Bridging cultures : scientific and indigenous ways of knowing nature

This book supports science teachers, teacher candidates, and science educators preparing to implement science curricula that recognize Indigenous knowledge as a foundational way to understand the physical world. Indigenous and scientific ways of knowing nature have similarities and differences, as well as strengths and limitations. By exploring these in detail based on academic scholarship, the book guides the reader in building their own cultural bridges between their scientific world and the world of an Indigenous community; bridges that lead to a culturally responsive science classroom. These cross-cultural capabilities can be applied to multicultural classrooms in urban settings. Based on the experiences of cross-cultural science teachers and researchers worldwide, including the authors’ experiences, the book concludes with practical general advice that helps prepare teachers for developing science lessons and units that combine the two knowledge systems according to a ministry or department of education’s expectations. The book demonstrates how the intellectual tradition of the scientific community coexists with the wisdom traditions of Indigenous communities. This benefits the scientific literacy and insights into nature of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. The goal of a cross-cultural school science is for all students to learn the best from Indigenous and scientific ways of understanding nature.