ERIC Number: EJ970451
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1533-7731
EISSN: N/A
Tools for "Iina" (Life): The Journey of the "Iina" Curriculum to the Glittering World
Arviso, Vivian; Welle, Dorinda; Todacheene, GloJean; Chee, Janet Slowman; Hale-Showalter, Gloria; Waterhouse, Shirley; John, Susie; and Susie John, MD, MPH
American Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research: The Journal of the National Center, v19 n1 p124-139 2012
This article presents the participatory curriculum development process and foundational Dine (Navajo) concepts that inform the Tools for "Iina" (Life) curriculum, designed for grades 4-6 by a group of Dine educators to strengthen resiliency by addressing children's health, relationships, identity, and sense of the future, utilizing core concepts from Dine oral tradition. Rather than develop a curriculum relying only on experts, and rather than utilize existing American Indian curricula addressing specific risk behaviors or diseases, we facilitated a dialogue with a range of community members to identify core concepts from Dine oral tradition that could provide young people with a perspective on life and its conflicts and challenges, tools for building respectful and supportive relationships, and stories to inform their sense of themselves, the Dine People, and their shared future. The Ways of Life: "Iina" Project will make the curriculum available in 2012. We offer reflections for other tribes interested in adopting a similar curriculum development process. (Contains 1 footnote and 2 tables.)
Descriptors: Curriculum Development, Oral Tradition, American Indians, Grade 4, Tribes, Navajo (Nation), Grade 5, Grade 6, American Indian Education, Resilience (Psychology), Child Health, Interpersonal Relationship, Identification (Psychology), Cultural Influences, At Risk Persons, Culturally Relevant Education, Conferences (Gatherings)
Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health. University of Colorado Health Services Center, P.O. Box 6508, Mail Stop F800, Aurora, CO 80045. Tel: 303-724-1414; Fax: 303-724-1474; Web site: http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/PublicHealth/research/centers/CAIANH/journal/Pages/journal.aspx
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Education; Grade 4; Grade 5; Grade 6
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A