ETEC 521 - Indigeneity, Technology and Education

Module 1.- Global and Local Indigenous Knowledge

1.1ApplicationforIndigenousLanguage

Websitelink:
http://nativeinnovation.us/index.php/thenewdinebizaadappforiphoneipadipodtouch/

What
TheDinewasitoriginallycreatedasawebsiteitfeaturedvoiceandlanguageacquisitioninthe
formofblogpoststhatoccurredweeklyanddailytheideafortheapplicationcameafterthe
responseonlinewaspositive.ThecreatorwantedtofocusonensuringthatMexicanNavajo
languagedidnotdieandwasmetwiththechallengeoftryingtocreateanapplicationthat
allowsyoutoengageintheirowncultureandtraditionsthroughlanguageacquisition.This
projectwastakenasanopensourceprojecttoallowotherdevelopersandothercommunity
memberstoshareandenhancetheexperienceforthoseusingtheapplication.

SoWhat
ThisexampleisrelevanttomyresearchbecauseIamtryingtocreateaframeworkbasedon
myfindingsthatallowsforcommunitymembersandpeopletoregainlanguagethatis
endangeredofbeinglost.Iunderstandthatthisgoalissomewhataltruistic.HoweverIwantto
createadigitaltooltohelpengageandempowermembersofcommunitiesinterestedinre
establishingandordocumentingLanguageinawaythatiseasyandrepresentsgooddesign
principlesthatenablestheusertoincorporateTheirownlanguageintoit.

NowWhat:
BylookingatexamplesofinterfaceandUIXIcangetanideaofwhatcurrentlyexistsandhowI
canmakeimprovementsoraddressthingsthatmaynothavebeenaddressedinthedesign.

1.3RevivingLostLanguages
Websitelink:
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2014/s4101910.htm

What
Thisartifactisaradiointerview.Thatdescribeswhathappenedwhenoneprincipal'sgoalwas
toteachaboriginalstudentsabouttheirnativelanguageinaustralia.ThePrincipalworkedwitha
linguisticsexperttoretrievehistoricaldocumentsandsupportinglanguage.

SoWhat
Itispossibletorevivelanguagesthatarelostifthereisateamofskilledandmotivatedpeople
whoareactivelyengagedandpassionate.TwoimportantquotesthatItookawayfromthisradio
interviewwasThedifferenceIseeisinpeople'sselfesteemandcultureandlanguagego
together

Nowwhat
Itisimportanttounderstandwaysthatindigenouspeoplecanreconnecttotheirheritageand
culture.Effortsinintegratingtechnologyshouldhavethisfocusatthecentre.

1.3EducationalBooksWrittenbyIndigenousPeople

WebsiteLink:http://www.strongnations.com

What
Itisaplacetobuybookswrittenaboutaboriginalpeopleandbyaboriginalpeople.

SoWhat
Ifitisbelievedthatculturaltraditionsarepassedonthroughstoriesthenusingthesechildrens
bookisawaytoinstillculturalnarrativesinreplacementforotherbooksisonewaythat
aboriginalculturecanbeintegratedintocurricularactivities.

NowWhat
Itisimportanttolookatwaysoffacilitatingcurriculumstandardsandbeingculturallyrelevant.I
couldseethisasanexcellentwaytomeetgovernmentallearningoutcomestandardsfor
childreninelementarygrades.Bysimplyreplacingthematerialthatstudentsengagewithisone
wayofbringingrelevantconversationsintotheclassroom.

1.4Challengesfacedbyaboriginalcommunities.

Websitelink:
http://www.aifs.gov.au/sf/resources/bib/indigenousissues.pdf

What
Thisprovidesreadingsbasedonissuesandchallengesfacingaboriginalcommunities.This
websiteisbasedinAustralianexamples.Thisarebrokendownintocategories:Reconciliation,
Alcohol&Drugs,ChildAbuse,Childrearing,Education,Employment,FamilyViolence,Health,
Homelessness,Housing,Partnershipsforbetteroutcomes,ResearchwithIndegenous
Communties,Sexaulassault,andWelfare.

SoWhat

Itisimportanttounderstandtheissuesthatarecurrentlyfacingaboriginalcommunitieswithout
anunderstandingoftheseissues.Onecannotunderstandthedailylivesofthestudents.

