From Sept. 26-30, 2024, the Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge welcomed 187 attendees to the World Indigenous Nations Higher Education Consortium (WINHEC) Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Hamohamo, Waikīkī, on the historic lands of Queen Liliʻuokalani.
This global gathering of Indigenous educators, students, administrators, and knowledge holders celebrated the advancement of indigenous knowledge and the role of indigenous education in uplifting native communities.
Indigenous peoples and participants from across the world – Hawaiʻi, Alaska, Australia, Aotearoa (New Zealand), First Nations Canada, Turtle Island (North America), and Norway – came together for five days of cultural exchanges, discussions, and collaboration. The meeting highlighted the shared vision of fostering Indigenous-led education grounded in native languages, philosophies, and worldviews.
WINHEC: A Global Network for Indigenous Education
WINHEC was founded in 2002 at the World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education (WIPCE) in Alberta, Canada. WINHEC’s mission is to bring together Indigenous educators, researchers, and policymakers from around the world to promote indigenous knowledge and practices in higher education. Its members include universities, research organizations and government agencies, all committed to advancing the role of indigenous perspectives in academia.
WINHEC is not only a platform for knowledge exchange but also a body that accredits Indigenous-serving institutions. This accreditation validates the quality of education provided by these institutions, ensuring that indigenous philosophies and cultural practices are at the heart of their operations.
Accreditation: Honoring Indigenous Educational Excellence
One of the key highlights of this year’s WINHEC AGM was the accreditation of three significant institutions: Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge (Hawaiʻi), ʻAha Pūnana Leo (Hawaiʻi), and Matawa Education (First Nations in Canada).
WINHEC accreditation is a rigorous process that requires institutions to examine their goals, operations, and achievements in light of their Indigenous communities’ worldviews and values.
The accreditation process includes a self-study and evaluation by an external review team. This ensures that institutions meet high standards of educational effectiveness while integrating their community’s indigenous knowledge systems. WINHEC accreditation also encourages institutions to continuously improve their programs to better serve their students and communities.
Accreditation by WINHEC serves several important functions. It validates the credibility of an institution and assures the public that the institution is fulfilling its mission. It also provides a framework for continuous improvement, ensuring that schools remain responsive to the evolving needs of their communities. Furthermore, WINHEC’s accreditation process is unique in that it centers indigenous philosophies and worldviews, making it a culturally grounded approach to quality assurance.
Strengthening Indigenous Institutions
The accreditation of Hawaiʻinuiākea, ʻAha Pūnana Leo, and Matawa Education is a significant milestone for these institutions and the communities they serve. It acknowledges their commitment to integrating indigenous languages, culture, and philosophies into their educational offerings. More importantly, it affirms their role in perpetuating indigenous knowledge for future generations.
Accreditation by WINHEC extends beyond educational effectiveness – it ensures that indigenous institutions are rooted in their cultural values. This approach supports the diversity and richness of indigenous worldviews while ensuring that institutions continue to provide high-quality education. As WINHEC-accredited institutions, Hawaiʻinuiākea and its counterparts will continue to play a vital role in fostering cultural resilience among Indigenous students.
A Global Collaboration for Indigenous Education
The WINHEC AGM in Waikīkī and Mānoa was a celebration of indigenous knowledge and cultural exchange. Attendees participated in workshops, ceremonies, and discussions on the role of education in preserving indigenous languages and traditions. A key highlight was an immersive cultural experience at Ka Papa Loʻi ʻo Kānewai at UH Mānoa, where participants learned about the history of the ahupuaʻa and Kānewai’s water system, engaged in hands-on activities in the loʻi, prepared food in an imu (underground oven), and connected with the land and the community. This event underscored the shared experiences and resilience of Indigenous communities worldwide, emphasizing education’s role in sustaining native traditions.
Looking Ahead: Aotearoa to Host the Next WINHEC AGM
As the 2024 WINHEC AGM concluded, it was announced that the next AGM will be hosted in Aotearoa in 2025. This continuation of the global collaboration among Indigenous educators reflects the ongoing commitment to strengthening indigenous education systems worldwide.
The 2024 WINHEC AGM in Hawaiʻi not only strengthened ties among Indigenous communities but also highlighted the critical role of education in preserving and revitalizing indigenous knowledge. As the global indigenous education movement grows, Hawaiʻinuiākea and its fellow WINHEC-accredited institutions will continue to lead the way in creating culturally grounded, community-centered education systems that empower future generations.
By bringing together educators, students, and leaders from around the world, the WINHEC AGM reaffirmed the importance of indigenous self-determination in education and set the stage for continued collaboration in the years to come.
For more information about Hawaiʻinuiākea go to: https://manoa.hawaii.edu/hshk or for WINHEC go to: https://winhec.org/.
 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Hamohamo, Waikīkī, on the historic lands of Queen Liliʻuokalani.){kind=link}