Native American Heritage Month
Resources from the Academics Division
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All Content Areas
Content Area
Resource
Resource Type
Link
Description
Grade(s)
All Content Areas
Native Land Resource
Geographic; historical; planning resource
Native-Land.ca is a website run by the nonprofit organization Native Land Digital. We are guided by a Board of Directors and an Advisory Council. Our funding comes from friendly organizations and individual donors.
ECE - 12
All Art Content Areas
ArtsEdge
Articles, lesson and unit plans and videos, music
Through the Kennedy Arts Center. Provides videos, lessons and unit plans and performances for all arts content areas that covers a wide array of topics, themes and cultures. Also provides cross content material as well.
ECE - 12
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All Art Content
Content Area
Resource
Resource Type
Link
Description
Grade(s)
All Art Content Areas
ArtsEdge
Articles, lesson and unit plans and videos, music
Through the Kennedy Arts Center. Provides videos, lessons and unit plans and performances for all arts content areas that covers a wide array of topics, themes and cultures. Also provides cross content material as well.
ECE - 12
Visual Arts
see resources here
google doc
A document with Indigenous Heritage Resources
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Music
Content Area
Resource
Resource Type
Link
Description
Content Area
Music
PBS website
articles, interviews, playlists of Current Native American Artists
Many resources and playlists of Current Native American Artists
Many resources and playlists of Current Native American Artists
Music
Information about Native American Singing
Google Doc information about Native American Singing and how to listen respectfully
It is important to recognize and not perpetrate stereotypes of Native American Dancing and Singing that has been portrayed in older films and media. This google doc provides some basic information about Native American Music and what to listen for in the Music.
It is important to recognize and not perpetrate stereotypes of Native American Dancing and Singing that has been portrayed in older films and media. This google doc provides some basic information about Native American Music and what to listen for in the Music.
Music
Water Song by the Akwesasne Women Singers
youtube video
Showcases Akwesasne women singing the Water songa nd playing rattle and drums. Water is considered a precious commodity.
Showcases Akwesasne women singing the Water songa nd playing rattle and drums. Water is considered a precious commodity.
Music
Article Giving Cultural Context to Teaching Native American Music
article
Article from "Decolonzing the Music Classroom "stressing the important of understanding and breaking down stereotypes and teaching Native American Music authentically.
Article from "Decolonzing the Music Classroom "stressing the important of understanding and breaking down stereotypes and teaching Native American Music authentically.
Music
Curriculum resources, books, DVDs, Videos, songs, artwork - Perpich Center Anishinaabe & Dakota Powwow Resources
Native American Pow Wow Curriculum and Resources
Music
Video of high school students talking about their experiences dancing Traditional Native American Dances and the meaning of their clothing
youtube video
Video of high school students talking about their experiences dancing and the meaning of their clothing. Men's Grass Dance, Women's Jingle Dress Dance
Video of high school students talking about their experiences dancing and the meaning of their clothing. Men's Grass Dance, Women's Jingle Dress Dance
Music
Pow Wow etiquette
written guidelines
Guidelines for how people should behave when attending a Pow Wow.
Guidelines for how people should behave when attending a Pow Wow.
Music
Video and quick explanations of POW WOW Dances
youtube video
Short snippets of different modern day pow wows and regalia
Short snippets of different modern day pow wows and regalia
Music
R. Carlos Nakai recording of Canyon Trilogy - Native American Flute peformance
youtube audio
audio only
audio only
Music
Pictures of Native American Drums, rattles, and Flutes
google doc
Pictures of authentic Native American Instruments, Drums, rattles, flutes
pics of authentic Native American Instruments, Drums, rattles, flutes
Music
R. Carlos Nakai, Navajo playing the. Native American flute
youtube video
R. Carlos Nakai is the best known Native American Flute player and composer. This video is of him performing
R. Carlos Nakai is the best known Native American Flute player and composer. This video is of him performing
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Visual Arts
Content Area
Resource
Resource Type
Link
Description
Grade(s)
Visual Arts
Indigenous Arts to North America - Denver Art Museum
Website
ECE - 12
Visual Arts
Project 562
Website
Features the work of Matika Wilbur (Swinomish and Tulalip), who is documenting photos and stories from all 562 Tribal Nations today. She challenges people to memorize the names of all 562 Tribal Nations. (Note: Since Wilbur's work began, the federal government has officially recognized 11 additional Tribal Nations.)
