Overview of somali history and culture 2.22.13

Taariikhda iyo Dhaqanka Soomaalida

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Presented by: Marian Hassan February 22, 2013

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Aqoon La’aan waa Iftiin La’aan Ignorance is darkness

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Objectives:

§  Provide Historical Overview of the Somali Culture

§  Share Insights about the ‘Heart of the Somali Culture’

§  Understand the Somali Experience in Minnesota

§  Offer culturally sensitive strategies to working with English language learners in your classrooms.

l  Pop: Approx. 10 million l  Located in Horn of Africa l  Government: Newly

formed Central government

l  Regional and local governing bodies exist and control various regions of the country.

�  Republic of Somaliland �  State of Puntland

Somalia

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Historical Overview:

¡  The Development of the Somali people dates back to the 6th Century

¡  Intermix of indigenous Cushitic people and Arab/Persians.

¡  Somali Culture is based on Pastoral Nomadism ¡  1880s-1960 Colonial Presence in Somalia ¡  1960 Somalia became independent Republic ¡  1969-1991 Military Government ¡  1991-Present—No Central Government

Colonial History 1869-1960

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1960 Somalia Gained Independency-

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Somalia before the war..

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At the moment… 1.4 Million IDPs in Somalia

570,000 Somalis live as refugees in neighboring countries

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Waiting in-line for food ration

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Hager deer refugee camp Newly Arrived Somali Refugees waiting inline for settlement office to open for registration

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½ A million Somalis live the Diaspora

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The Heart of the Somali Culture:

1.  Religion 2.  Family 3.  Oral Language

Religion

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Family Structure

¡  Historian Charles Gesheter notes when Somalis meet they don’t ask “where are you from?”—but rather “tol maad tahay”(What is your Lineage?)”.

So genealogy is to Somalis what an address is to Americans!

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Oral Language

¡  Somali people speak one language. ¡  “Nation of poets---- ¡  Oral language until 1972 when the

Somali language was first written

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The Somali Experience in Minnesota

¡  Displacement- forced leave, long separations, post war trauma and culture shock

¡  Mental Illness ¡  Language Barrier ¡  Role Changes -parent/child, male/

female, etc. ¡  Race/Ethnicity issues ¡  Post 9/11 backlash and concern for

personal safety

¡  Refugee children often suffer from severe post-trauma and stress disorders, unlikely to learn well in traditional school environment

¡  Trauma Exposure ¡  Post-settlement ¡  Discrimination

Trauma and PTSD

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Different kind of education…

q  Religious school (Koran or Dugsi) q  Formal schooling

q  Informal learning and role modeling (waano, wax sheeg, gabay, geeraar, iyo sheeko)

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Who is responsible for educating the young?

q Mothers are caretakers and educators of the children.

q Fathers are breadwinners and navigators of the outside realm, schools included.

q Extended family members such as aunts, uncles, grandparents, older siblings, neighbors, and clan members.

1. Involving the Parents 2. Communicating High Expectations 3. Involving and Valuing the First

Language and Culture 4. Examining The Effects of Cultural

Differences 5. Are Student-centred and

Constructivist Adapted from: (Principles for Culturally Responsive Teaching, 2006)

Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies

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Questions?

Contact: Marian Hassan Educational Consultant (651) 214-2603 mhassan1@yahoo.com