Samples of Indigenous Healing: The path of good medicine

Educational development of Africa: Changing perspectives on the role of indigenous knowledge

“…Focus group discussions were held after the survey because the researcher sought elaborations and clarifications from the respondents regarding their survey responses. As such, the rationale for mixing was complimentary (Johnson & Christensen, 2012) …”

“…Emeagwali (2014) offers a comprehensive definition of indigenous knowledge as "the cumulative body of strategies, practices, techniques, tools, intellectual resources, explanations, beliefs and values accumulated over time in a particular locality, without the interference and impositions of external hegemonic forces" (p. 1). Concepts like ethno science and citizen science have also been used within the framework of indigenous knowledge to represent layman's knowledge and how they relate to modern science (Leach & Fairhead, 2002). Indigenous knowledge has also been called local, folk, or people's knowledge as well as traditional wisdom.…”

“…Clearly, "it is impossible to even think about education without considering the question of power" (Freire, 1987, p.38). Critical literacy and post-colonialism aims to ignite change by calling attention to the idea that schools are sometimes used as avenues for reinforcing vestiges of colonial legacies in Africa (Freire, 1987;Macedo, Dendrinos & Gounari, 2003;Tracey & Morrow, 2006). Thus, critical literacy and post-colonialism explore sources that facilitate deliberations over existing conditions to drive change ( Ukwuoma, 2015b).…”

“…Without doubt, African indigenous knowledge systems and methods of knowing guided the African people in various spheres of life prior to the advent of Western education (Levers, 2006;Mpofu, 2006;Mtumngia, 2009;Sarpong, 2002;Tanyanyiwa & Chikwanha, 2011;Zulu, 2006). It is believed in some quarters that such knowledge system is relevant today in spite of the domineering role of Western education.…”

Seeing the Forest and the Trees: Using Dynamic Systems Theory to Understand “Stress and Coping” and “Trauma and Resilience”

“…Consistent with many ethnic and indigenous beliefs, well-being, then, is the ability to fluctuate between continuity and flexibility to attain harmony and balance (Comas-Diaz, 2006;Constantine, Myers, Kindaichi, & Moore, 2004;Heath, 2006;Levers, 2006;Portman & Garrett, 2006). Similarly, illness or disorder can be viewed as an imbalance, a constriction into too much continuity (rigidity) or expansion into too much flexibility (crisis and chaos; Siegel, 1999).…”