Education generalist Leroy Little Bear called on teachers to rethink their approach to learning for a multicultural classroom in an address at the Lower Nicola Band School Friday.

The former director of Harvard University’s Native American Program was the keynote speaker at the Lower Nicola Indian Band’s fourth annual networking conference, held at the band school Friday. The conference consisted of a series of workshops focusing on topics related to native child development and education.

In his speech, Little Bear described the differences he sees between how natives and westerners view the world.

“The western way is very linear,” he said in an interview with the News following his address. “Time is a good example. We go from A to B to C to D and so on.”

Little Bear said that this linear way of thinking extends to the hierarchical school system.

“If you’re in Grade 1, you’ve learned that and let’s move on.”

By contrast, the native approach to learning focuses on repetition and renewal, as can be seen in annual rituals and customs, he said.

“Things happen over and over again. We tell the same stories every year.”

Little Bear disagreed when asked if reviewing the same concepts repeatedly would make it difficult to introduce new material.

“Even the idea of new…is from this linear notion, this dichotomous notion. In Blackfoot and other types of language, there are no words for new and old.”

Another difference is that western education emphasizes specialization while native learning prizes “being a generalist rather than a specialist”, said Little Bear.

Little Bear added that native learning is based on “knowing a bit about everything.” It also explores the “relational networks” connecting humans with each other, animals, plants, and so on. 

He called on teachers to recognize those differences and account for them in the classroom.

“I told them these things to act as a catalyst.”

Little Bear indicated that differences in how cultures see knowledge and learning could have an impact on schools throughout Canada as the country’s racial makeup continues to change.

“Teachers have to be ready for those multicultural classrooms.”

Little Bear said there was no set way for schools to change their curriculum or teachers to change their methods to accommodate these differences. He said it is up to teachers to decide what is right for them.

“We’re throwing these ideas out so we will stimulate their creative minds.”

Teachers would have to find the best way to fit the values he described into their classrooms, he said.

“It’s kind of like climbing a mountain. Is there one way to climb the mountain? When you get to the top, it’s the same view.”

Little Bear also helped develop a First Nations governance program at the University of Lethbridge.