*7.1. Building New Curricula Models*

The creative process involved with the development of such new curricula is best achieved through the adaptation of metaphors and symbols that have meaning within Indigenous contexts. For example, in an American Indian context the Medicine Wheel, Corn, or Tree of Life symbolism have deep metaphorical meanings that frame essential goals and visions of Indigenous education and sustainability. As community members and educators work to unpack the meaning of such cultural metaphors, they actively begin to engage their cultural history, their epistemology, and discuss how to address issues related to community sustainability. Much of this work is already underway among some Indigenous educators as they work with Indigenous communities and students around place-, land-, and project-based curriculum models.
