SHARING INDIGENOUS WAYS OF KNOWING: Integrating Indigenous knowledge into educational curricula.

In recognition of the invaluable contributions Indigenous communities have made to the fields of medicine, education and agriculture among others, the CIPO-VAN (Vancouver-Based Comuna of the Popular Indigenous Council of Oaxaca) would like to extend an invitation to explore and discuss how Indigenous knowledge is being adopted and incorporated into our education processes. The forum will provide a space to celebrate Indigenous "ways of knowing", an opportunity to address the crucial role that education systems play in the construction of social values and the impact these have on our communities. Indigenous representatives, academia and students have been invited to participate in dialogue with community members in an effort to raise awareness, discuss further avenues to implement change and to form solidarity movements.

Among the themes to be discussed include:

1. The value assumptions Western education processes hold with regards to Indigenous ways of knowing,
2. The racial and classist implications these assumptions are rooted in,
3. How education processes help isolate economic, cultural and political concerns,
4. Finding avenues to integrate Indigenous ways of knowing into education processes at all levels.

NOTE: Themes are subject to change.

FREE ADMISSION

Traditional foods and drinks (tamales and hot chocolate) available by donation Where? Unitarian Church of Vancouver, Oak and West 49st Ave (949 West 49th Ave). When? Monday November 20th, 2006. From 6:30pm to 9:00pm.

Confirmed Speakers:

Felice Wyndham, Marvin Cohodas, Jan Hare and Zarah Marts

Contact Info:
Website: http://www.nodo50.org/cipo-van/
Event Coordinators:

Marybel Soto
(604)765 35 11
email: marybel.soto@gmail.com

Pablo Alvarez
(604) 220 60 71
email: zua@interchange.ubc.ca