ECE - 12
Visual Arts
Native Peoples in Children's Literature 2020
Website
The 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Award identifies and honors the very best writing and illustrations by Native Americans and Indigenous peoples of North America. Books selected to receive the award present Indigenous North American peoples in the fullness of their humanity. Winners and Honor Books were selected in the categories Best Picture Book, Best Middle Grade Book, and Best Young Adult Book.
ECE - 12
Visual Arts
Myths About Thanksgiving
Web Article
Provide by the Oyate, these myths and facts can assist students, parents and teachers in thinking critically about the Thanksgiving holiday, and deconstructing what we have been taught about the history of this continent and the world.
ECE - 12
Visual Arts
Museum of Indian Culture in Allentown
Website
The museum maintains and displays a wide variety of items, including stone tool collections, ceramics, carvings, photographs, weapons, beadwork, and basketry from Native peoples throughout the Western hemisphere. Our collections range from Southwestern Hupa baskets, to Aztec ceremonial clothing from Mexico, to stone tools from a Lenape/Delaware rock shelter site in Pennsylvania.
ECE - 12
Visual Arts
Gregg Deal - Indigenous in Plain Sight
Ted Talk
The indigenous existence in Western and American culture is narrowly viewed and accepted with little to no input from actual Indigenous people. Gregg Deal talks about the use of history as a tool while he navigates the restrictions thrusts upon his work as a contemporary artist while challenging those who hear his words to take responsibility for their knowledge, and create room for this nation’s First Peoples.
ECE - 12
Visual Arts
Matika Wilbur- Surviving Disappearance, Re-imagining & Humanizing Native Peoples
Ted Talk
Matika Wilbur, one of the Pacific Northwest's leading photographers, has exhibited extensively in regional, national, and international venues such as the Seattle Art Museum, the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, The Tacoma Art Museum, the Royal British Columbia Museum of Fine Arts, and the Nantes Museum of Fine Arts in France. She studied photography at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography in Montana and received a bachelor's degree from Brooks Institute of Photography in California. Her work led her to becoming a certified teacher at Tulalip Heritage High School, providing inspiration for the youth of her own indigenous community.
ECE - 12
Visual Arts
Matika Wilbur - Changing the Way We See Native Americans
Ted Talk
Matika Wilbur took on a project of massive scope: to photograph members of each Federally recognized tribe in the United States. "My dream," Wilbur says, "is that our children are given images that are more useful, truthful, and beautiful."
ECE - 12
Visual Arts
Nancy Marie Mithlo - American Indian — Thinking Twice About Images That Matter
Ted Talk
Ted Talk discussing the images portrayed of Indegenious peoples and how we can change how we see them represented in our culture
ECE - 12
About Native American Heritage Month
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Indigenous peoples are the first Americans. Today, many are citizens of sovereign Tribal nations as well the United States. In Colorado, we occupy the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute Nations, and acknowledge this with respect.
Individuals choose to identify with their Native heritage differently, whether through their tribe, culture or general terms such as Native or Indigenous.
“Organizations generally use 'Native'. I prefer to use my Nation: 'I am a citizen of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Nation.' We are sovereign Nations, but have external controls, a complex situation…”
-- Rose McGuire, Senior Manager of DPS Native American Culture and Education
Native American Heritage Month, established during the month of November, was formalized in 1990 by the U.S. government to recognize the significant contributions of Native Americans to the establishment and growth of the country. In DPS, we are honoring this cultural moment with celebration of our Native community and through learning.
Native American Culture and Education
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Native American Culture and Education
Culturally Responsive Teaching for Native Students | Equity & Engagement
Ute 4th grade curriculum guide
Transforming teaching and learning about Native Americans: Native Knowledge 360° Education Initiative
National Indian Education Association: Learning at Home Resources
Institute of American Indian Arts: Education
Teaching: INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' DAY Lesson Plan
