Changing the Culture of Schooling: Navajo and Yup'ik Cases

Here we present two cases in which indigenous teacher groups are transforming the culture of schooling. Working within a community school and on the margins of schooling, Navajo teachers at Rough Rock and Yup'ik teachers and elders in southwestern Alaska are finding creative ways to use their culture, their knowledge, and their language in the construction of curriculum and pedagogy. These teacher groups have created zones of safety in which resistance to conventional practices can be expressed and innovative approaches to schooling investigated and practiced. The work of these teacher groups has theoretical implications for community‐based teacher preparation. The challenge remains in transferring these cultural creations to the wider institution of schooling.