Child Trends’ Dr. Heather Sauyaq Jean Gordon recently spoke on the Talking about Kids podcast to share anti-racist approaches to supporting Native and Indigenous children. When explaining how to engage in anti-racist and decolonizing research with Native and Indigenous communities, Dr. Gordon underscored the importance of relationship-building, gaining community and individual consent, having an asset-based approach, and valuing Indigenous Knowledge. She added that educators and others working with Native and Indigenous children should ensure that curricula and other programming for children is accurate and representative of Native and Indigenous histories, cultures, and experiences.
Dr. Gordon—who is Iñupiaq and an enrolled tribal member of the Nome Eskimo Community—is a youth development research scientist at Child Trends. Her research interests include continued work with Indigenous youth, families, and Elders around colonization and historical trauma, culture as a protective factor, futures research, and Indigenous self-determination. Dr. Gordon’s recent work includes ethnographic research with the Ninilchik Village Tribe and providing recommendations to the Administration for Children and Families on technical assistance needs within American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
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