I wanted to delve deeper into the concept of “knowledge societies/knowledge economies”. As someone that is somewhat well-versed in critical race theory, I decided to look into this concept from an ancestral knowledge perspective, especially because I know that, due to a variety of reasons, the "knowledge society" of indigenous communities and communities of color are often erased. That being the case, I wondered if I could find any literature on the intersection of knowledge societies and ancestral knowledge-sharing/preservation.

I found a great article written by Cueponcaxochitl Dianna Moreno Sandoval who discusses the theory and praxis of "ancestral computing" (2013). According to Sandoval, "The Eurocentric concept of “knowing” rests on an approach to logical knowledge that references a specific historical experience that considers all non-European peoples “objects” of knowledge, producing a hegemonic approach that dictates social institutional relations without questioning a pervasive ideology" (2013). Sandoval's observation made me think about the fact that active learning is, in fact, a decolonial practice. Below, you will find Sandoval's take on how ancestral computing structures the relationship between teacher and student in a transformative and collaborative fashion:

After reading Sandoval's piece on critical ancestral computing and its applications, I came to realize that the fundamental vision for active learning lies in activist practices - in project-based learning. When a systems-based thinking approach is applied to learning, our students are better equipped to be not only active learners in this world but active do-ers as well. Most importantly, though, the methodology of ancestral critical computing allow students to  "integrate a bicultural understanding of self-knowledge and Western knowledge" (Sandoval, 2013).

All in all, after getting a better sense of an indigenous-inspired perspective on knowledge sharing, I was able to make deeper connections among all the different concepts that were covered in this module. It makes me excited, but also nervous, to think about how the goal of learning and the process of learning is evolving to become more solution-oriented and activist-oriented. I really hope that American society comes to terms with the inherent value that indigenous knowledge-sharing possesses and the potential it holds to inform the evolution of community-minded and action-oriented societies that are focused on sustainable, long-term change that benefits all, not just those with enough access to information and technology.

Works Cited:

Sandoval, C. D. M. (2013). Ancestral Knowledge Meets Computer Science Education. PsychNology Journal, 11, 91–112. doi: 10.1057/978-1-137-47520-6