Appreciating Native American Struggles, Philosophy, and Culture

November is American Indian Heritage (Native American) Month. Despite the existence of hundreds of different tribes of Native Americans in North America, they have a common philosophy that relates to their appreciation and respect for nature.

Here are some Native American pearls of wisdom:

• The Earth is our Mother, care for Her
  
• Honor all your relations
  
• Open your heart and soul to the Great Spirit
  
• All life is sacred
  
• Treat all beings with respect
  
• Take from the Earth what is needed and nothing more
  
• Do what needs to be done for the good of all
  
• Give constant thanks to the Great Spirit for each day
  
• Speak the truth but only for the good in others
  
• Follow the rhythms of Nature
  
• Enjoy life's journey, but leave no tracks

American Indian Heritage Month started out at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions made to our society by the first Americans.

One of the original proponents of an American Indian Day was Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a Seneca Indian, who was the director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, N.Y. He persuaded the Boy Scouts of America to set aside a day for the "First Americans" and for three years they adopted such a day.

In 1915, the annual Congress of the American Indian Association formally approved a plan concerning American Indian Day. It directed its president, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, an Arapahoe, to call upon the country to observe such a day. Coolidge issued a proclamation on Sept. 28, 1915, which declared the second Saturday of each May as an American Indian Day and contained the first formal appeal for recognition of Indians as citizens.

In 1990 President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 as National American Indian Heritage Month. Similar proclamations have been issued each year since 1994.

Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum Standards

Reading: 1.1.4
The student will apply reading strategies when comparing, making connections, drawing conclusions about, and synthesizing significant ideas between print and non-print text.

Composing: 2.3
The student will locate, retrieve, and use information from various sources to accomplish a purpose.

Composing: 2.3.2
The student will use various information retrieval sources (traditional and electronic) to obtain information on a self-selected and/or given topic.

Standard 5.0 History: B.3.c
Analyze the impact of westward movement on relations with Native Americans, such as treaty relations, land acquisition and the policy of Indian Removal.

Assign students to research and report on a variety of subtopics that relate to American Indians (Native Americans).

Pathfinder: Click the radio button next to Subject Headings on the main search page, then enter the keywords Indians of North America.

Here are some examples of the variety of subjects available within this collection of more than 75 that can be used to distribute to students for their mini-research activities:

• Art (See: Indians in art)
  
• Literature (See: Indians in literature)
  
• Agriculture
  
• Business enterprises (See: Indian business enterprises)
  
• Civil rights
  
• Economic conditions
  
• Education
  
• Employment
  
• Ethnic identity
  
• Folklore
  
• Government relations
  
• Languages
  
• Medical care
  
• Indians of North America, Religion
  
• Relocation
  
• Reservations (See: Indian reservations)
  
• Social life and customs
  
• Treaties

In order for students to share the knowledge gained from the research activity, the report should be presented as an oral report with note cards limited to two to three-minutes, or a PowerPoint presentation of the same length. Student should select at least three resources for their reports.

Here are some examples of essential questions for critical thinking that teachers should assign (they can create others) to guide the student mini-research activity:

• Why should students be expected to learn more about Native Americans in school?
• What is the greatest cultural contribution of Native Americans to society and why?
• What can the federal and state governments do to increase the quality of life of Native Americans?
• Why has the reservation system failed to create equity for Native Americans?
• How can the treaties and laws that apply to tribal governments be used to the advantage of Native Americans?
• What is the most important lifestyle factor to reform to increase the equity of Native Americans and why?

Here are some new links to ProQuest models that students can use for their PowerPoint reports:

1. Engaging Issues Template
2. Essential Questions Framework
3. Written Report Models

Assign students to research and report on a variety of subtopics that relate to American Indians (Native Americans).

Pathfinder: Click the radio button next to Subject Headings on the main search page, then enter the keywords Indians of North America.

Here are some examples of the variety of subjects available within this collection: Agriculture; Art (See: Indian art); Business enterprises (See: Indian business enterprises); Civil rights; Culture; Education; Folklore; Food; History; Languages; Religion; Reservations (See: Indian reservations); Rites and ceremonies; Social life and customs; and Treatment of.

Teachers should assign a different topic from the list above to different students. Students should prepare a two-minute oral report (or PowerPoint) that uses information from at least two resources. These reports are an opportunity for students to practice presentation skills and to share their new knowledge and ideas with each other. Each report should address the following essential questions (teachers may want to create others):

• What are some of the unique economic and cultural experiences of Native Americans?
• What is the most important contribution of Native Americans and why?
• What are some indicators of progress for Native Americans since the Civil Rights laws of the 1960s?
• What is the most important support that the federal and state governments can provide to increase the quality of life for Native Americans and why?


Here are some new links to ProQuest models that students can use for their PowerPoint reports:
1. Engaging Issues Template
2. Essential Questions Framework
3. Written Report Models

Students can explore a variety of articles that focus on many aspects of the Native American experience in the 20th Century and their struggle for equality.

Pathfinder:

1. Select the Subject Heading search option
2. Type Indians of North America as your search terms
3. Review the list of links to 22 special topic collections

Assign students to answer the following examples of essential questions for critical thinking (teachers may want to create others):

• What is AIM and what are the motivations underlying it?
• What were the major reasons that Native Americans had and have trouble assimilating into American society?
• What is the reservation system and why didn't it create equal opportunity for Native Americans?
• What support was provided by the government for assimilation?
• What reforms would you create or support to increase Native American Progress and why?
• How does the culture of Native Americans contribute to American society?
• How does the culture of Native Americans contribute to retarding their progress?

Here is a new model for a mini-research report that streamlines creating a written report.