Rural Kazakhstan as a Place of Learning From/With More-Than-Human World

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 1:30 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Cultivating Community and Empowerment: Supporting Rural Youth and Diverse Identities (Table 4)

Abstract

This research investigates rural education in Kazakhstan through arts-based methods, exploring the interplay of colonial histories, environmental contexts, and local knowledge. The study centers on the voices of rural children in everyday life by employing participatory arts-based methodologies such as photography, drawing, and mental mapping. Data collection in nomadic encampments, villages, and schools captures insights into human-more-than-human interactions and place-based learning. The study aims to challenge metrocentric educational narratives to empower rural communities. Findings highlight children’s profound connections with their species, their fears, and their acceptance of animal deaths. This study underscores the significance of local ecological knowledge and post-humanism in interpreting children's experiences and contributions to environmental awareness and cultural continuity.

Author

• Dilraba Anayatova, Arizona State University