A Spiritual Turn: Toward Desire-Based Research and Indigenous Futurity in Mathematics Education

Abstract

The practice of futurity within Indigenous communities has existed since time immemorial, with past, present, and future intertwined and with a focus on (re)membering and healing. As futurity becomes more popular in mainstream venues, it raises questions about how it will affect mathematics education (research). This Commentary makes an argument for desire-based research frameworks and Indigenous futurity praxis as key components of a spiritual turn, somewhat distinct from the sociopolitical turn our field took about a decade ago. I analyze some of the equity issues that arose in the March 2022 issue of JRME, raise three important questions to consider in our research, and offer suggestions so that we may embrace a spiritual turn.