For Teachers-->American Indians: What NOT to teach

[Thunderwolf, MSN, RN]

taken in its entirety at request of website: http://www.nativecircle.com/whatnottoteach.html

do not use alphabet cards that say: a is for apple, b is for

ball, and i is for indian. (we are not 'objects')

do not speak as though indians belong to the past (replace used to, were, did - with still, are, do).

do not talk about "them" and "us".

do not lump all american indians together.

do not expect american indians to look like hollywood movie indians.

do not let tv stereotypes go unchallenged.

do not let students get the impression that a few "brave" europeans defeated millions of "indian savages" in battle.

do not teach that american indians are just like other racial and ethnic minorities.

do not assume that american indian children are well acquainted with their heritage.

do not assume that there are no american indian children present in your classroom.

do not let students think that native ways of life have no meaning today, and are not alive and well today.

do not let children dress up like indians.

written by john two-hawks

[Medicine Eagle]

i completely agree. i was proud yesterday when i found out that there were protests against columbus day! i thought i was all alone in my yelling and waving my arms around. yelling this man should not be celebrated!!! the native americans who survived despite him and andrew jackson should! then much to my suprise and delight i fopund out that there are states that no longer celebrate this monster and i think it was michigan??? who has renamed the day native american day! bout time!!!

tbh:monkeydance:

[nurseladyhawk]

Wow, It has been a long time since I have visited.Must be having a Senior moment to get to this spot. I believe Michigan still celebrates Columbus Day. It might be South Dakota that has changed it to Native American Day. California holds theirs on another day.Unfortunately, Michigan is still tied to Custer.

[barefootlady, ADN, RN]

My daughter is a social studies teacher in an alternative school this year. She has a few Indian students, she refused to teach the concept of "Manifest Destiny" without including some input on treaties, tribal genocide, denial of responsibility to mention a few of the things covered. She got a very negative comment from the school principal about covering mandatory course content. She got a thank you from many students. She considers it a even trade.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

My son's preschool taught I is for Indian this year.

It rankled me quite frankly. I'm glad to know I wasn't being hypersensitive.

I also didn't appreciate the little 'headdress' they made for Thanksgiving. "Nice Pilgrims shared their dinner with the Indians......"

How about "The kind native Americans saved the white folks from starving to death?"

Funny how history is usually written from white Europeans' perspective...

[vetnrse]

It is South Dakota that has done away with Columbass Day quite a few years ago and celebrates instead Native American Day. Theres probably a few others out west, but this is the one I know. Also June 25 is a big day , in celebration of the last great victory of the Sioux , known as the Battle of Little Bighorn,(June 25 1876) where Custer and 7th cavalry was anihilated in their attempt to attack peaceful Indian encampments. He did not believe he was outnumbered until too late. Oh well. I guess he had it comming.