Episode 47: Dr. Kristi Rudelius-Palmer, Part Two

Human Rights Education Now!

In Episode 47, Dr. Kristi Rudelius-Palmer reflects on her work in human rights education (HRE), beginning with her learnings from Indigenous activist educators and communities along with the importance of integrating the International Indian Treaty Council initiatives, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the American Indian Movement into educational frameworks. She discusses efforts to create spaces for learning about Indigenous cultures while addressing public misconceptions about Indigenous history, such as reinterpreting Columbus’s legacy to challenge flawed historical narratives. Kristi emphasizes the connection between HRE and social justice, advocating for collective human rights experiences and respecting diverse perspectives. She stresses the need for action against injustice, encouraging a shift from guilt to responsibility, drawing on LeVar Burton’s work to explore intersectional identities. Kristi also explores the application of HRE in addressing children's rights, highlighting the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and initiatives like child-friendly cities and the “Raising Children with Rights and Responsibilities” curriculum. Her work emphasizes youth involvement in securing their rights through platforms like the HRE USA Training As Action Series. Kristi discusses the rise of authoritarianism and the importance of educational standards from an HRE perspective, alongside advocating for youth engagement in democracy. Inspired by role models such as Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr., and Eleanor Roosevelt, Kristi underscores the importance of storytelling in advancing human rights education. She concludes with a recommended strategy for advancing HRE in the U.S., proposing a nationwide human rights scavenger hunt to connect communities with the principles of the UDHR and create spaces where human rights can flourish.

Topics discussed:

• HRE with Indigenous communities and cultural learning spaces
• Addressing misconceptions of Indigenous history
• HRE's role in social justice and challenging injustices
• Child rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Democracy and the rise of authoritarianism
• Influence of figures like Harriet Tubman and MLK Jr.
• Strategy for advancing HRE in the U.S. through community engagement

Full topic listing available for PDF download HERE.

Listen on our HREUSA podcast website HERE.
Introduction and Closing Music Credit: “Awakening-Spring” by Ketsa, from the Album Night Vision. Available at the Free Music Archive: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/night-vision/awakening-spring/

This music is used in accordance with this Creative Commons License: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Information about that license is available here https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Human Rights Education Now! is produced and distributed in accordance with Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 DEED, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International. Information about this license is available here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/