Indigenous mathematics

This is a growing list of resources to support learning in the area of Indigenous mathematics. I invite you to contact me with suggestions, comments, or questions. Please visit the more extensive Libraries' Indigenous Studies guide to finding high-quality resources about Indigenous topics.

Video presentations

• What is Indigenous Mathematics? - Dr. Edward Doolittle (above video)
• POP 36: Understanding Indigenous Mathematics — with Dr. Florence Glanfield
• Indigenous Knowledge & Mathematics Community of Practice - playlist from First Nations, Métis & Inuit Education Association of Ontario

Audio podcasts from Indigenous mathematicians

• Our Indigenous Mathematicians, in partnership with Native Stories.
• Henry Fowler's Favorite Theorem, from the The chair of the mathematics department at Diné College.

Selection of books

• Indigenous ingenuity: A celebration of traditional North American knowledge (2023; print; Children's Literature and Young Adult Collection).
• Indigenous knowledge and ethnomathematics (2022; ebook).
• Mason, R. "A Kinder Mathematics for Nunavut." Curriculum as cultural practice: Postcolonial imaginations, 2006, pp. 131-48 (2016; ebook).
• Indigenous statistics: A quantitative research methodology (2016; ebook).
• Alternative Forms of Knowing (in) Mathematics: Celebrations of Diversity of Mathematical Practices (2012; ebook).

Selection of articles

• Jungic, Veselin. "Two-Eyed Seeing: Mathematics and Indigenous Traditions and Cultures." Maple Transactions, vol. 2, no. 1, 2022. doi:10.5206/mt.v2i1.15186.
• Garcia-Olp, Michelle et al. "Conceptualizing a Mathematics Curriculum: Indigenous Knowledge Has Always Been Mathematics Education." Educational Studies, vol. 55, no. 6, 2019, pp. 689-706, doi:10.1080/00131946.2019.1680374.
• Lunney Borden, Lisa. "What’s the Word for…? Is There a Word for…? How Understanding Mi’kmaw Language Can Help Support Mi’kmaw Learners in Mathematics." Mathematics Education Research Journal, vol. 25, no. 1, 2013, pp. 5-22, doi:10.1007/s13394-012-0042-7.
• Sterenberg, Gladys. "Considering Indigenous Knowledges and Mathematics Curriculum." Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, vol. 13, no. 1, 2013, pp. 18-32, doi:10.1080/14926156.2013.758325.
• Barnhardt, Ray and Angayuqaq Oscar Kawagley. "Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Alaska Native Ways of Knowing." Anthropology & Education Quarterly, vol. 36, no. 1, 2005, pp. 8-23, doi:10.1525/aeq.2005.36.1.008.

Other library guides

• Finding Indigenous voices: Approaches for discovering Indigenous scholars and authors (Simon Fraser University)
• Mathematics: Indigenous research & resources (University of Waterloo)
• Indigenous Research Guide: Sovereignty, data and statistics (University of Waterloo)
• Indigenous Knowing - Math (Camosun College)

Additional resources

• Wiidookaadying Gikinoomaagewin: Gindaaswin Kendaaswin | Relationships and Reciprocity: Indigenous Mathematics and Education Conference
• Indigenous Math Resources (UBC)
• Indigenous Math (Alberta Teachers' Association)
• Math Catcher (Simon Fraser University)
• Math Circle Network (they have an activities database)
• Alliance of Indigenous Math Circles