Books
ALASKA NATIVE CULTURES AND ISSUES: RESPONSES TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Edited by Libby Roderick
Making up more than ten percent of Alaska’s population, Alaska Natives are the state’s First Peoples and largest “minority” group. Yet most non-Native Alaskans know surprisingly little about the histories and cultures of their indigenous neighbors, or about the important issues they face. This concise book compiles frequently asked questions and provides informative and accessible responses that shed light on some common misconceptions. Edited by Libby, with responses composed and reviewed by Alaska Native scholars and leaders, this easy-to-read compendium aims to facilitate a deeper exploration and richer discussion of the complex and compelling issues that are part of Alaska Native life today.
STOP TALKING: INDIGENOUS WAYS of TEACHING and LEARNING and DIFFICULT DIALOGUES in HIGHER EDUCATION
By Larry Merculieff and Libby Roderick
For 10,000 years, Alaska’s Native peoples have survived and thrived in some of the harshest conditions in the world. During that time, they perfected teaching and learning practices that ensured the survival of their communities and the wellbeing of their natural environments. Those ancient practices offer fresh insights for educators who care about the state of our world and seek ways to make education more relevant and engaging.
This book describes a unique Ford Foundation –funded higher education project co-designed and facilitated by Libby that broke some difficult silences between academic and Native communities. The project introduced a small group of non-Native faculty members to traditional Alaska Native ways of teaching and learning. The book presents a model for a Native-designed and run faculty development intensive, strategies for applying indigenous pedagogies in western learning environments, reflection on education by Alaska Native Elders, and reports from participants on what they learned and what they tried in their classrooms. It is intended to stimulate discussion and reflection about best practices in higher education. You can download Stop Talking free of charge at:
START TALKING: A HANDBOOK for ENGAGING DIFFICULT DIALOGUES in HIGHER EDUCATION
Edited by Kay Landis
As part of a Ford Foundation Difficult Dialogues initiative, the University of Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Pacific University developed a faculty training program to introduce faculty to a wide range of strategies for proactively introducing controversial topics into the classroom. Libby served as chief designer and facilitator for the project.
Start Talking describes the initiative and serves as a field manual for professors who wish to engage their students more effectively in conversations about the most important issues of our time. The book addresses themes of academic freedom; classroom safety; rhetoric and debate; race, class and culture; science and religion; business, politics and social justice and more. Download a free copy at:
TOXIC FRIDAY: RESOURCES for ADDRESSING FACULTY BULLYING in HIGHER EDUCATION
Edited by Libby Roderick
Edited by Libby, Toxic Friday is a book and video that showcase several forms of intimidation, bullying, and other toxic behaviors frequently reported within academic departments. Taken together, the book and video are tools to help faculty members and others in academic communities engage in productive discussions about ways to address faculty bullying while protecting anonymity. The handbook can be purchased through your favorite bookseller. Buying the book allows permanent access to the online video.