NowWhat
Itbecomesclearthatthereisalotoftraumaandpersonalthingstoovercome,nowitistryingto
findhowtoaddressitthrougheducation.

1.5TheGovernmentandIndigeneity.

What:https://www.aadncaandc.gc.ca/eng/
GovernmentwebsiteforAboriginalAffairsandNorthernDevelopment.Thiswebsiterepresents
informationaboutvariousindigenousculturesincanada.

Sowhat:Itisimportanttoanalyzegovernmentandaboriginalrelationshipswhendealingwith
educationbecausethegovernmentisamajorstakeholder.

Nowwhat:ItisevidentthatinthelanguageusedthatCanadawantstoeconomicallydevelop
thenorth.Itseemslikethiscouldonlyfurther

Module 2
Stereotypes and the Commodification of Indigenous Social Reality

2.1
http://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1941&context=theses
What:Thesispresentation
Abstract:

ThisthesisexaminestheongoingtrendsindepictionsofNativeAmericanIndiansin
popularmainstreammediafromthelasttwodecades.Stereotypesingeneralandin
relationtoNativeAmericanIndiansarediscussed,andapatternofstereotypereactions
tocolonistsperceivedstrainsisidentified.Ananalysisofpopulartelevisionshows,
movies,andbookswithcontemporaryNativecharacterswilldemonstratenewtrends
whichwemightconsidertransformedoremergingstereotypesofNativepeopleinnon
Nativemedia.Thesetrendswillnotonlybeshowntohaveemergedfrommoregeneral
nationalandregionalstereotypesofNativeidentity,butwillalsodemonstratea
continuationofthehistoricalwillingnessofcoloniststorelyonmorevirulentNative
stereotypesincaseswheretheyperceivesomeNativethreat.Particularattentionwillbe
paidtothedenialofIndianidentityinthesoutheastandnortheastthroughcomedyand
mockeryand,ontheotherhand,theexaggerationofIndianidentityinthewestern
UnitedStatesthroughshapeshifting,paranormalencounters,mystery,andmore

conventionalNativeinterests.Attheendofthethesis,somepossiblemethodsfor
grapplingwiththeseproblematicportrayalswillbediscussed.

SoWhat:
Itisveryimportanttounderstandtheassumptionsofone'sownthinkingandculturalvalues
beforelookingatsomeoneelse's,Inthisthesispresentationtheauthordoesaverygoodjob
providingdepthandmeaningfulcontexttotherelationshipbetweenstereotypes(dominantand
nondominant)andindigeneity.sheconcludesbyofferingsomesuggestions.Twooftheseareto
examinehistoricalandcontemporaryaboriginalissuesinK12,notjusthistorical.Thisplaces
aboriginalhistoryinthesamewayaseuropeanhistory.Sothatunderstandingofthewhole
experienceofindigenouspeoplescanbeseenandexamined.Secondly,Shesaysthat
Indigenouspeopleneedtostartmakingmediathatrepresentstheirownvaluesandculture.

Nowwhat:Thissuggeststhatincorporatingtechnologyintoindigenouscommunitiescouldhave
potentialbenefittoindigenouspeoplewhowanttocreateindigenousperspectiveusingnew
mediatoolsandinmakingthenewmediapartnershipsbetweenindigenousandnonindigenous
people'swillallowforagreaterculturalunderstandingandrespect.

2.2
http://nativeappropriations.com
Thiswebsiteexaminespopularmediaincludingbloggedandpostedcontent,forstereotypes
andmisconceptionswrittenonline.

Sowhat:Itisimportanttounderstandthebiasinthewritingtheweconsume.Forthemostpart
wetakeinthisinformationandbiassubconsciouslywithoutexamininghowitiswrittenandthe
perspectiveitrepresents.Thiswebsiteisverygoodforraisingawarenessofmisrepresentations
ofwesternperspectives.

NowWhat:itisimportanttobeconsciousoftheinformationthatisbeingreadonlinewith
regardstoindigenouspeoples.Onemustalwaysconsidertheperspectiveoftheauthorand
determinelandandplacetogroundwhattheauthorissaying.

2.3
http://www.decd.sa.gov.au/northernadelaide/files/links/Aboriginal_Students__Cultu.pdf

Aboriginalstudents:Culturalinsightsforteachingliteracy
thisismeanttobeguidforprofessionaleducatorsinAustraliainworkingwithaboriginal
studentsintheclassroom.Sheoutlinessomeimportantreflectionquestionswhenobserving
aboriginalclassroomsoraboriginalstudents.

