Native American Environmental Worldviews http://blog.lib.umn.edu/bellc001/cfan1902spring09/ American Indian peoples have occupied “Turtle Island� or North America for more than 20 thousand years. Today, more than 800 American Indian nations have been recognized by the federal government and more than 250 distinct languages are used. Despite the great diversity, almost all American Indian people share many common worldviews of the environment. They rely almost exclusively on grandmother earth to provide for their needs and for their survival. This connection to and respect for the land gives American Indians unique worldviews that tend to be more holistic and inclusive than conventional western science. However, traditional western science has the prestige, privilege, and power to generate huge grants and to control what is studied and how it is to be studied. It generates great economic power, political influence and often runs ruff-shoot over cross-cultural differences. Students will examine the historical, contemporary, and often adversarial relationship between Native American worldviews of the environment and the traditional western views of earth sciences. Students will understand the social constructs that legitimizes and promotes one set of scientific protocols and beliefs over another. This seminar will focus on American Indian ways of knowing the environment through discussion, guest speakers, site visits near the U of MN campus, lectures, and community service learning experiences. en Copyright 2013 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:51:29 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=4.31-en http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Week 2 We began class by exploring the classroom - what does all the memorabilia have say about the college and the University? We also talked about the Wente and King articles. Students were very talkative and the topic often got very broad. We ended with a talk by Francis Bettleyoun, Master Gardener, about the University of Minnesota’s Council of Elder’s garden. Francis talked sustainability and how students can get involved in the garden.

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Francis Bettleyoun (left) and Dr. Jay Bell (right)

]]> http://blog.lib.umn.edu/bellc001/cfan1902spring09/2009/01/week_2.html http://blog.lib.umn.edu/bellc001/cfan1902spring09/2009/01/week_2.html Instructor Notes Fri, 30 Jan 2009 10:51:29 -0600 First Day! First Class: We did introductions and reviewed the syllabus. We also talked about the course expectations. We used the traditional talking circle format for this session.
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We were joined by members of the University of Minnesota Council of Elders and spiritual leader Jerry Dearly who facilitated an opening ceremony. Jerry was concerned about fire alarms so he did not light the sage.
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We ended the session with a feast of "build your own tacos." Students and elders had the chance to talk for a while.

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]]> http://blog.lib.umn.edu/bellc001/cfan1902spring09/2009/01/post_1.html http://blog.lib.umn.edu/bellc001/cfan1902spring09/2009/01/post_1.html Instructor Notes Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:01:09 -0600 Introduction bellcourt.jpg

Boozhoo: Mark Bellcourt niin indizhinikaaz zhaanaashiimong. Bimose Inini idash nindigo Ojibwemong. Gaawiin ningikenimaasii indoodem. Gaa-Waabaabiganikaag niin indoojibaa. Ashkibugziibing nindayendaa noongom.

Greetings; My English name is Mark Bellcourt. My Ojibwe name is Walking Man. I do not know my clan. I am from White Earth Reservation (located in Northern Minnesota). But, now I live in St. Paul, Minnesota.

My educational background is in higher education policy and administration and research is focused on Indigenous worldviews of math and science and how they can be better integrated into the mainstream curriculum. I've visited the Yucatan more than 10 times exploring more than 20 archilogical sites. I taught two global seminars exploring the impact of tourism on Maya culture and several freshmen seminars.

]]> http://blog.lib.umn.edu/bellc001/cfan1902spring09/2009/01/post.html http://blog.lib.umn.edu/bellc001/cfan1902spring09/2009/01/post.html Instructor Notes Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:36:32 -0600