BattisteMarie_2017_5AnimatingEthicalTran_DecolonizingEducation

Indigenous Rights and Education

• Cultural Heritage Rights

  • Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions.

  • This includes:

    • Human and genetic resources

    • Seeds and medicines

    • Knowledge of fauna and flora

    • Oral traditions, literatures, and arts

  • Indigenous intellectual property rights are also protected under these rights.

• UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007)

  • States must recognize and protect these rights in collaboration with Indigenous communities.

• Catalytic Changes in Canadian Education

  • Significant changes in educational institutions regarding Aboriginal education are influenced by:

    1. The Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

    2. Push from the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs to close the educational gap

    3. Prioritization from provinces and territories in public and university education

    4. The Accord on Indigenous Education by the Association of Canadian Deans of Education

Historical Context and Challenges

• Past Influence on Education

  • Research efforts have shaped trends towards equality, human rights, and educational equity focused on Indigenous perspectives.

  • Successes shared in forums, e.g., Paul Martin’s Promising Practices in Aboriginal Education.

• Leadership and Progress

  • In recent decades, improved access, retention, and programming for Aboriginal students in universities.

  • Increased presence of Aboriginal scholars across disciplines.

• Critique of Eurocentric Frameworks

  • Traditional educational models often overlook Indigenous knowledge, grounded in European values and methodologies.

  • Challenges in historical narratives and stereotypes perpetuated through education systems.

Visioning Indigenous Knowledge in Curricula

• Innovative Directions

  • The chapter looks forward to integrating Indigenous knowledge into humanities and sciences curricula.

  • Current university practices often fail to incorporate Indigenous knowledge foundationally.

• Approaches to Change

  • Change initiatives span professional development, curriculum enhancement, access improvements, and recruitment efforts for Aboriginal students.

  • Critique of superficial inclusion strategies without substantive engagement with Eurocentrism in educational practices.

The Importance of Ethical Space

• Definition of Ethical Space

  • Ethical space is where Indigenous and Eurocentric knowledge systems interact without losing their distinct identities.

  • It involves recognizing each knowledge system's integrity while allowing for meaningful dialogue.

• Challenges in Representation

  • The relationship dynamics between Indigenous peoples and knowledge systems often reflect historic inequities.

    • Need for educators and institutions to actively interrogate their biases and contributions to systemic issues.

    • The role of mainstream education must be redefined to include Indigenous perspectives meaningfully.

Decolonizing Higher Education

• Current State of Higher Education

  • Movements are underway to incorporate Indigenous values, knowledge, and humanity into university curriculums to support pluralism.

• Creating Relevant Frameworks

  • The need for curricula that address power dynamics, racism, and exclusion, fundamentally transforming educational landscapes.

  • Examples from the SSHRC project illustrate benefits of collaboration with Indigenous communities in curriculum development.

Conclusion and Future Directions

• Vision for Inclusive Education

  • Anticipating a transformative educational journey that values resilience, creativity, and the actualization of Indigenous knowledge.

  • Education as a decolonizing journey that enhances humanity's capacities through acknowledgment, inclusion, and respect for diverse systems of knowing.