When thinking back to my years of learning mathematics, I couldn’t recall even hearing about the Inuit Mathematics talked about in Louise Poirier’s article (53). The fact that I didn’t know this existed could be seen as a discriminating feature within my learning of mathematics. I think that seeing I was unaware of Inuit Mathematics, the curriculum I was educated with must’ve been rather Eurocentric. Presuming one measures, learns, and understands with a Eurocentric viewpoint could be seen as discriminatory, as there could’ve been students that would’ve better understood using an Inuit Mathematics system. 

A point that I thought was important in Leroy Little Bear’s article, was when he talked about the difference between Aboriginal and Eurocentric values. When speaking on Aboriginal values, Little Bear talks about the ideology of wholeness, as well as balance (Little Bear 79). On the other hand, Eurocentric values focus upon one objective, and Little Bear uses the term “one right way” (Little Bear 82). I think this is important because it shows the differences in Aboriginal and Eurocentric values, which can apply to school situations as well.

When reading Poirier’s article, I realize how different Inuit mathematics is from Eurocentric mathematics, and how it challenges these Eurocentric views. Inuit Mathematics is focused much more on real-life scenarios. For example, when measuring items, when creating clothes, Inuit individuals might still use the palm of their hand when creating atigi. (Poirier 60). Inuit individuals also use a sense of space for their mathematics, this can relate to a number system, as they count relating to objects, as well as using inuksuit to portray messages to other individuals (Poirier 59-60). The names used in Inuit mathematics for shapes also relate to real-life objects, for example, the name makkaujaq is used for a triangle, and it means ‘that looks like the top of a hood’ (Poirier 63). These are three differences in Inuit mathematics in oppose to Eurocentric mathematics.

It’s important to acknowledge the differences in Inuit and Eurocentric mathematics. They are very different, and if one is learning in Inuit mathematics, it will be difficult for them to learn using Eurocentric values in Mathematics. 

Works Cited

Little Bear, Leroy. “Jagged Worldviews Colliding”. 2000. Battistle, Marie, ed. UBC Press,. Reclaiming Indigenous Voice and Vision. 

Poirier, Louise. “Teaching Mathematics and the Inuit Community”. 2007. Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education