Decolonising science education

An inclusive curriculum recognises and values Indigenous knowledge and diverse voices. Mātauranga Māori and science are distinct knowledge systems that sometimes intersect. These intersections provide authentic contexts for working within and between the two knowledge systems. 

Decolonising science places value on mātauranga Māori for all ākonga and honours te Tiriti o Waitangi.  

Decolonising science also recognises other Indigenous knowledge systems within the school or local community. 

Prompting questions/ngā pātai 

• What are some examples of old and new mātauranga/knowledge? 

• What pūrākau are associated with your local area? How might you identify and include them in your classroom? 

• What other Indigenous knowledge systems feature within your local community? 

• What barriers exist to decolonising science in your educational setting?

Transcript

Pauline Waiti  

We want our Māori kids or any kids to know that their tūpuna were really clever. 

Dianne Christenson

We’ve been learning the story of Haunui-a-Nanaia and how he travelled down the North Island. We’ve explored the names that he’s given the local rivers, and suddenly the lights come on in the kids’ eyes and they go, ah, oh yeah, I see that about that river. It really grounds the learning for the children. Pūrākau is a really important way for the children to access things. Mātauranga is different to science, but there are intersections between the two. If we want a community where we grow and live together as one, learning both is of benefit to everybody.  

Carmen Kenton

Mātauranga Māori is not only an old knowledge, it’s also a new knowledge. The more non-Māori people who understand the beauty and the wonder of te ao Māori, the better off our non-Māori people are going to be and the better off our Māori people are going to be as well. 

Acknowledgements

Pauline Waiti, Education Consultant and Director, Ahu Whakamua Limited 
Dianne Christenson, Teacher, Whareama School 
Carmen Kenton, Science Teacher, Riccarton High School
Map, courtesy of Google Maps
Taewa and psyllid resistance. © The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato, with video courtesy of Scottie Pictures
Rongo-marae-roa pou, by Geoff McKay. Released under Creative Commons licence CC BY 2.0