WhatdidIlearnthatIdidnotknowbefore?
WhatdoIneedtoknowmoreabout?
Where/howmightIfindthisout?Fromourcommunity,fromresourcesfromfurtherresearch?


WhatamIcurrentlydoinginmyclassroomthatconnectswiththeAboriginalstudentsinmy
class?
WhatwillIcontinuetodo?

WhatwillIstartdoingdifferently?
WhatcanIimplementimmediately(shortterm)tobettersupporttheAboriginalstudentsinmy
class?WhatcanIworktowards(longterm)?

Sowhat:AlthoughthisiswrittenforteacherservingtheirownclassroomIthinkitisalso
importanttoasksimilarquestionswhenlookingandreflectingonimplementingtechnologyinto
anaboriginalcommunity.

NowWhat:Ithinkthatareframeofthesequestionscanservepurposetomyfinalproject.
1. WhatdidIlearnabouttheculturethatIdidn'tknowbefore(didIaskgoodquestions?
withoutassumptions?)
2. WhatdoInotfullyunderstandandneedtoaskmoreabout?
3. Where/whowouldIfindthisinformationfrom?
4. Whatproblemistechnologyaddressingthatisrelevanttothisaboriginalcommunity
5. WhatwillIcontinuetodo
6. WhatwillIdodifferently
7. Whatgoalsforthesuccessfuluseoftechnologyisrealisticintheshortterm?andinlong
term?

2.4
http://www.urbanschools.org/pdf/cultural.identity.LETTER.pdf
What:ADocumentforteacherstomakespaceforculturaldiversityandinclusivenessinthe
classroom.Thisdocumentfocusesonstrategiesforteacherstocreateculturallyrichclassrooms
thatareinclusiveofallculturesandsafe.Thereismanygreatstrategiessuchashaving
studentsbringinanartifactandtalkingaboutwhyitisimportanttotheirfamily.

SoWhat:Itisimportantthatwefindwaystobridgethegapsbetweenculturaldifferences.
Carefullyplannedactivitiescancreatespaceforculturalconversationsandintegrationintothe
classroominawaythatisnonintrusiveandorganic.

Nowwhat:Itbecomesapparentthatdevelopingstrategiesandactivitiesforappropriateuseof
technologyintheclassroom tocreatespaceforstudentstoaddressculturalidentityis
important.Technologyinthiscaseshouldonlybemadeavailabletothestudentsifthe
technologyhelpsstrengthentheirpresentationofanartifactorfamilytradition.IE:avideoetc..

2.5

Module 3: Decolonization and Indigenous Intellectual Property Rights

Module3.1
IntellectualPropertyrights,whyisthisanissue?
http://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/tk/en/wipo_unhchr_ip_pnl_98/wipo_unhchr_ip_pnl_98_4.doc

what:Thisdocumentoutlinesaprovidesfurtherunderstandingastowhydidyounoticepeople's
intellectualpropertyisbeingprotected.Itmentionsanexamplethatjustinagriculturalloanthe
USeconomyhasmade$50millioninoptionsthatwereOriginallydevelopedandcultivatedby
indigenouspeoplesandtakenfromthemandexploited.

Sowhat:thisdocumentisimportanttounderstandtheimpactoftraditionalandindigenous
knowledgewhenitisexploitedforprofit.Withindigenouspeoplelivinginablendedsocietyof
traditionalvaluesandConsumergoodsitbecomesimportantfortheseindigenouspeoplestobe
abletoprofitoffoftheirowninventionsandknowledge.Withoutprotectionthereisachance
thatpeopleThatcomeinsidethecommunitycantakemanipulatesteeltraditionalknowledge
justforthesakeofprofitwithoutevergivinganyrewardorcreditbacktotheoriginatorsandthe
indigenouscommunitie.

Nowwhat:beingcognizantofhistoricalrelationshipswhereintellectualpropertyhasbeentaken
usedandstillinwithoutcreditfromaboriginalpeopleisimportanttounderstandthe
socioculturalandpoliticalrelationsamongstindigenouspeopleandnonindigenouspeople.
Thesefeelingstowardsoneanotherareissuesthatneedtobeaddressedwhendesigningand
implementingeducationsystemsinindigenouscommunities.

