BOOK GUIDES
What are Native American Pedagogies?
Native American pedagogies consist of a variety of educational philosophies, teaching methods, and cultural practices that are deeply connected to Indigenous traditions and values. While there isn't a singular approach representing all Native American cultures, several common principles and practices are typically highlighted in Indigenous education. These principles reflect the deep cultural values, wisdom, and resilience of Native American communities, offering insights into alternative approaches to teaching, learning, and community building that can enrich educational practices globally. Embracing Native American Pedagogies supports a holistic approach to learning about Native American cultures, honoring their unique contributions while fostering connections between students and their local communities. Here are some commonly emphasized elements in Native American pedagogies:
Place-Based Learning
Place-based education promotes learning experiences that are rooted in the cultural, historical, environmental, economic and literary contexts of students. As such, it is critical to understand the ways that culture and place are intrinsic to the experiences of Native students and other populations. This framework provides faculty with an applicable set of best practice strategies to incorporate into the classroom and serve an array of students (Conti, 2013). Indigenous cultures emphasize connection to the land and natural world. Place-based learning integrates local environments, landscapes, and cultural heritage into learning, fostering stewardship and community ties. Place-based learning is a great way to teach about Native American cultures because it lets students engage directly with the land, history, and traditions of Native American peoples in their local community by fostering respect, reciprocity, and relationships. Teachers build opportunities to build relationship to place, experience, and people. Exploring the history of Native American tribes in the area, including their interactions with the environment and land, helps students appreciate their contributions to the community. Learning about Indigenous ecological knowledge and sustainable practices through hands-on activities like planting native plants or restoring habitats highlights the importance of environmental conservation from Indigenous perspectives.
All-Senses Experiential Learning
Learning by doing is a core aspect of Native American pedagogy. Experiential learning in the Alaska Native way uses all the senses: sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell, plus intuition and gut feeling. This framework recognizes that young people learn through engagement in activities that support their community in cooperative, collaborative and intentional ways that increase memory and skill development (Merculieff & Roderick 2013). Students engage in hands-on experiences, practical activities, and real-life applications of knowledge, fostering active participation and deep understanding. Native American pedagogies often take a holistic approach, addressing physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of learning. Education is viewed as a lifelong journey encompassing all aspects of well-being and community connection.
Storytelling and Oral Tradition
Many Native American cultures prioritize oral tradition, passing knowledge, stories, and teachings through spoken language rather than written texts. Oral storytelling is central to education, transmitting cultural values, history, and wisdom across generations. Storytelling is central to the learning of peoples. It communicates knowledge about history, survival, and culture, and serves as a gentle corrective tool when there's disharmony in the community. Elders may choose to tell a corrective story without criticizing, singling out or disciplining an individual knowing that lessons will be remembered better if they are conveyed in an animated style (Merculieff & Roderick 2013). To integrate these elements into the classroom, one might utilize case studies, biographies, fictional narratives, and oral histories as teaching tools.
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