Learning Indigenous Science From Place

30 July, 2008 by nicholas.urquhart

Aboriginal Education Research Centre is one of the founding members of the Indigenous Knowledge in the Science Curriculum Committee, actively involved in dialogue circles regarding the importance of Indigenous Science and the status of Indigenous Science within school curriculum in Saskatchewan. As part of our Learning Indigenous Science from Place research project, we would like to share some of the ‘Best Practices’ we discovered across Canada and a bibliographic list of references related to Indigenous Science.

The Indigenous Knowledge in the School Science Curriculum Committee was
founded at the University of Saskatchewan and hosts dialogue circles
regarding the importance of Indigenous Science and the status of Indigenous
Science within school curriculum in Saskatchewan.

Early in 2007, following a competition for projects related to Aboriginal
Learning, a research project was awarded to the Committee by the Canadian
Council on Learning. On behalf of the Committee, First Nations University
of Canada agreed to administer the research. Dr. Herman Michell, Head of
Science at First Nations University is the Principal Investigator. Yvonne
Vizina, Associate Director of the Aboriginal Education Research Centre at
the U of S is the Co-Investigator. The applied research project is designed
to address: what is a First Nation and Métis perspective of learning
Indigenous science from place and how is Indigenous science translated into
the science curriculum of Saskatchewan schools?

Building upon the evolving provincial curriculum, and past federal,
provincial and Aboriginal research supporting the need for greater cultural
content within school systems, this research project seeks to bring
perspectives and worldview foundations for processing Indigenous science
knowledge in Saskatchewan. This research will provide theoretical and
practical solutions for educators in integrating Indigenous science
knowledge within curriculum.

The Indigenous Knowledge in the School Science Curriculum Committee has
evolved a relationship over the past two years as a community-based group of
interested people representing First Nations University of Canada,
University of Saskatchewan, Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations,
Gabriel Dumont Institute, Government of Saskatchewan – Ministry of
Education, Saskatoon Tribal Council, Meadow Lake Tribal Council, Greater
Saskatoon Catholic Schools and Saskatoon Public Schools. The Committee
purpose is to foundationally place Indigenous knowledge and animate
Indigenous science within science curriculum.

Download: Promising Practices from Final Report

Download: References from Final Report