One example of how statistics can be used to draw attention to social issues that Indigenous populations face.
The most obvious way to incorporate Indigenous content into a math course is by connecting mathematics to social justice. In particular, statistics can be used to explore inequalities existing in our society. Mathematics, therefore, can be particularly useful in helping expose the disenfranchisement of Indigenous populations and, therefore, in helping to rectify this treatment by showing indisputable evidence of its existence. Below we've provided links to a number of projects that are using statistics to help Indigenous communities attain social justice.
However, we would also like to point out that much work has been done on the disconnect many Indigenous students feel from their math courses, a disconnect which seems to lead to higher than average dropout rates. These studies provide many ways in which aspects of Indigenous culture can be used to teach mathematical content. For instance, using the building of traditional Indigenous dwellings to discuss geometry. This type of teaching adaptation will be explored further in our pages on Indigenous pedagogy.
