KAEE’s 48th Annual Conference | Forging Paths for Environmental Education: Community, Conversations, and Creativity
Title Sponsor: Morehead State University | Drs. Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education
Land Acknowledgement Morehead State University and the surrounding area are located on the traditional lands of the Yuchee, Shawnee, and Eastern Band of Cherokee. Indigenous peoples have lived on the land we now call Kentucky for over 12,000 years. We want to acknowledge the deep history of this land and the people who still live here today. To learn more about this land and the land you call home, visit native-land.ca.
At 21 years old, I spearheaded the development of an innovative curriculum for 5th grade teachers across Coastal Central California. This initiative, designed in collaboration with Earth Echo International and the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, aims to deepen students' understanding of Indigenous tribes, national marine sanctuaries, and the rich biodiversity of their local ocean ecosystems.
Our project marks a significant effort to enhance knowledge of the world's first tribally nominated marine sanctuary from an early age. This curriculum is designed to shift the educational focus from the predominantly Eurocentric narratives taught in 4th grade about California Missions and Native American tribes, towards a more comprehensive and respectful exploration of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary.
The curriculum is structured around three main pillars: Chumash tribal knowledge and traditions, the biodiversity and biomechanics of local ocean ecosystems, and practical stewardship practices. Our goal is to furnish students with a comprehensive understanding of their local environment intertwined with the cultural heritage that has nurtured it through the ages. This approach not only honors and revitalizes tribal knowledge but also prepares students to be proactive environmental stewards.
During the session, I will detail the curriculum development process, highlighting our collaborative efforts with tribal leaders and environmental scientists to ensure both cultural sensitivity and scientific accuracy. I will discuss the strategies employed to seamlessly integrate this enriched content into the existing educational frameworks, making it both accessible and engaging for young learners.
Moreover, the session will emphasize the broader implications of our work, discussing how each individual can contribute to enhancing our next generation's environmental education. Attendees will leave with valuable insights into how traditional ecological knowledge can be integrated into modern educational systems, thereby nurturing a generation of well-informed and motivated environmental stewards. We will also explore practical ways for attendees to adapt these principles to their own educational settings, thus extending the influence and impact of this vital educational initiative.