3.2
http://wherearethechildren.ca/en/stories/
projectby
www.legacyofhope.ca
What:thiswebsiteoffersfirstpersoncountsandnarrativesofpeoplewhoattendedresidential
schoolsandtheirstories.Thereisalsoresourcesforteacherswhowanttohaveconversations
aboutthehistoricaltimelineofresidentialschools.

Sowhat:Withoutunderstandingtheindividualstoriesandtheexperiencesofresidentialschools
thereisnowayforpeopleworkinginaboriginalcommunitiestoempathizewiththehistorical
eventsthatthefamiliesandchildrendealwithintheireverydaylives.Thisalsoservesasan
exampleofhowtechnologywhenusedappropriatelycanservetheinterestsofindigenous
peoples.

Nowwhat:afterwatchingsomeofthesevideosIamconvincedthatitisveryimportantto
addressthethingsthathadhappenedinresidentialschools.WithoutSpaceforthese
conversationstooccurmyfeelingisthatthereisnowaythateducationandorsupportfrom
peopleoutsideoftheindigenousculturescanbeacceptedandorappropriatetotheir
communities

3.3
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/csafety/mod1/index.htm
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/csafety/mod2/index.htm
http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/courses/csafety/mod3/index.htm

What:Thesemodulesweredesignedfornurses.Butitisequallyimportantforanyprofessional
dealingwithdiverseculturalbackground.

Sowhat:weoftenassumeandmakedecisionsonourownculturebecauseoflackof
understandingofothercultures.Thisresourceprovidesagoodunderstandingofprofessional
behaviourinaworkplacewithsupportforaccommodatingindigenouscultures.

Nowwhat:
Becomesimportanttocreateaguidethatissimilartothisthatisthatprovidesopenaccessfor
peoplewhoareteachersinaboriginalcommunities

3.4
http://www.nmai.si.edu/searchcollections/specifics.aspx
What:thiswebsiteisaonlineversionofthecollectionthatisfoundattheSmiththose
SmithsonianMuseumoftheAmericanIndianithighlightsartifactsandinventionsfromall
aroundnorthandSouthAmerica

Sowhat:itisimportantthatstudentsandpeopleworkinginaboriginalcommunitiesunderstand
thegeniusoftheirpeoples.Thiscollectionhighlightsdifferentculturalinnovationsandprovides
evidencetoindigenousingenuity.

Nowwhat:thiswebsiteiscool,thisideaofunderstandingingenuityinone'sculturecouldbe
representedbylocalartifactsthatarepresentedbystudents.Iwasthinkingbreakingdownthe
physicsorthesciencebehindwhyindigenousinventionsworkwouldbeaveryculturally
appropriatewaytointroduceinformation.

3.5
MonsantolosestoMayanpeople.
http://upsidedownworld.org/main/guatemalaarchives33/5042mayanpeoplesmovementdefea
tsmonsantolawinguatemala


What:anewspostthatexplainsaconflictbetweentheindigenousMayanpeopleandtherefood
crops.

Sowhat:thisprovidesexamplesthattodaythistypeofcolonizationishappeningindifferent
ways.

Nowwhat:it'simportantforyoungpeopletogetaneducationinindigenouscommunities.The
warnowisinintellectualargumentandpolicy.Withouthavingpeoplewhoareeducatedand
canparticipateinthediscussionindigenouslocalcommunitiesareatadisadvantageandhave
torelyonpeopleoutsideoftheirtraditionsandvaluestofighttheirbattles.

Module 4: Ecological Issues in Indigenous Education and Technology

http://www.nmai.si.edu/environment/lummi/GetStarted.aspx
Thiswebsitelinkisalsopartofthesmithsonian.Ithighlightsproblemsthatareimpacting
indigenouscommunitiesenvironmentally.Itthentakeslearnersthroughaonlinemodulethat
explainstheindividualindigenouscommunitysomeoftheirculturalaspectsoftheenvironment
facingtheydidjustcommunityandthesolutionfromindigenousperspective.

Sowhat:thisresourcecouldbeextremelyvaluableinintroducingcurrentandrelevantproblems
insideofvariousindigenouscommunities.TheLibsandformattheinformationispresentedin
allowsforpeoplefromoutsideofthecommunitytogainanunderstandingandandempathyfor
problemsandsolutionsgroundedinculturallocaltraditionandheritage.

