Abstract:
This presentation shares the research journey of a First Nations educator concerned with self-determination.
This journey begins on Country, where a research seed was planted at the right time and under just the right conditions with plentiful amounts of motivation, support and experience to nurture its blossoming.
The journey then weaved its way across Country, providing context and telling a story that intertwined an Indigenous research paradigm with academic requirements to produce something authentic to me and of value to education. The use of auto ethnographic writing, creative expression and narrative structure enabled me to fulfil the requirements of a PhD without having to compromise my cultural values and integrity.
This journey shared the lived experiences, perspectives and the direct voices of the researcher and other First Nations educators involved in the current school system. Thoughts, feelings and stories were collated and analysed to reveal significant insights into the barriers and challenges faced by First Nations educators in a predominantly Western education system.
Understandings and applications of self determined education from a First Nations perspective are explored and recommendations for reform and positive change are shared.
This presentation speaks to Australian educators and all those concerned with First Nations rights and self-determination. It also addresses gate-keepers in education, or those persons who hold the power to control who has access and to what degree when it comes to school decision making processes.