Abstract
To add to the rich global dialogue that is currently emerging, this chapter of this book introduces what Indigenizing education means to five educators who currently work in school, university, and community education settings. The perspectives of these five educators Blair Stonechild, Nerida Blair, Linda Goulet, Becki Cook, and Dale Rowland were sought as they represent a combination of First Nations Australians, First Nations Canadians, elders, experienced educators, and young educators. This introductory chapter offers a glimpse into the vast array of perspectives on what it means to Indigenize education, why this is important, what inhibits this process, what role non-Indigenous educators play, and what can support educators in this endeavour. Through critical and engaged dialogue, these authors map out their theoretical and practical-based understandings and highlight ways of thinking, knowing, and doing in Australian and Canadian contexts. Ten overarching themes emerge from the perspectives of these five educators and become the pivotal points which are discussed in contextual detail in each of the following eight chapters. These themes become the thread that ties this book together.
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Notes
- 1.
Stonechild (2016).
- 2.
International Commission for a History of the Scientific and Cultural Development of Mankind, History of Mankind—Cultural and Scientific Development, “Prehistory and the Beginnings of Civilization,” George Unwin and Allen Limited, 1963, 3–8.
- 3.
“Country/Countrys is the term I have chosen to describe Aboriginal Countrys, spaces and places. It is capitalized and pluralized to give respect to Aboriginal diversities. The term Country embodies ecological systems so much a part of Indigenous knowings; it is not just limited to geographical space and place. I choose to spell the plural differently to embrace the distinctiveness of concepts” (Blair, 2015, p. xvi).
- 4.
I have chosen to use the term Story/Storys to reflect and show respect for Indigenous diversity and Knowing of the concept of Story. The word is capitalized … to embrace its significance …. The spelling of the plural Storys—reflects cultural distinctness of the concept (Blair, 2015, p. xv).
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Blair, N. et al. (2020). A Dialogue Around Indigenizing Education and Emerging Themes. In: Sammel, A., Whatman, S., Blue, L. (eds) Indigenizing Education. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4835-2_1
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