Production 2: Learning from Indigenous Knowledge

Make Connections:

• Ha Ao Hou: A New World
• CBC Article: Indigenous Virtual Realities

Write a Critical Essay – 500 to 600 words (If you go over a bit, I don’t count).

Using the Brayboy and Maughan reading in Indigenous knowledge practices, please write a critical essay/reflection that explores some of the following questions with some depth, citing from the reading. This is not a ‘checklist’, only possible points of departure for navigating themes and responding to the reading.

–  How does IK serve as a critique of traditional Western schooling systems and Western ways of understanding both knowledge and learning? What are the features and qualities of Indigenous ways of knowing that might help us ‘redefine’ and transform education and learning in the 21st C?

–  What can we learn from Indigenous ways of knowing as represented in Brayboy and Maughan’s text, particularly with regards to (re)conceptualizing knowledge as a verb versus ‘Western’ knowledge as a noun? Explain the noun / verb distinction (as articulated in the reading) and try to explore what Indigenous ways of knowing might offer educational practice in general.

–  What interdisciplinary lessons can you learn from IK – and what might that look like for you, your teachable?  And how do themes in the reading about Indigenous knowledge practices connect to the other resources, including the short video Ha Ao Hou: A New World or the CBC article Indigenous Virtual Realities?

– If you are a Phd Student or doing a MA (thesis), consider the research methodologies and how different knowledge systems inform this work from methodological and author standpoints?

Your response should draw directly from the texts/videos we have worked with thus far, including at least two key quotes from the reading (and unpack the quotes in relation to your own arguments or viewpoints).

Quotes do not count as part of the total word count. Avoid making or imposing ‘generalizations’ and ensure you are engaging meaningfully with specific issues/concerns/examples in the reading or videos.

– 500-600 words (genre: semi-formal essay – though may integrate graphics or images if useful to your arguments). As Brayboy uses narrative elements to help us understand, you might also –  if you wish – connect arguments to story or experience if meaningful links can be made)

Due by start of next class.