Indigenous students face similar challenges in most countries and changes in teaching methods could bring more student success. These are among the ideas to be addressed by Hine Waitere, a Maori scholar visiting from Aotearoa, New Zealand. She will participate in numerous campus events including a presentation Sept. 28.
Waitere, who leads an Indigenous Leadership Center at a college designed to improve outcomes for Maori students, has been active in teacher education, Maori immersion and bilingual programs.
“With NAU’s commitment to Indigenous communities, culturally responsive and relational pedagogy provides an opportunity to reframe and re-envision the conversations around Indigenous education,” said Christine Lemley, associate professor of Bilingual Multicultural Education. “By understanding students’ frames of reference in historical and political constructs, educators can develop practices to enhance educational outcomes.”
Waitere will share her insights into teaching methods with educators in Flagstaff, addressing issues like language and culture loss, access to education and uneven academic achievement, Lemley said.
Waitere’s Sept. 28th presentation, “Working Across Multiple Boundaries,” is from 6-8 p.m., Sept. 8 at the Cline Library Assembly Hall. The event is free but tickets are required. They can be picked up at the NAU Central Ticket Office.
The visit is hosted by NAU’s Applied Indigenous Studies, the Native American Cultural Center and the Educational Specialties Department within the College of Education.