Creating Collaborative Learning Opportunities for Indigenous Youth with Archaeology-based Environmental Education

Summary

Midwest archaeologists and Native American communities have recently initiated successful community-based and collaborative research endeavors. Through such collaborations, tribal leaders have expressed an interest in providing ways for youth in their communities to engage in contemporary cultural and natural resources work to inspire future stewardship and introduce potential professional pathways. Many archaeologists are in a unique position to promote heritage and preservation through environmental education, the fundamentals of which have overlapping and parallel themes to archaeology education and outreach. With the guidance of archaeologists and tribal community educators, youth can participate in authentic, hands-on and place-based archaeological activities that place them into the roles of scientists and researchers and allow them to interpret their own archaeological heritage. Also, such learning opportunities for American Indian students can enhance core academic subject matter by incorporating culturally relevant topics of interest. Archaeologists are introduced to the core principals of environmental education and Native American Learning Styles to minimize barriers among such community projects. Tribal historic preservation leaders and educators also offer guidance for conscientious communication between archaeologists and tribal classrooms, and outcomes from a recent partnership between archaeologists and Ho-Chunk youth in Wisconsin are explored.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 81st Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL (2016)   •
• NAGPRA and Beyond: successes and shared benefits of collaboration

Keywords

Spatial Coverage