One of the more intriguing and promising developments in the 21st century has been the proliferation of indigenous educational institutions and curricula placing indigenous history and values in perspective from their own point of view. With the advent of international conferences sponsored by indigenous communities and universities from New Zealand to Norway, from Papua to Peru, mainstream academia has begun to take notice.
As indigenous scholars continue to propose new ways of teaching respectful relations that lie at the root of their way of life, the world at large can’t help but be positively influenced. Where we once lauded the development of multidisciplinary education, the introduction of multidimensional indigenous higher education fills a void we’ve long needed addressed.
As an example of what this means, at sites like Lore of the Land Reconciling Spirit and Place in Australia’s Story, you can find lessons, ideas and music about indigenous culture and understanding. As this intercultural education takes place in schools from Montana to Melbourne, children will grow up with a more cosmopolitan sense of the world–a world that includes both settlers and indigenous peoples as fully human beings.