The World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium (WINHEC) Annual Meetings for Executive Board and WINHEC working groups is being held at Cuzco, Peru.
Delegations for nations around the world are gathering to discuss initiatives that are addressing the needs of higher education of the indigenous peoples of the world. Over 800 delegates at the same time are also attending Cuzco for the World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education (WIPCE 2011).
Indigenous people from across many nations have come together to share their knowledge and context learning about indigenous wisdom, arts, languages, research, dance and global education.
WINHEC achieved several milestones in developing working parties in language, research, climate change, software, accreditation, early childhood education, and fund development. Higher education learning institutions are applying for WINHEC accreditation that establishes indigenous higher education institutions that build their colleges or universities on the foundation of indigenous knowledge and ways of knowing, applying and being.
New CoChairpersons for WINHEC include Dr. VerlieAnn Malina-Wright, Native Hawaiian and Trevor Moeke, Maori from Aoteoroa/New Zealand. This dual leadership role of male and female are representative of the traditional indigenous practices of honoring an inclusive and holistic practice. The WINHEC Executive Committee and Board have conducted extensive planning and advocacy efforts on behalf of indigenous parties throughout the world. A major initiative is to develop an International Ph.D. program in Indigenous Education Leadership, as well as other initiatives, as part of the initiative WINHEC Indigenous University. The WINHEC Board has approved the next annual general meeting and the launch of an International Indigenous Higher Education Research Conference in Taiwan in September 2012.
Press contacts:
Executive co-chair VerlieAnn Melina-Wright: vmalinawri@aol.com
Out-going chair Jan Henry Keskitalo: winhec@samiskhs.no