Incorporating the Culture of American Indian/Alaska Native Students into the Classroom

Abstract

Focus group interviews were conducted with educators and stakeholders for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) students, including teachers, elementary and high school principals, tribal community leaders, and parents, to determine a global definition of culture and ways of infusing culture into curriculum to better educate AI/AN students. Focus group participants were selected from the surrounding areas of Portland, Oregon; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Yakama, Washington; Anchorage, Alaska; and Pembroke, North Carolina. A total of 53 participants were interviewed across the seven locations. Using a cross-case analysis approach, the emergent themes are as follows: (1) traditional definition of culture; (2) contemporary (i.e., AI/AN youth) definition of culture (as perceived by the study participants); (3) infusing culture into pedagogy; and (4) teacher responsibility and state standards.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Raphael M. Guillory

Dr. Raphael Guillory is a full professor in the Department of Psychology at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington.

Garnet L. Williams

Dr. Garnet Williams is Director of Marketing and Development at Berkshire County Arc, Inc. in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.