Honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day
My amazing teammates and I put together this resource with ideas, talking points, and multiple sources to guide folks in having these discussions in your own classrooms.
Considerations
1) Representation:
Just like we shouldn’t only be learning about Latinx people during Heritage Month, and African-Americans during Black History Month, Native Peoples’ representation is important beyond Indigenous People’s Day or even Native American Heritage Month (which is coming up in November). Just as we don’t want to only teach about Latinx people in the context of immigration, and African-Americans only in the context of enslavement or civil rights, Indigenous people can’t only be taught in the context of history, as if they aren’t currently living in cities and states all over the country now.
Thinking about representation: How are contemporary Indigenous people visible in your classroom and in your curriculum? What contemporary Indigenous artists, writers, politicians, activists are taught? Are Indigenous characters seen only through the lens of historical fiction? Are you using present tense when referring to Indigenous people? (ie. are vs. were)
Avoid “othering” Indigenous people or falling into the stereotype that they are “exotic.” Students need to see that they are contemporary people that live in Chicago and live modern lives, not only figures from history that wear traditional clothes.
2) Consider teaching about the current status of Indigenous People’s Day.
What states and cities recognize it? Does Chicago recognize it? How can we celebrate the contributions Indigenous people have made to culture?
3) If you are discussing Columbus at all, make sure you know the historical truth. And make sure that Columbus is not the center of the teaching. Why are we no longer celebrating Columbus Day in CPS- because we now understand his role in colonization and the enslavement of Indigenous people. Consider teaching about the protests over Columbus statues. Statues of Columbus in Chicago were removed over the summer, though Mayor Lightfoot (in February 2020) said she would not stop the honoring of Columbus Day in the city and that the removal of the statues may be temporary and only to ensure safety of people because of protests.
Resources:
*As always, please preview resources in advance and consider whether they are appropriate for your age group*
Teaching Tolerance article and activities: “Reconsider Columbus Day”:
“Columbus Day is the wrong story, a story that injures all of us with its focus on a disoriented European. A better story—and better point of focus—is one that celebrates indigenous peoples who not only pre-date Columbus, but who persist and excel in an often hostile U.S. social and political environment.”
2) Teaching Channel: Un-Columbus Day
Many great suggestions and another list of resources at the end. Also goes into alternate ways of teaching Thanksgiving.
3) National Native American Heritage Month Website
4) Books and Read Alouds
5) Contemporary Indigenous People to Teach (not an exhaustive list):
Standing Rock activists protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline (Nathan Phillips)
Wendy Red Star - visual arts
Chrystos - two spirit poet and activist
Cierra Fields - young activist who sits on the BOD of the National Urban Indian Youth Alliance
Winona LaDuke - activist and former Green Party VP candidate on Ralph Nader ticket
Madonna Thunder Hawk - activist and founder of organization Women of All Red Nations
Duane Slick - visual arts
Sharice Davids - Kansas Congresswoman
Deb Haaland - New Mexico Congresswoman
6) BrainPop Jr.
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