Recognizing Incredible Parallels Between Native and Hmong Experiences
History of the Symposium. “Recognizing the incredible parallels between Native and Hmong experiences, culture, spirituality, community and issues with education we have designed this symposium to focus on addressing educational issues of both communities.”
History of the Symposium
Recognizing the incredible parallels between Native and Hmong experiences, culture, spirituality, community, and issues with education we have designed this symposium to focus on addressing educational issues of both communities. The symposium seeks to help educators learn how to authenticate materials, infuse curricula, teach about Wisconsin Native American & Hmong history, culture, and critical/multicultural pedagogy and to address contemporary issues in education and community life. In 1989 Wisconsin passed Act 31 mandating K-12 educators teach about Native American history, sovereignty, and treaty rights in Wisconsin. This legislation originated in response to the racial conflicts over treaty rights that emerged from widespread educational failure and a lack of understanding of Native peoples, sovereignty, and culture. Today Hmong communities face many of the same issues.
In response to the continuing racism and recent violence against Hmong communities, the state is trying to pass another bill; which would mandate teaching about Hmong history, culture, and the role in the Vietnam War. Through the symposium, we hope to create an environment in which educators can learn aspects of Indigenous education and cross cultural critique in order to better understand their students and communities as well as policy issues affecting the classroom and how to teach anti-racism, and to inspire understanding, acceptance, critical pedagogy and respect for all.
Responses