Indigenous Studies: Tool of Empowerment Within the Academe

Abstract

In this paper, I consider the importance of Indigenous studies programs, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, as critical elements in enabling Indigenous Australian students to engage in the academe in ways that not only allow them to empower themselves, but, ultimately, to become effective change agents within both their own and the wider Australian community. While this paper will highlight the challenges that Indigenous Australians face in their engagement within the university learning environment, it will also reveal the increasingly successful outcomes that are being achieved. A particular focus of the paper will be to acknowledge higher education as a tool of empowerment – a process that enables people to identify and address their own issues, and to use such knowledge and understanding as the platform for personal, positive growth. Finally this paper will contextualise higher education from within an Indigenous perspective to demonstrate how Indigenous studies not only contributes to the empowerment of the individual but also has a critical role in ultimately re-positioning Indigenous Australians in the wider Australian society.

Rethinking Majors in Australian Indigenous Studies

“…451–452). Herbert (2010) reasons that the inclusion of Indigenous knowledge and cultural values provides a decolonising tool that ‘enables [Indigenous students] to engage in their own transformation . .…”

Reinventing Another Unaipon: Indigenous Science Leaders for the Future

“…Overall, the extensive corpus of literature shows that Aboriginal Australians are significantly and chronically underrepresented in both student and staff numbers in Australian universities (e.g., DiGregorio, Farrington, & Page, 2000; Nakata, 2004; Trudgett, 2011). Furthermore, there is poor recognition given to Indigenous Studies and a lack of visibility of Indigenous culture and knowledge on university campuses (Herbert, 2010). In 1999, the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs commented that ‘.…”

At the Movies: Contemporary Australian Indigenous Cultural Expressions – Transforming the Australian Story

“…This classroom then becomes a shared learning space rather than a contested space. Such a space generates a deeper understanding of Indigenous knowledges that encourages all students to engage more critically with Australian historical narratives (Herbert, 2010, p. 24). The term ‘knowledges’ is used here to describe the multiple and complex variety of Indigenous Australian ways of knowing, being and doing.…”

“…Australian Indigenous Studies is an area of education often perceived as being too difficult. Overwhelmingly current research (Herbert, 2010; Nakata, 2011; Pascoe, 2011) suggests valuable and beneficial outcomes when Indigenous Studies are adopted, included and encouraged in the classroom. The benefits not only apply to Indigenous students but have the capacity to ‘prepare all Australians for more effective engagement with one another, a reality that can only lead to a more democratic society one that is truly egalitarian’ (Herbert, 2010, p. 29).…”