Climate change STEM curriculum started in tribal colleges
Tribal college STEM faculty develops curriculum for Introduction to Climate Change from an Indigenous Perspective Course at National Center for Atmospheric Science in Boulder, Colo.
The American Indian Higher Education Consortium, in collaboration with tribal colleges has developed an introductory climate change curriculum students and instructors can share online.
The Tribal College Climate Change Course Series helps students and faculty at often remote tribal colleges gain entrée to science courses they might not otherwise have access to, said Katherine Mitchell, director of STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) Initiatives at AIHEC, writes Mary Annette Pember in the journal Diverse Education.
Typically, tribal colleges typically have limited resources and often only one science instructor, Mitchell said. By making use of existing cyber infrastructure, and internet tools such as Facebook and YouTube, schools can share expertise already present at other colleges without spending more money.
The Climate Change course started this semester in January at Northwest Indian College, Dine College, Tohona O’odham Community College, Haskell Indian Nations University and the College of the Menominee Nation. The introductory nature of the course reflects AIHEC’s and the tribal colleges’ mission to involve American Indian students in the sciences early on in their careers, said Mitchell.
Integrating indigenous knowledge into science curriculum helps American Indian students succeed. The education of future American Indian scientists requires an educational context that supports the traditions, knowledge and languages of their communities as the starting place for learning new ideas and knowledge, Mitchell said.
Dr. Daniel Wildcat, Muscogee tribal member and director of the Haskell Environmental Research Studies Center said offering a course integrating indigenous knowledge lets students know they don’t have to leave their cultures at the door when pursuing careers or study in STEM disciplines. “With programs like the Tribal College Climate Change Course we are working to grow our own scientists and researchers to help ensure native people have a seat at the table when governments are discussing policies to address climate change.”
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