Nowwhat:Ithinkthisresourceisinvaluableasamodelforvariousindigenouscommunitiesto
follow.Oneofthemostcitedproblemislackofteacherknowledgeandunderstandingoflocal
indigenousValueandtraditions.Bycreatingasimilaronlinelearningexperiencecommunities
wouldbeabletocreatearesourcethatcouldprovideteachersworkinginthecommunitythe
informationthattheywouldliketeacherstobepresentedwithandengagewith.

4.2UnitedNationsWebsite

http://undesadspd.org/IndigenousPeoples.aspx

What:Thisdocumentstheinternationalpoliciesandviewsonindigenousmembersofthethe
world.Thesedocumentsarecomprisedbyindigenousleaderswhoareelectedtorepresent
theircountryorregiontoworkwithanothertoprovidesolutionsandsuggestionsonglobal
issuesinvolvingindigenouspeoples.
4.1

Sowhat:itisimportantforindigenouspeopletodiscussproblemsandsolutionsfromoutside
theirownculture.Bydoingthisandtryingtofindcommonproblemsandsolutions,Indigenous
peoplescanworktogethertocreateactionplansanddocumentsthatcanservetohelpthe
indigenouspeoplesglobally.Thebreakthisdownintomultiplegroups
Economicandsocialdevelopment
Culture
Environment
Education
Health
Humanrights

Nowwhat:
Itisimportantforindigenousculturestoformgroupstohelpandassistoneanotherincreating
similarforumsfordiscussion.

4.3
http://youtu.be/38V6JDmrxXU

What:AVideoofLarissaBehrendtEnvironmentalSustainability:whatwecanlearnfrom
AboriginalCulture

SoWhat:Shespeakstosomewaysthatpeoplecanlearnfromindigenousculturestoward
findingmoresustainablesolutionsintheirownculturalattitudesandbeliefs.

Nowwhat:Ithinkthatthereisdefinitelylotsoftraditionalaboriginalknowledgethatcanbenefit
thedominantsocietalgroupswithoutthedominantgroupexploitingit.Ithinkthattraditional
knowledgeandvaluesneedtobeappliedtodominantsocietalproblemswithindigenouspeople
beingputatthecenterofculture.Thismeansthattheycanfindpositivewaystoengageand
interactwithdominantculturethatisalignedwithtraditionalvalues.Themoretheworldshifts
awayfromcommoditiestowardrelationshipsandexperiencesthemorerelevantitwillbeto
searchforanswersandmodelsinsimilarsystems.

4.4
What:AVideoof
Dr.AlfredoSfeirYounis:Indigenouspeopleandsustainabledevelopment
Hediscussesthevalueofindigenousknowledgeinsustainabledevelopment.Hementions
difficultyintryingtomatchwesternconceptionofeconomicgrowthwithaslowermore
sustainablemodelpresentedbyindigenouspopulations
Sowhat:Itisimportanttotryandunderstandculturalassumptionsofwesternperspectivebeing
smarterorbetter.Itisbecomingevidentthatwewillneedtoadaptourbehaviourandculture

tomovetowardmoresustainablemethods.Dr.AlfredoSfeirYounissuggestthewisdomand
knowledgeofindigenouscultureswillprovideanswerstosomeofourfutureproblems
Nowwhat:Whatlessonsfromindigenousculturescanbelearnedandappliedtoaglobalor
localunderstandingofwhatseemstobeapushforsustainability.
4.5
TheGreatLawsofNature:IndigenousOrganicAgricultureDocumentary
what:AvideoofasustainablefarmingCoopfoundedbyaboriginalphilosophies.
Sowhat:Thisprovidesgoodinsighttoaboriginalconnectiontothelandandthedifference
betweenaboriginalsinthecommunitiesfoodsecuritybeforeandaftercolonization.This
documentaryhighlightsreclaimingindigenousideasandalsoprovidingeconomicstabilityfor
theirpeoples
Nowwhat:thereneedstobemoreemphasisineducationalprogramsfocusingonthe
connectionswiththelandandprovidingskillsandknowledgebasedontraditionalstoriesand
artifacts,wellsituatingitintosomewesternunderstandingsofhowtoblendeconomic
necessitiesandrichhistoricalteachings.