It is Indigenous Peoples’ Day on October 11. Many states and localities have taken steps to recognize this day, and some even choose to celebrate it instead of Columbus Day. Today is a day for learning, taking notes, reflecting, creating, and connecting with others through literature and art. It’s also a day to move from acknowledgment toward responsibility and action.

Native Americans have a complicated and lengthy history in the United States. The horrifying legacy of the brutal and systematic eradication of entire cultures exists. Then there are tales of perseverance, tenacity, and intense ties to the natural world and other people. In fact, neither these tales mark the beginning nor the conclusion of Indigenous history.

It might be intimidating for instructors to know where to begin unraveling such a vast tapestry. Inquiry and research are the first steps in every journey toward action and responsibility. You can learn more about Indigenous Peoples’ past and present life by checking out the resources listed in this post. You might also engage in a few activities with your pupils to make these ideas more concrete.

First, should Columbus Day still play a role in the classroom?

The holiday of Columbus Day was created to celebrate the “discovery” of America and to acknowledge the accomplishments of Italian Americans. The purpose of Indigenous Peoples’ Day is not to diminish and replace the achievements of Italian Americans. However, it can’t be the only story. We now have the potential to investigate cultural genocide, the practice of slavery, the idea of discovery, and how and at what cost these tales are created.

Remember, vocabulary matters.

Indigenous Peoples are groups of people who are the original occupants of a specific geographic area. Although the terms Native American and American Indian are frequently used, remember that Columbus mistakenly thought he had reached the Indian Ocean. The best course of action is to utilize particular tribe names.

Websites for learning more about Indigenous Peoples

• The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian oversees Native Knowledge 360°. Visit the highlighted resources for Unlearning Columbus Day Myths and Honouring Original Indigenous Inhabitants.
• In PBS’s Native American Heritage Collection, historians, artists, students, and scientists examine Indigenous art, history, and culture.
• The Zinn Education Project favors giving the past a more interesting and sincere examination. Check out their resources for information on Native Americans.

Books to read

Here are several books that can be used to educate everyone about indigenous peoples. Books by Indigenous authors that recount the histories of certain Indigenous tribes are included on each of these lists.

• This collection of 15 books by indigenous authors for the classroom was put together by us.
• You can share a list of elementary picture books with your students from Colours of Us.
• A list of adult fiction is provided by the Los Angeles Public Library.
• These works for adults are recommended by the New York Public Library.

Activities to try

Lastly, you can engage in various educational activities with your students to commemorate Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Month (November) and to provide your pupils a deeper understanding of Thanksgiving, American history, and environmental action.

• Discover the continuous efforts being made by the Standing Rock Sioux tribe to defend their territory from environmental threats and injustice.
• Consider looking at the #RealSkins hashtag, which gained popularity in 2017 and displays a variety of Indigenous Peoples’ traditional attire. On a side note, the hashtag #DearNonNatives gives us a glimpse of the several problematic ways that Indigenous Peoples are portrayed in contemporary culture. (NOTE: We advise pre-screening since posts with either of these hashtags may include objectionable material.)
•  Talk about how controversial it is for American sports to utilize mascots with Native American influences.
• Chat about the American Library Association’s decision to change the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award’s name to the Children’s Literature Legacy Award in light of the author’s views on Indigenous Peoples.
• Using the Circle of Stories materials from PBS, discover the rich oral storytelling culture of Native Americans and develop your own tales to share.
• By creating regional maps, you may learn about the geography of Indigenous tribes.
• Use the advice from Learning for Justice when teaching about Native American women leaders.
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