This presentation will be an exposition of mathematics of native peoples of North America related to the Western mathematics traditionally studied at the elementary through college level. This ethnomathematical review was made not only to allow instructors of Native American students to include relevant mathematics developed by Indian people in the school curriculum, but also to offer all students a fuller understanding of the universal nature and power of mathematics. Primary and secondary sources of Indian and Western mathematics were surveyed, summarized, analyzed and synthesized, and the results will be presented here. Sources of curriculum materials for inclusion of Native American approaches to various mathematical topics are offered throughout. This review concludes with a discussion of the implications for teaching and learning mathematics.

Tuesday, 18 December 2001
4:10 p.m. in Math 109
Coffee/treats at 3:30 p.m. Math 104 (Lounge)