Module X: Connecting back to the beginning

Howard Luke teaching students about the river. Photo Courtesy: Amelia Ruerup

How can digital resources and effective teaching methods be used to integrate Alaska Native ways of knowing and Western scientific methods in order to create greater understanding of, and interest in, geosciences for students?

Objective:

Students will gain a better understanding of the connections between Alaskan Native ways of knowing and Western scientific methods in studying the Earth.

The Project:

The project that I am envisioning would actually be done in smaller units and milestone checkpoints in an Alaskan Climate class. The students would be responsible for presenting their research at the end of the semester in lieu of a final exam. Each of the modules in this course would be broken up into one and a half week units. The Western methods would be presented in class on each topic along with appropriate in class laboratories. However, there would be an out of class component which will be the core of this project. At the school I teach at there are students from many different parts of Alaska. I have students who have ties to Yupik, Inupiaq, T'lingit and many Athabascan villages. The students would be responsible for contacting elders from their originating village. Even if they no longer had grandparents or relatives in those communities I would help them to communicate with an elder from there.

Elders mending nets with students. Photo Courtesy: Wayne Horine

Students who aren't of native descent would still be required to contact an elder in their life. Whether the elder once lived completely off of the land or not, their life experiences are an extremely valuable resource.

Students would then compare the elders opinions on the unit to the Western philosophies studied. This would then be compiled into an ongoing digital presentation. When the students present their findings to the class at the end of the semester they will help each other develop a much broader understanding of the science of Alaska through the eyes of elders across the state and Western methods.

Goals/Rationale:

The goal is to have students make connections. By contacting elders on an almost weekly basis this would hope to be a continuing conversation between the students and their elders that goes beyond the length of the course. Too many elders are passing on without instilling their life histories onto the younger generations. Many students end up leaving their home villages to go to school which often cuts off this communication. Science isn't only about bookwork and methods. It needs to have a foundation in real life experiences to tie it all together.

Howard Luke passing on life knowledge to a student. Photo Courtesy: Wayne Horine

Resources/Links:

Google Earth

Teacher's Domain

Explore Alaska!

Alaska Native Knowledge Network