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ERIC Number: ED604881
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 162
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 978-1-3921-8837-8
ISSN: EISSN-
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Exploring My Memoir as a Centering Place Movement toward the Nature of Indigenous Education: Dream, Vision, Spirit and Ceremony
Graves, Victoria M.
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, The University of Arizona
This qualitative self-study written as a memoir located in the Indigenous paradigm -- signals a reference of challenge to a western worldview. As Ary, Jacobs, Sorensen, & Walker, (2014) put it, "A key difference that has been difficult to understand from a Western perspective that values individual knowledge is the indigenous paradigm that knowledge is relational and shared with all creation" (p. 506). Tewa scholar Gregory A. Cajete's (1994) personally designed and creative "Pathway" as "structure and process" of two Indigenous education models employed as methods and foundational characteristics of Indigenous education will aid to the discussion of the concepts Ary et al, mentions above, that is, that knowledge is relational and shared with all creation. Moreover, my overarching theoretical consideration positions relationships with the natural world through Indigenous environmental ecological notions of "natural community" and "natural democracy," most effectively pioneered by Cajete's (1994) creative design and research. As a site of exploration, Cajete's (1994) book "Look to the Mountain: An Ecology of Indigenous Education" will be referred to when discussing the two models (1) The Connected Rings of Indigenous Visioning: The Vision, and (2) The Indigenous Stages of Developmental Learning: Finding the Center Completedness that includes interconnected features that complement the drive and flow of the memoir. Also, the interpretation of the memoir narrative takes into consideration the circular interconnected style of Cajete's models with an emphasis on the nature of "intuitive logic and way of analysis" (p. 116) represented in Opaskwayak Cree scholar Shawn Wilson's (2008) book "Research Is Ceremony: Indigenous Research Methods." Wilson's approach finds complementarity as it allows for an uninterrupted flow of lived personal and cultural learning experiences, i.e., intuitive and logic through an Indigenous self-study. My memoir explores areas of my life that are pivotal from early developmental to elder years of memorable learning experience(s) that are grounded in the spirit of natural community and natural democracy.I agree with the approach taken by western scholars Ary et al about the difference in western and Indigenous perspectives. Thus, to complexify this difficulty, my memoir explores the movement toward Indigenous education. This work is also metaphorical. I believe when writing a memoir, particularly one with a narrative flow from a differing worldview, some of the translations may become lost. Thus, to help broaden the scope of the translation for the benefit of both worldviews, and to assist with this cyclical style of presentation of data pertinent to differing worldviews, I welcome the creative literary tool of metaphor throughout the memoir, as well as imagery to help with visualizing the movement of Indigenous education elements. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A