Senior Honors Project Fall 2020

Lack of Indigenous Representation in Education

Christopher Humetewa- Kewa Pueblo, San Felipe Pueblo

Chris Humetewa SHP- Fall.webm

My Research

Education, language, and indigenous peoples

Consentino, Gina. “Education, Language, and Indigenous Peoples.” World Bank Blogs, 2019, blogs.worldbank.org/education/education-language-and-indigenous-peoples.

While this article covers the topic of indigenous education on a more global level, it can be directed towards issues within our own communities. Woden and Consentino open the piece by saying “Indigenous Peoples tend to have less access to and poorer quality of education than other groups. Their education often does not incorporate curricula and teaching methods that recognize their communities’ histories, cultures, pedagogies, traditional languages and traditional knowledge”. This issue is very apparent in common core curriculum and should be addressed at a state level. As we have many of our students within our community attending public schools and other more “traditional” forms of schooling.

While yes we at the Santa Fe Indian School have access to more traditional forms of learning and access to learning our traditional languages, students in public schools do not have this luxury. This article has some solutions to fixing these problems we see in common core based education. One solution is to provide educational materials with cultural relevance. This means teaching children about information that is culturally relevant to their communities so they can apply it to improving their communities. They also suggest an inclusive curriculum. This means including traditional teaching and practices into a “traditional” curriculum. While yes there is a lot to do as far as addressing and correcting this issue within our schooling, it is possible to create an ideal curriculum for indignous students.

What Matters in Indigenous Education: Implementing a Vision Committed to Holism, Diversity and Engagement

“What Matters in Indigenous Education: Implementing a Vision Committed to Holism, Diversity and Engagement.” People for Education, 20 June 2018, peopleforeducation.ca/report/what-matters-in-indigenous-education/

While this article discusses the importance of indigenous education in Canada, we can apply this very much to the issue within our communities. When schools do not adequately prepare students for handling these issues when put into leadership positions, it only perpetuates these issues. This article emphasizes the importance of culturally relevant education. This article says “They are the result of policies, programs, people and politics that failed to honour the knowledge, values and skills of Indigenous Nations in Canada. Student achievement for communities of difference (like First Nations, Metis and Inuit ones) is a challenge for schools that do not have the capacity for change. Schools that are not supported with the tools and resources to address these inequities are placed at a critical disadvantage”.

Understanding that culturally relevant curriculum is vital to the success of indigenous students. If we adequately prepare students for solving issues within their communities while teaching from a traditional standpoint, we can help solve the other issues in our communities. Whether that be housing, language, alcoholism, holistic wellness, etc. That is why we must implement culturally relevant pedagogy.

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