Janet Smylie presents the current challenges facing indigenous Canadians in Westernised educational models. The author outlines the impact of colonisation on indigenous sociocultural belief systems highlighting this as a mitigating factor in the low levels of indigenous youth literacy. Smylie summarises the need to incorporate conceptualisation of Aboriginal culture, learning styles and perceptions when drafting framework for literacy outcomes. Additionally, the author highlights the need for self-determination by utilising the knowledge within communities to officially establish intrinsic connection between health and literacy outcomes in indigenous communities. In particular, embracing indigenous values such as metaphysical beliefs and traditional
The decline in traditional native languages is in part due to the enculturation of the Natives to the ways of the British, but many groups have begun to work on saving their languages through active educational techniques taught to their younger generations. The fluency of a variety of languages in the Canadian culture today supports the mosaic structure of Canada and the inclusion of the First Nations’ languages supports the country’s
The text demonstrates the clash of cultural understanding in Indigenous communities that provoke both knowledge-seeking and common misconceptions within the community. This is achieved by placing the story in a meaningful context, and
"The Australian Dream," a thought-provoking documentary directed by Daniel Gordon, skillfully constructs voices that lead viewers to question the values of Australian society. Through the adept use of visual and audio techniques, as well as documentary conventions like interviews and montages, the film exposes the painful realities faced by Indigenous Australians, challenging the widely-held notion of an inclusive Australian Dream. In this essay, we will explore how the construction of voice in "The Australian Dream" has shaped our response to the concept of the Australian Dream and shed light on the deep-rooted racism that continues to plague the nation. By delving into the vulnerability of Indigenous Australians and scrutinizing the role
Educational techniques may differ from westernised curriculums, however both styles aim to promote the same key attributes via alternative methods. Alternative methods need to be recognised as educational in their own right. Jimmy exemplifies the intelligent, highly adaptive nature of Indigenous Australians who is forced to conform to cross-cultural demands. Jimmy is more adminant to stick to the ways of his culture as seen by the stage directions [he sharpens an axe, bush
Over many years the commonwealth and the state education departments have put enormous time and effort into producing a wealth of Aboriginal education resources. When developing school-based resources or selecting texts or materials, teachers should carefully evaluate their educational value for embedding Indigenous perspectives. Chris informs us that you can never have too many resources when teaching, especially within the Aboriginal community. He explains that so many resources can be found outside in the Indigenous community. The curriculum is an essential resource for educators to enforce in the classroom to ensure the students are achieving the outcomes for the year.
Freakonomics Essay Freakonomics is a mind bending, engaging and controversial look into a never before talked about side of economics. From relating the Ku Klux Klan to real estate agents and to why drug dealers are living with their moms Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner turn conventional wisdom on its head. As a whole I enjoyed the book, but there were some things that annoyed me and that I didn’t like and/or confused me. Freakonomics makes you think differently about topics you thought you already knew the answer to. To most with little knowledge of writing techniques they would not have noticed/comprehended the authors uses of rhetoric and tone but luckily from these past few years of English classes I was able to pick up and see
Week ones study was focused on the Aboriginal Acknowledgement of Country and the Indigenous terms of reference. These are two very important topics as they focus on the interaction between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians, fostering a relationship a relationship of trust, respect and understanding. A proper understanding of the Aboriginal Terms of Reference is an integral tool for an aspiring teacher such as myself. They encompass the cultural knowledge, understanding and experiences that are at the center of the Indigenous culture (Oxenham, 1999).
argues how identity for Aboriginal Australians has been portrayed through education
The Grapes of Wrath takes place in the worst economic crash in U.S history. Families were left starving in every corner through the twenties and thirties. With the economic status crashing so did morals of the thousands of people in poverty. The twin topics of economic and moral decline are integral in the novel; they will clash throughout the lingering impetus to survive. The economy was the cause of the United States increase of poverty.
I wonder as I write and think of ideas of ways to engage Indigenous students and communities back into education system how has none of this been implemented in our curriculum. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples embody the world’s oldest living cultures, so the corollary is that they must be the world’s oldest intellectual tradition. Yet that tradition remains essentially mute and invisible in the curriculum, the impact of this omission runs deeper than an academic oversight (Rose, 2012). The overshadowing of whiteness and its dictatorship over the Australian education system, this want for all students Indigenous and non-Indigenous to learn the western way of life, for it is seen as the ‘successful way of living’, western economic
STATEMENT OF BELIEFS It is my belief that Indigenous teaching within the classroom is a fundamental part of teaching in this country and some that that needs to be. Not only do I believe that Indigenous culture should be celebrated, but also a greater understanding needs to be taught to the future generations of this country, by the future teachers of Australia who didn’t gain the knowledge of our Indigenous Australians when they were in school. One of my beliefs after doing this course is that the use of the Eight Aboriginal Ways of Learning is a vital part of culturally inclusive teaching within the classroom as it also links back to mainstream pedagogical concepts. REFLECTIONS –
The case of Robyn Kina is linked with non-standard form of English. ‘Kina is an indigenous woman with a limited education’ (Thomas, 2006). She was unable to defend herself because she was speaking Aboriginal English and the group she associated with spoke another language. The inability of expressing herself in a standard form of English, and was only able to speak Aboriginal English, sent her to life in prison. This type of discrimination is related to culture background which the people at her court case may lacked of knowledge about and made wrong interpretation of aboriginal behaviour.
Indigenous Australian youth still face numerous difficulties growing up in a modern Australian society, even though they are living in a time of ‘equality’ for all religions, races and genders. This paper examines the main cultural influences for indigenous youth, and challenges they face growing up. In particular, it will explore the ways in which Indigenous youth today continue to be affected, connected and interdependent to both a dominant white culture and indigenous culture. It also includes the reasons why the indigenous youth of Australia continue to be marginalized, oppressed and stereotyped while growing up in a society that claims to be an egalitarian democratic country. Examples of Indigenous youth from the film ‘Yolngu Boy’ are used to explore this topic.
I particularly agreed with the authors’ argument about blending cultural and academic knowledge (McKinley & Brayboy, 2005, p. 435). I think it is institution’s responsibility to respect their cultural knowledge but also provide appropriate academic knowledge, relative to Indigenous students to be able to actively engage in reciprocal learning with their cultural knowledge, which, then, adds value to their survivance practice. I find that this piece opened up a new way of looking at the challenges which Indigenous students encounter and the ways to move forward with the situation through changing the perception of education not only from Indigenous students, but also from the perspectives of non-Aboriginal members in institutions by providing a way to
