U.B. Teams Up with University of Auckland for Soft Book Launch

The University of Belize, along with Professor Camille Nakhid from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, have teamed up for the soft launch of a book that focuses on culturally relevant knowledge and methods.

Camille Nahkid

Professor Camille Nahkid, University of Auckland, New Zealand

“The book, “Affirming Methodologies – Research & Education in the Caribbean” is about affirming our local ways of knowing using culturally relevant methodologies, culturally relevant ways to share knowledge, using methods and ways that are relevant to us.  Ways that we know, ways that affirm who we are, ways that center who we are, ways that have us in an inclusive relationship with others.  So we are not imposing our own ways on anyone and we are not centering other people’s in the western-centric, US-centric ways of knowing.  We are using what is culturally relevant to us to share our knowledge.”

Theresa Coye

Theresa Coye, University of Belize

“It is very important for Belizeans to recognize that what they have to offer in terms of their own voices and ways of expressing themselves that these are validated in a way and validation for things like languages, always happen at an academic institution or in the academic arena.  You validate a language through research, through talking, conversations, and so on.  Unfortunately, Belize is just beginning that road for a development of its own voice: Creole, the celebration of Garifuna language and the drive to reclaim Kekchi, Mopan, Yucatec, all of these cultures and languages that are part of our ways of knowing.”