Teaching Wisdom: Conversations with Indigenous Elders

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The American Indian community is fortunate to have many talented educators who are passionately committed to finding solutions to the challenges that face our youth in the public education system. With funding support from Headwaters Foundation Fund of the Sacred Circle and The Frederick and Margaret L. Weyerhauser Foundation we have initiated a project that videotapes interviews with people in our community whose work has helped establish the Best Practices for teaching Native youth. These educators share the insights and the wisdom they’ve gained through many years of experience.

For each educator, you’ll find a brief excerpt from their videotaped interview, an introduction to the conversation as well as a complete transcript, links to other sites for more information, and suggestions for curricula. While we are unable at this time to provide the entire videotaped interview online, DVDs are available at cost by sending $20 to Joe Rice, Center School, 2421 Bloomington Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55404.

Within the next year, we’ll continue to add new interviews to this site. Below is a list of interviews currently available, as well as some of the topics we’ll be addressing in the future. We welcome your comments and suggestions.

NATIVE HISTORY
Laura Waterman Wittstock

INDIAN EDUCATION - WISDOM FROM A LIFE WELL SPENT
Roger Buffalohead

LIFELONG LEARNING
Mike Huerth, Social Studies Teacher, Nawayee Center School

OJIBWE LANGUAGE & CULTURE
Ona Kingbird, Language and Culture Teacher

EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION from an Indigenous Perspective
LeMoine LaPointe, Program Director, Healthy Nations Program, Minneapolis American Indian Center

INDIGENOUS PEDAGOGY
Roxanne Gould, Indigenous Educational Design Consultant

SCIENCE EDUCATION
Jim Rock, Science Educator

DAKOTA LANGUAGE & CULTURE
Carolyn ‘Carrie’ Schommer