We are pleased to announce the availability of our latest installment of podcast episodes in Human Rights Education NOW! Episodes 31 & 32 feature conversations with Dr. Alex Red Corn. Dr. Alex Red Corn is a citizen of the Osage Nation in what is now Oklahoma. He is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at Kansas State University (K-State), but is transitioning to the University of Kansas this summer where he will serve as Director and Associate Professor of Indigenous Studies, as well as Associate Vice Chancellor for Tribal Relations. Alex specializes in teaching qualitative research and Indigenous educational leadership. In addition to his university position, he serves as Executive Director of the Kansas Association for Native American Education (KANAE), and has collaborated with Native Nations and communities across the region, and is also the Chair of the new Kansas Advisory Council for Indigenous Education (KACIE).
Episode 31: Dr. Alex Red Corn, Part One
In Episode 31, Dr. Alex Red Corn shares his origins of interest in human rights and human rights education, as well as his evolution from being a social studies teacher to a human rights educator and expert on Indigenous education. Next, he discusses the challenges of helping others learn about American Indian cultures and history, and his thoughts on engaging with educational systems to improve understanding of Native cultures and society for all people in the US. Alex then explains the importance of meeting learners at their current state of knowledge while helping them recognize areas for growth. Furthermore, he addresses problems with existing social studies standards and stereotypical presentations of Indian life, as well as the importance of examining Indigenous issues within a human rights framework. He shares his thoughts on emphasizing the study of American Indian cultures and society as a political issue, not only through a racial/ethnic lens, and the Importance of studying the history and culture of specific Native tribes to counter the dominant assimilationist approach to education of American Indian children. Alex then expands on the importance of partnerships and collaboration between Indigenous nations and state/local educational systems, and various obstacles in changing education about Indigenous cultures and history. Next, he shares his thoughts on placing emphasis on sovereignty, collaboration, and co-governance in reforming educational systems through a problem-solving approach, as well as strategies for Indigenous students and academics to navigate the higher education system linked to settler colonialism. Finally, Alex links how helping one’s community is a core value of American Indians that leads to code-switching and navigating non-tribal systems in various situations.
Topics discussed:
- Origins of interest in human rights and human rights education
- Evolution from social studies teacher to human rights educator
- Challenges of teaching about Indian cultures and histories
- Importance of meeting learners at their current state of knowledge
- Problems with existing social studies standards and presentations of Indian life
- Importance of examining Indian issues through a human rights framework
- The study of Indian cultures and society as political, not merely racial/ethnic
- Countering dominant assimilation approach to education of Indigenous children
- Importance of partnerships between Indigenous nations / state and local education
- Sovereignty and co-governance in reforming education systems
- Strategies for Indian students and faculty in navigating higher education
- Code-switching and navigating non-tribal systems
Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.
Listen on our Buzzsprout podcast website HERE.
Episode 32: Dr. Alex Red Corn, Part Two
In Episode 32, Dr. Alex Red Corn discusses leadership programs in Indian education in the Western US and the need for such programs in states east of the Mississippi. Next, he expands on the lack of knowledge among the public about federally recognized tribes. Alex then describes conflicts emerging from ignorance of tribal sovereignty, and the role of treaties between tribes and the US government when addressing Indian rights. He goes on to explain connections between Indian rights in the US and Indigenous Peoples across the globe, including collaborations across boundaries in the field of Indigenous studies. Alex then discusses the Maori work in education, and the continuing impact of colonialism on Indigenous Peoples. Next, he discusses the importance of strategic decision making by Indigenous Peoples to combat oppression and sustain native resistance. Alex emphasizes the power of education to address human rights abuses against Indigenous tribes and Indigenous Peoples. He then shares how critical thinking about federal policies is essential. Alex concludes by describing influential role models and key quotes he is inspired by.
Topics discussed:
- Leadership programs in Indigenous education
- Lack of knowledge among public about federally recognized tribes
- Conflicts emerging from ignorance of tribal sovereignty
- Role of treaties between tribes and US government
- Connections between Indian rights in US and Indigenous Peoples across globe
- Collaborations in the field of Indigenous studies
- Maori work in education
- Continuing impact of colonialism on Indigenous Peoples
- Importance of strategic decision making by Indigenous Peoples to sustain native resistance
- Power of education to address human rights abuses against Indian tribes
Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.
Listen on our Buzzsprout podcast website HERE.
- Google Podcast was discontinued on April 2, 2024.
- We moved all our episodes onto YouTube Music.
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