Preserving Tribal Knowledge and Value Systems in Education Systems with Gregory Cajete
In this episode, we talk to Gregory Cajete who has been doing commendable work to preserve indigenous value systems in the United States of America without urgency to ‘mainstream’ needs. We deliberate on the need to reverse the gaze and begin to learn afresh from the tribal communities.
Gregory Cajete is a Native American educator whose work is dedicated to honoring the foundations of Indigenous knowledge in education. He worked at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico for 21 years. While at the Institute, he served as Dean of the Center for Research and Cultural Exchange, Chair of Native American Studies, and Professor of ethnoscience. He has also served as a Professor of Native American Studies and Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies at the University of New Mexico. Dr. Cajete also designs culturally-responsive curricula geared to the special needs and learning styles of Native American students.
Dr. Cajete has authored five books: Look to the Mountain: An Ecology of Indigenous Education (1994); Ignite the Sparkle: An Indigenous Science Education Curriculum Model (1999); Spirit of the Game: Indigenous Wellsprings (2004); A People’s Ecology: Explorations in Sustainable Living (1999); and Native Science: Natural Laws of Interdependence (2000).