Indigenous Knowledge and OER

In this workshop, Annemarie Aweau Paikai (MLIS), a faculty librarian at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, delved into how Open Educational Resources (OER) and open pedagogy can be instrumental in advancing the decolonization of higher education, specifically within the context of the University of Hawaiʻi, a settler colonial institution. Transforming a western-centric model of education into one that is Indigenous-serving and Indigenous-centered requires a multi-pronged approach. Drawing from her unique lens as a Kanaka ʻŌiwi (Native Hawaiian) faculty librarian, she will examine how OER and open pedagogy can be used as one of those tools to disrupt the traditional, settler-colonial framework of academia, aiming to create a more inclusive, culturally relevant educational experience.

This discussion delved into some of the opportunities and challenges of Indigenous OER and open pedagogy creation, real life examples of creative and effective Indigenous OER projects, and guidelines towards Indigenous OER development that focus on harm reduction and reverse the legacy of Indigenous knowledge extraction perpetuated by the academy. Lastly, Paikai offered insights into how her cultural identity shapes her work and her approach to decolonizing education. These lived experiences provide a powerful narrative that underscores the need for institutional change to support Indigenous students and communities.

Speaker:

• Annemarie Aweau Paikai, Hawaiian Collection Librarian at the Edwin H. Mookini Library, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo