Leadership Embracing American Indian Ways of Educating: Restoring Culturally Imbedded Practices While Building Pathways toward Student Success

American Indian cultural traditions and practices are presented for their merit in promoting student learning within the K-12 educational system. Specific culturally imbedded practices are provided as examples by which student learning can be enhanced while honoring First Nation’s teaching and learning practices. Five developmental theorists noted in this concept paper speak to pedagogical practices that are in alignment with American Indian cultural orientations and that support their inherent value for application in the classroom. This chapter asserts that by valuing and promoting American Indian culture and practices in the K-12 curriculum, the United States would make greater strides in not only affecting the achievement gap but also taking steps toward equity and achieving social justice goals.