Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Science Professional Learning Opportunities: Lessons From the Field

• In Event: 18.058 - MTCC Roundtable Session Four
  In Roundtable Session: 18.058-10 - Setting the Record Straight in the Post-Truth Era: The Importance of Indigenous Research and Praxis I

Abstract

This paper discusses the development of professional learning activities that integrate the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Island’s Indigenous knowledge systems with climate change education in ways that buoy existing culturally-aligned instructional programs. These activities can help Carolinian and Chamorro educators understand and make use of the specialized concepts and cultural heritage practices that exist within their communities around climate, in order to align local ecological knowledge with climate science instruction in schools. It is crucial for educators to collaborate around shared principles as they engage local Indigenous knowledge to adapt and help reduce local/regional adverse impacts of climate change.

Authors

• Elizabeth Rechebei

• Jose Limes

• Sharon Nelson-Barber, WestEd

• Jonathan Boxerman, WestEd