Uncomfortable truths: Teaching about race and anti-Indigenous racism in the classroom
Anti-Indigenous racism education is often framed as a way to improve non-discriminatory care for Indigenous peoples. This study asked: What happens when anti-Indigenous racism is taken up by educators? What makes it challenging to manage in an adult classroom? What strategies are (un)successful? Te...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit, The University of Queensland
2025-08-01
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| Series: | The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education |
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| Online Access: | https://ajie.atsis.uq.edu.au/ajie/article/view/1044 |
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| _version_ | 1850040643851649024 |
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| author | Cheryl Ward Melody Morton Ninomiya Michelle Firestone |
| author_facet | Cheryl Ward Melody Morton Ninomiya Michelle Firestone |
| author_sort | Cheryl Ward |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Anti-Indigenous racism education is often framed as a way to improve non-discriminatory care for Indigenous peoples. This study asked: What happens when anti-Indigenous racism is taken up by educators? What makes it challenging to manage in an adult classroom? What strategies are (un)successful? Ten adult educators participated—Indigenous (n = 4), White (n = 3) and non-Indigenous People of Colour (n = 3)—in either an interview or focus group. A phenomenological approach guided interpretation of participant narratives. Findings revealed persistent anti-Indigenous racist violence in adult educational settings. Successfully challenging anti-Indigenous racism required deep educator knowledge, self-awareness, cultural humility and strong facilitation skills. The traumatic toll on Indigenous educators and differing responses to resistance highlighted how racism is experienced and addressed differently by Indigenous, non-Indigenous People of Colour and White educators. This study provides empirical evidence for the need for pedagogical strategies that improve cultural safety, support educators and meaningfully confront anti-Indigenous racism in adult education classrooms.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4250eac3b56643efad4204fa31bacb3c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2049-7784 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit, The University of Queensland |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-4250eac3b56643efad4204fa31bacb3c2025-08-20T02:56:02ZengAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit, The University of QueenslandThe Australian Journal of Indigenous Education2049-77842025-08-0154110.55146/ajie.v54i1.1044Uncomfortable truths: Teaching about race and anti-Indigenous racism in the classroomCheryl Ward0Melody Morton Ninomiya1Michelle Firestone2Anti-Indigenous Racism Educator, Independent Consultant, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, CanadaMAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Anti-Indigenous racism education is often framed as a way to improve non-discriminatory care for Indigenous peoples. This study asked: What happens when anti-Indigenous racism is taken up by educators? What makes it challenging to manage in an adult classroom? What strategies are (un)successful? Ten adult educators participated—Indigenous (n = 4), White (n = 3) and non-Indigenous People of Colour (n = 3)—in either an interview or focus group. A phenomenological approach guided interpretation of participant narratives. Findings revealed persistent anti-Indigenous racist violence in adult educational settings. Successfully challenging anti-Indigenous racism required deep educator knowledge, self-awareness, cultural humility and strong facilitation skills. The traumatic toll on Indigenous educators and differing responses to resistance highlighted how racism is experienced and addressed differently by Indigenous, non-Indigenous People of Colour and White educators. This study provides empirical evidence for the need for pedagogical strategies that improve cultural safety, support educators and meaningfully confront anti-Indigenous racism in adult education classrooms. https://ajie.atsis.uq.edu.au/ajie/article/view/1044racismIndigenouscolonisationeducationanit-racismanti-Indigenous racism |
| spellingShingle | Cheryl Ward Melody Morton Ninomiya Michelle Firestone Uncomfortable truths: Teaching about race and anti-Indigenous racism in the classroom The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education racism Indigenous colonisation education anit-racism anti-Indigenous racism |
| title | Uncomfortable truths: Teaching about race and anti-Indigenous racism in the classroom |
| title_full | Uncomfortable truths: Teaching about race and anti-Indigenous racism in the classroom |
| title_fullStr | Uncomfortable truths: Teaching about race and anti-Indigenous racism in the classroom |
| title_full_unstemmed | Uncomfortable truths: Teaching about race and anti-Indigenous racism in the classroom |
| title_short | Uncomfortable truths: Teaching about race and anti-Indigenous racism in the classroom |
| title_sort | uncomfortable truths teaching about race and anti indigenous racism in the classroom |
| topic | racism Indigenous colonisation education anit-racism anti-Indigenous racism |
| url | https://ajie.atsis.uq.edu.au/ajie/article/view/1044 |
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