Indigenous People

1june,2011,I attended the class of Flexible Learning. Kate presented the topic of Indigenous People.
Indigenous People are those who inhabited a country or a geographical region at the time when people of different cultures or ethnic origin arrived. The new arrivals later become dominant through Conquest, Occupation, Settlement or other means.
(1)Self- Indentification as indigenous people at the individual level and accepted by the community as their member.
(2)Distinct social, economic or political systems.
(3)From non-dominant group of society.

It is estimated that these are more than 370 million indigenous people spread across 70 countries worldwide. Practicing unique tradition they retain social, cultural, economic and political characteristics that are distinct from those of the dominant societies in which they live.These people are the holders of unique languages, Knowledge systems and beliefs and possess invaluable knowledge of practices for the sustainable management of natural resources.
We covered in this class the history of coloization in Nz and looked at why the indigenous people of NZ have a worse health outcome, low standard of living, low level of education, low socio- economic standards than non- indigenous people.She relate the topic with the flexible learning for the indigenous people.In NZ, she gives the example of Maori people who comes in this category in the past time.The main focus is given on four aspects- Spiritual, Physical, Cognitive, Family and social . Like entry requirements, Point of contact and support,Providing course outline, Course Selection, Learning environment, Resources , Scholarships, Informal support system for students away from family,Privacy and confidentiality, Legal Status, Teaching and Learning Environment.
For Building the good relationships teacher should strat cross programme in classes, Learning as a collective activity like work in groups, Pathway like online learning, People who live far aways Geographically, linking them with Moodle and Comments on Disussion Board, Share food with other like family setting.,Building new relationships through knowledge like collaboration, learning in parternship etc.
I observe some Bachelor of Nursing Programme classes presentations their i saw two students were from Moari culture they were also giving the presentations with others students, all were working together and done work very well. But i cannot see the differences between the students due to the other culture,all were sharing their views with other students and even all were sit together in a group.This shows that now these days, due to the education students and other people become concious that all are equal. Even indigenous people will feel freedom in sharing their ideas with other people which will helpful for the future of the country and countrymen.