Indigenous Storytelling, Cherokee Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and Place-Based Education

Abstract

Indigenous storytelling is a transaction between narrators and audiences that can be expressed through Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). TEK narratives, such as those of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), can demonstrate ecological literacy by empowering audiences to co-create their engagement with the local environment of that Indigenous society and its TEK. Place-based education integrates such experiential relationships with ecological systems into progressive learning and holistic well-being. TEK stories can describe how those interactions promote inclusive sustainability with local places prioritized by place-based education. To date, no known research has investigated the integration of Cherokee TEK narratives with place-based curricula for middle school students. This study explored middle school student’s interpretations of a collaborative experience that integrated place-based education, EBCI TEK narratives, and the local environment. As participants reflected on their experience, three major themes emerged through narrative inquiry analysis: cultural literacy, well-being, and respecting nature.