Week 12 - Assignment 2
Introduction As an educator committed to continuous growth, learning, and evolution, my journey is profoundly shaped by my support systems, challenges, and lived experiences. To genuinely transform education within a neo-colonial settler society like Aotearoa, it is crucial to understand that the “past, present and future co-exist and are inherently tethered through ancestry and action” (Gray, 2024, para. 2). This transformation necessitates a critical examination of the past to inform a more equitable future. Achieving such change requires a widespread awakening of critical consciousness across the entire population. Everyone—not just Indigenous communities—should be urged to consider how identity moulds both individuals and society. In Aotearoa, a comprehensive understanding and awareness of Indigenous culture, Te reo Māori me ona Tikanga, is paramount for educators. Recognizing and valuing both the similarities and differences between Eurocentric and Indigenous knowledge systems is ...