Indigenous Contributions to Health and Hygiene
- Europeans once used human urine as mouthwash, while Native Americans had already invented real mouthwash made with plant medicines like gold thread and used antimicrobial chew sticks and white clay to clean their teeth, demonstrating that every culture has assets and important contributions 10s.
Educational Disparities Among Native Americans
- There are about 10 million American Indians and Alaskan Natives in the United States, making up about 3% of the US population, but they only account for about half a percent of all bachelor's degree recipients in the United States 2m6s.
- The number of Native Americans receiving PhDs in engineering is extremely low, with only six people receiving PhDs in engineering in a given year, and this number has remained relatively constant over the years 2m6s.
Historical Trauma in Native American Education
- The American education system has been destructive to Native American communities, with a history of genocide, colonization, broken treaties, and forced assimilation, leading to a lack of trust in the education system 4m6s.
- The US government's policy of termination and relocation, as well as the Indian boarding school system, were designed to destroy tribal sovereignty and enforce assimilation, with the motto "Kill the Indian, save the man" being used to justify the erasure of Native American culture 6m6s.
- The Indian boarding school system was marked by abuse and murder of native children, with over 100 native kids buried in a cemetery on the Carlisle campus, and this brutal attempt to erase Native American culture has had a lasting impact on indigenous communities 8m6s.
Indigenous Philosophies and Their Relevance to Education
- Western society can learn from indigenous culture by focusing on relationships rather than isolation, as indigenous approaches to science and learning emphasize the importance of interconnectedness and community 10m6s.
- The exclusion of indigenous people from higher education has resulted in a loss of valuable knowledge and perspectives, and it is essential to tap into indigenous wisdom to create a more inclusive and effective education system 12m6s.
- Traditional indigenous cultures consider the impact of decisions on the next seven generations, whereas Western society often prioritizes short-term gains over long-term sustainability, and this difference in approach can inform how higher education is structured 10s.
- In traditional indigenous views, the world is not seen as something to be consumed, but rather as a complex web of relationships where humans and all beings are interconnected and deserving of respect, and this perspective can help higher education focus on the well-being of both people and the planet 10s.
Indigenous Models for Balance and Purpose in Education
- The medicine wheel, prevalent in many indigenous cultures, represents balance in life and consists of four quadrants symbolizing four directions, four traditional medicines, and four aspects of universal existence: mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional, and can serve as a model for achieving balance in higher education 2m6s.
- Indigenous wisdom can help address the challenges facing society, and applying traditional lessons to higher education can make it wiser and better for everyone, such as making education purpose-driven, which can help attract and retain talent, particularly from underrepresented groups 2m6s.
Purpose-Driven Education and Retention of Talent
- Research shows that people of color leave STEM fields not because they are unable to do the work, but because they do not see the impact of their work on the things they care about, and making education more purpose-driven can help retain talent and make it more meaningful for everyone 2m6s.
- The potlatch or giveaway traditions in many indigenous cultures reflect the view that the importance of possessions lies in what they can do for others, not in accumulating wealth for oneself, and this perspective can inform how higher education approaches issues of wealth and impact 2m6s.
Redefining Impact, Wealth, and Success in Education
- The story of the businessman and the fisherman illustrates the need for different notions of impact and wealth, and highlights the importance of considering what truly brings fulfillment and happiness, rather than just accumulating wealth 2m6s.
- Higher education should provide space for different notions of impact and wealth, and should not discourage people too early, as algebra scores at a young age are not the best predictor of STEM success, and people mature at different rates, as exemplified by the stories of William Herschel and Eugene Ehrhart 2m6s.
Inclusive Education and the Development of Unique Gifts
- Education should be known for how it includes people, rather than who it excludes, and should provide opportunities for people to develop their unique gifts, regardless of their background or prior experience, and should recognize that people have different strengths and abilities that can be developed over time 2m6s.
Engineering Ethics and the Role of Humanity in Technology
- Good engineers are problem solvers who identify problems, and it is essential to maintain long-term thinking in the pathways to the profession, focusing on solving human problems rather than competing with machines 10s.
- The use of AI trained with biased information is not a solution, and turning people into machines is not sustainable, highlighting the need for engineers who can identify and solve human problems 42s.
- Discipline often fails to make progress due to asking the wrong questions or working on the wrong problems, which is why ethics requirements are necessary for engineering degrees, emphasizing the importance of keeping humanity in science and engineering 1m6s.
The Vision for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Future
- Incorporating indigenous wisdom can help solve the world's problems, and centering indigenous approaches can make education better for everyone, which is not just about increasing native faculty and students, but about systemic change 2m6s.
- The goal is to make education and technology better, which can ultimately make the world better, not just for specific individuals, but for everyone, by leveraging indigenous wisdom to save the planet 2m6s.
