Colonialism and Mathematics

The reading as told by Leroy Little Bear, looked deeply into how colonialism can affect the way teachers approach educating their students about Canada’s history. Through this, students gain a Eurocentric view on topics that are important in discovering who they are as Canadian citizens. Math is a very important class in education, but teachers can easily settle for teaching in a Eurocentric way. Some ways that teachers could avoid this is through experiential learning. Discovering the outdoors and understanding where they come from, while also learning mathematics. Looking back at my math classes that I took in high school and elementary school, I can see that in my earlier years that teachers attempted to do more hands-on learning, but it was mostly stationary. In my high school years, all the lessons were lectured and then we answered questions from a textbook. These methods were very discriminating to the majority of students because everyone learns in different ways. Focusing on one Eurocentric method of teaching proves that the teacher is doing what is best for them and not what is best for the students. However, by creating a diverse classroom, students will gain a strong sense of knowing and understanding the importance of an inclusive society. 

Poirier’s article was very interesting to me. It shows how mathematics is taught within an Inuit community, and how we as Canadian educators could learn from these mathematical methods, in order to create a balanced learning environment. One way that our Eurocentric views are challenged is through their counting methods. The Inuit schools teach their young students how to count in their native language. This is very important because then children are given the opportunity to learn about who they are at a young age. While here in Canada, we mostly teach in the English language, when we could be teaching our students in the French or Cree language as well. The second way we see our views challenged is through the Inuit’s understanding of sense of space. The Inuit’s idea of spatial awareness is more than knowing which room they are in; it is a survival skill. When learning about sense of space, they are taught to understand the world they live in. They become connected to nature and therefore respect the community they are raised in. The last way we see our views challenged is through their measuring techniques. The Inuit community still use their traditional method of using their body parts instead of a ruler or measuring tape. Also, they do not have a lunar or solar calendar, rather they have nature-based calendar. For example, a month will change depending on when caribou are born or when ice breaks. All of these methods are extremely fascinating to me. They are natural and they are simple, and children are taught to appreciate their native lands and discover their traditional history.

• Bear, L. L. (2000). Jagged worldviews colliding. In M. Batiste (Ed.), Reclaiming Indigenous voice and vision (pp. 77-85). UBC Press.
• Poirier, L. (2007). Teaching mathematics and the Inuit community, Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 7(1), p. 53-67.