Special Episode: Transforming Indigenous Education: A Deep Dive into ITEP with Dr. Valerie Shirley and Dr. Jeremy Garcia

The Inquiry Oasis: A UArizona College of Education Podcast

In this episode of The Inquiry Oasis, host Jeffrey Anthony speaks with Dr. Valerie Shirley and Dr. Jeremy Garcia, co-founding directors of the Indigenous Teacher Education Program (ITEP) at the University of Arizona College of Education. The discussion meticulously dissects the ITEP framework, philosophy, and its consequential impact on Indigenous students, schools, and communities. Exploring topics that range from the program's origins to its broader socio-cultural implications, the episode weaves a compelling narrative that underscores the need for culturally attuned and community-based approaches in education.

Topics Discussed

• Indigenous Epistemologies: The Knowledge Systems Guiding ITEP
• Philosophical Underpinnings: The Ideological Foundation of ITEP
• Cultural and Community Context: ITEP's Grounding in Indigenous Communities
• The Role of Ceremonies and Cultural Practices in Indigenous Education
• Intersecting Identities: Navigating Multiple Cultural Spaces in Education
• The Pedagogical Journey: Academic Paths and Influences of Drs. Shirley and Garcia
• ITEP's Impact and Future: Addressing Challenges and Charting New Directions

Recommended Books

• Indigenous Methodologies: Characteristics, Conversations, and Contexts by Margaret Kovach
• Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies, Teaching and Learning for justice, Justice in a Changing World by Django Paris
• Red Pedagogy: Native American Social and Political Thought by Sandy Grande

Chapters

1. Introduction (00:00:00)

2. Origins of ITEP: A Confluence of Vision, Research, and Community Dialogue (00:06:07)

3. Reconnecting Roots: The Tripartite Mission of ITEP and the Revival of Indigenous Knowledges (00:07:41)

4. Foundation of Sovereignty: Unpacking ITEP's Four Cornerstones of Indigenous Education (00:11:32)

5. Critical Consciousness in ITEP: Navigating Capitalism, Environmental Injustices, and Indigenous Theories in Education (00:15:48)

6. Land, Identity, and Epistemology: Unpacking the Essence of Indigenous Relations to the Earth (00:18:12)

7. Operationalizing Red Praxis: Bridging Indigenous Theories and Classroom Practices (00:21:52)

8. Decolonizing the Future: Hopes and Aspirations for Indigenous Education in the Coming Decades (00:25:49)

9. Recommended Books (00:29:59)

10. Outro (00:35:07)