A nuclear physicist feels that his Navajo upbringing, with its emphasis on the structure of nature and abstract reasoning, prepared him well for the world of physics. Traditional Navajo sandpaintings helped him understand physics concepts. Native American students show strengths in learning visual, perceptual, or spatial information, and they…

Interviews with 32 traditional Lakota elders, educators, leaders, and mental-health providers found that prereservation Lakota approaches for ensuring social health and well-being were preventative, holistic, spiritual, and linked to the tribe's ceremonial life. Discusses a resurgence of traditional healing practices among the Lakota and…

Globalization pushes aside social, cultural, and ethical goals of education in favor of marketplace goals. Two stories of the indigenous Ju/'hoansi tribe in Botswana illustrate how even well-intentioned multicultural education programs can marginalize indigenous people, and how "globalization from below," fueled by communities of…

An intergovernmental council on sustainable development in the Arctic discussed decision making, planning, protected areas, healthy communities, governance, assessment, and the role of youth. Recommendations included measuring scientific knowledge against the benchmark of traditional knowledge, establishing an Arctic university, allowing…

All professional workers need to be "developed." Moreover, there should be no end to this process--the true professional knows that learning is for life. The author wants to explore how these two propositions have come to be true for academics and other professional workers at the beginning of the new millennium, and with what effects.…

Community-based distributors (CBDs) have been trained and utilized to promote a variety of health commodities. In addition, a variety of different types of community residents have been trained ranging from traditional birth attendants (TBAs) to patent medicine vendors. A training programme for CBD agents in the Akinyele Local Government Area of…

In the early centuries of human evolution, the information to express cultures, social contents, ideas, values, and the society itself were primarily developed by means of expression. This information was represented in the form of classical, signs, figures, traditional manuscripts and performing arts. On the other hand, it becomes less important…

Visual literacy is a culturally-derived strength of Native American students. On a continent with more than 200 languages, Native Americans relied heavily on visual intelligence for trade and communication between tribes. Tribal people interpreted medicine paint, tattoos, and clothing styles to determine the social roles of those with whom they…

A White Australian professor of a class on Indigenous women's dance has her Aboriginal sister-in-law conduct workshops on Indigenous dance. The classroom dynamics resulting from the complex power relationships (teacher as White woman, Aboriginal family member, and students) disturbs Western paradigms. The responsibility of "safely…

In analyzing Native researchers' experiences, a world view emerges that is distinct from that of the mainstream culture. Referred to as relational accountability, this Indigenous world view holds individual responsibility for actions to be in relation to all living organisms. The web of relationships between all organisms ties the universe…

Describes a course for teachers of American-Indian students that focuses on the development of culturally relevant activities as part of the science and mathematics curricula. Activities were embedded in a holistic approach to the curriculum and linked the informal science and mathematics of the culture with traditional school science and…

Uses stories of U.S. and Canadian indigenous individuals who defended their lands against uranium mining and hydroelectric development to contrast the thinking of indigenous people (natural law as pre-eminent, spiritual practice, intergenerational residency in the same place) with industrial thinking (man's dominion over nature, linear thinking,…

Examines ways of learning and knowing among the Yupiaq people of Alaska. Discusses traditional Yupiaq lifeways based on connection to nature, and the consequences of acculturation. Outlines suggestions for seasonal camps in which elders would teach Native language, culture, environmental knowledge, and subsistence skills, as well as the means of…

The cooperation of indigenous peoples with international collaborations such as the Arctic Council is unique because it has both national and regional dimensions, and internal and external perspectives. Subjects important to the Saami people relative to sustainable development include conservation, fisheries, housing, reindeer-herding, creation of…

Describes the Alaska Rural Systemic Initiative (AKRSI), which is documenting Alaska Native indigenous knowledge systems and developing pedagogical practices to integrate that knowledge into formal education. Discusses the Alaskan context of rural education; AKRSI's yearly cycle of activities in Alaska's five cultural regions; and activities…