The College of Education and Human Development at the ΒιΆΉΣ³», added a new course focused on Indigenous education, which began in fall 2024. EDLE 210: Indigenous Education is aimed at deepening understanding and promoting inclusivity within the educational landscape. It is designed to equip future educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively support Indigenous students and communities.
Developed in collaboration with Indigenous educators and community leaders, the course comprises three thematic units. The first unit explores the historical evolution of the relationship between Indigenous populations and educational systems. The second unit critically analyzes how traditional school curricula have often marginalized Indigenous knowledge and perspectives. Finally, the course focuses on strategies for decolonizing education, validating Indigenous-centered knowledge, and fostering authentic engagement in the classroom.
The conception of this course began in the fall of 2021, when Associate Dean and Professor of Multicultural Education Eleni Oikonomidoy, Ph.D., initiated a partnership with Markie Wilder, the Indigenous student coordinator at the time. Together, they organized an Indigenous Education Panel Discussion, featuring educators and leaders from the Great Basin region, to help shape the course. Indigenous leaders were invited to share their perspectives on the curriculum's development. Additionally, the course syllabus was shared with the Intertribal Council and other Indigenous leaders from K-12 and higher education communities for further review and input.
“We hope that our teacher candidates will understand the needs and strengths of Indigenous students and will be able to better serve them in the classroom and beyond,” Oikonomidoy reflected. “We also expect that stereotypes will be challenged and pathways to authentic engagement will be created. At the community level, we anticipate that this class will trigger increasing levels of collaboration that are based on mutual respect.”
Kari Emm, Ph.D., a tribal student specialist in the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, & Natural Resources and a member of the Yerington Paiute Tribe, serves as the course instructor. She emphasized the importance of creating a holistic environment in the syllabus, encouraging students to bring their knowledge and passions to class while fostering an appreciation for Indigenous knowledge, policy and practical applications within their future professions. This will be achieved by including Indigenous educators and students in class discussions, presentations and panels.
“I would like students and others to appreciate Indigenous education and become more knowledgeable about how they can make an impact in the classroom through decolonizing education,” Emm stated.
Oikonomidoy further articulated the hope for this course: “I believe that Indigenous education is of critical importance for cultivating culturally competent professionals who work to promote equity, justice and inclusion. The integration of Indigenous ways of knowing and being in the curriculum is long overdue in both higher education and PK-12, and this class is one step in an effort to address this at the University.”
As the semester wraps up and the class concludes, it is clear that this initiative is just the beginning. The course is poised to become a model for institutions seeking to address and rectify the historical inequities faced by Indigenous populations in education. This effort underscores a commitment to fostering a more inclusive and culturally relevant curriculum that resonates with all students.
