Nuestra herencia indígena (Our Indigenous Heritage): Culturally Sustaining Dialogue in an Elementary Ethnic Studies Unit

• In Event: Identity Politics, Education, and the Latinx/e Community

Abstract

We describe how bilingual teachers expressed the impact of using culturally sustaining dialogic (CSD) approaches to instructionally collaborate with working-class, Mexican immigrant families on an indigenous identity unit for 3rd through 5th graders. Teachers integrated elder, familial and community epistemologies in their dialogue with families and children throughout the unit to promote more fluid forms of culture. Based on a critical relational ethnographic study of an ethic studies out-of-school program for Elementary-age bilingual children we call La Academia, we document how a team of three teachers collaboratively planned and then implemented an indigenous identity unit.

Authors

• Christopher L. Milk Bonilla, Texas State University
  Presenting Author

• Brenda Rubio, University of North Texas
  Presenting Author

• Anthony Martinez, University of Texas at Austin
  Presenting Author

• Manuel Martinez, Austin Independent School District
  Presenting Author