Native American History & Culture

November is American Indian Heritage (Native American) Month. Despite the existence of hundreds of different tribes of Native Americans in North America, there evolved a unique and common culture that was based on respect for the Great Spirit and 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.

Give students the opportunity to learn about historical interactions between Native Americans and European settlers, as well as contemporary cultural clashes.

Divide students into groups of four to five people. Using the CultureGrams States Edition, assign each group to survey the early history sections of several of the following states: Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Tennessee, or Utah. Have the students also pay particular attention to the "Native America" sections.

Instruct the students to look for patterns in the development of the "New World." The groups should look at sections dealing with Native American inhabitants, the interaction between Native Americans and whites, the exploration of the American frontier, etc.

As they are reading, ask the groups to compile a list of the factors that generally led to conflict between Native American inhabitants and white explorers and settlers. These could include cultural and religious differences, common threats to survival, competing interests in land and natural resources, etc.

Lead a class discussion about the relationships generally between Native Americans and white settlers in U.S. history. Ask the following essential questions for critical thinking:

• Was conflict inevitable?
• Why do people have trouble accepting others who are different?
• What could have been done to reduce the negative effects of conflict?

Assign students to write a paper describing what factors generally led to conflict between Native American inhabitants and white settlers. For discussion, ask students if they saw any application from this lesson in their lives today.

• What are some of the things that cause conflicts between students and their friends or family members?
• How has the United States tried to be a home for many different groups of people, including Native Americans and immigrants from different countries?
• How well do you think it has succeeded?

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