#indigenousworldviews

Morales & Calvo (2022) explores how the Misak community in Colombia uses the Indigenous philosophy of Buen Vivir to shape their worldview and educational practices. Buen Vivir, which emphasizes harmony with nature, collective well-being, and reciprocity, aligns with the core principles of inclusive education. The researchers introduced Participatory Video Research (PVR) as a tool for empowerment, enabling the community to document and share their cultural practices while gaining technical skills and self-confidence.

The findings demonstrate the potential of PVR to foster inclusion by giving marginalized voices control over their narratives. The Misak’s view of Buen Vivir, or Latá-Latá, highlights the importance of community-centered education rooted in respect for land, culture, and spiritual connections. This study offers valuable insights into how Indigenous knowledge systems can transform education to be more equitable and culturally responsive.

Below, I have attached the article and three PVR videos that were used in the data analysis. Feel free to explore and watch!

Inclusive education often requires us to challenge narratives of division and "breaking" while fostering empathy through "bridging" (Ruttenberg-Rozen, 2024). Moving from breaking to bridging transforms education into a space of inclusivity. By integrating Indigenous worldviews, such as Buen Vivir, educators can teach students the value of connection, respect, and collective well-being. Buen Vivir aligns closely with john a. powell’s concept of bridging, which fosters understanding and empathy between diverse groups to address systemic issues like othering and inequality (Othering & Belonging Institute, 2017). Together, these ideas provide a powerful framework for creating inclusive education systems.

Breaking In Education

In education, breaking occurs when divisions are created between groups, creating "us vs. them" dynamics (Ruttenberg-Rozen, 2024).. This often leads to the exclusion or marginalization of certain voices, reinforcing systemic inequities (Ruttenberg-Rozen, 2024). For instance, Indigenous knowledge systems are frequently sidelined in favor of dominant narratives, perpetuating breaking (Morales & Calvo, 2022).

Bridging Through Indigenous Worldviews

Bridging, as described by John a. powell, is about fostering understanding and connection across differences (Othering & Belonging Institute, 2017). Buen Vivir, the Misak community's philosophy of harmony and reciprocity, exemplifies bridging by emphasizing balance and mutual respect (Morales & Calvo, 2022).

How Education Can Bridge:

Amplify Marginalized Voices: Incorporate Indigenous teachings like Latá-Latá into classroom practices.

Use Participatory Approaches: Tools like Participatory Video Research (PVR) enable students to collaborate and share their cultural stories, fostering mutual understanding.

Empathy-Driven Lessons: Create opportunities for students to engage with diverse worldviews and reflect on shared human values.

Felder (2018) emphasizes that true inclusion goes beyond shared physical spaces—it is about fostering active participation, belonging, and mutual recognition within a learning community. This aligns deeply with the Indigenous philosophy of Buen Vivir, as practiced by the Misak community, which focuses on harmony, reciprocity, and collective well-being (Morales & Calvo, 2022).

Key Connections:

Recognition as a Foundation: Inclusion thrives when individuals experience mutual respect and acknowledgment. Similarly, Buen Vivir is built on Latá-Latá, the Misak tradition of equality and reciprocity, ensuring every voice in the community is valued (Morales & Calvo, 2022; Felder, 2018).

Community-Centered Inclusion: Buen Vivir stresses collective well-being over individualism, much like Felder's argument that inclusion should center interpersonal connections and community bonds over mere physical proximity (Felder, 2018).

Active Participation: Both frameworks advocate for active involvement. The Misak used Participatory Video Research (PVR) to document their culture and address challenges collaboratively, showcasing inclusion as an active, dynamic process (Morales & Calvo, 2022).

Freedom Through Inclusion: Felder highlights how freedom and inclusion are interconnected—people need to feel they belong to express themselves fully. Buen Vivir ensures this through shared decision-making, reflecting how inclusive practices empower both students and educators.

What Can Educators Do?