November Highlights in Science: Indigenous and Native American Resources

This month’s highlights are not from news, but from the enormous body of resources available on Indigenous and Native science. There’s something here for everyone, although this is just a small sample of what’s out there.

Native Science: Throughout history, Native American communities have developed strategies for collecting and developing knowledge that are similar to what we know as science, using familiar concepts such as observation, background research, and experimentation. This Native science has provided “timely and reliable knowledge of the land, its processes, and its management needs”. This article, written by a Native American ethnobotanist and plant ecologist, describes Native science and the way it can provide additional insight for the ecology community.

Native American Science Curriculum: Despite a cultural heritage that incorporates a considerable amount of natural science knowledge, “Native Americans and Alaska Natives remain the most under‑represented minority in scientific disciplines overall”. Teaching science that includes Native American viewpoints is not only empowering to our students who come from Native communities, but can also widen all students’ understanding of the natural world and natural resource management. This site provides a curriculum that can be incorporated into many different areas of science.

Including Indigenous Research in STEM: There has been a lot of publicity surrounding diversity and inclusion on college campuses, but Indigenous researchers are still underrepresented, more so in STEM fields. In this article, four Indigenous researchers offer suggestions for leaders in academia to help include Indigenous voices in their departments and benefit from their viewpoints.

What resources on Indigenous and Native American science have you found? Comment below or email robin@stemsmartconsulting.com.