idea until recently that BC has a Native Education College committed to providing a setting for “…learners to flourish and connect with Indigenous culture.”
The guiding philosophy of the College adopts the teachings of Elders from the local (Vancouver) Nations. It offers training in continuing ed, business, healthcare, and other areas.
I’m curious to find out what Aboriginal Education philosophies guide their instructional design and pedagogy?
Module 3, post 5
I’ve linked an article from the CBC website from June 2015 that highlights the BC government’s new commitment to Aboriginal content in the new curriculum drafts released this past summer.
In the article it mentions how the impetus for this integration in the new curriculum came from the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
As cynical as I am of the current BC government, I have had a look at the proposed curriculum and it does go a long way towards inclusion of different worldviews.
Module 3, post 4curricu
https://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/abed/perf2014.pdf
The HAWD is a report put out by BC’s ministry of Education each year. I’ve linked the 2014 report. HAWD stands for: How Are We Doing? This question is asked in relation to BC’s commitment to Aboriginal Education and Aboriginal graduation rates.
If you like detached, faceless government reports with colourful graphs and charts with lots of numbers that show trends, then this document is a must read!
All kidding aside, this document is very visually telling as it shows in shocking detail just what the state of Aboriginal Education is like.
Module 3, post 3
This link is for a website called Project of Heart, which “is an inquiry based, hands-on, collaborative, inter-generational, artistic journey of seeking truth about the history of Aboriginal people in Canada. Its purpose is to:
It presents some beautiful projects and artwork done by students out of respect for Aboriginal peoples and the atrocities they suffered in residential schools.
Module 3, post 2
http://bctf.ca/uploadedFiles/public/AboutUs/ServicesHandbook/1AbEdProgram.pdf
The link above is to the BC Teacher’s Federation Aboriginal Education Program.
This document highlights the BCTF’s commitment to Aboriginal Education. It sets out definitions and protocols for teachers to follow when integrating Aboriginal ways of knowing into their courses. It also serves as a resource linking to other related committees in the area of Aboriginal Education.
Module 3 post 1