|
05-09-07 | Aschermann Email
|
American Indians |
Columbus:
Saint or Sinner
The Study of Native Americans in Schools
Is this cartoon humorous? If so--- why?
Introduction.
What do you know about Native Americans or people commonly known in our society as "Indians?" What did you learn in school about the peoples who inhabited the territory known as the Western Hemisphere? What do you know about Native Peoples who still live in North America?
If you have relied upon what you've learned in school, then most likely you have both incorrect information about First Americans and your attitudes about Indians are very negative.
So--- think for a moment.... write on a piece of paper the first ideas or mental images that you have of First Americans............
Are the following on your list---
- Smoke signals
- War drums
- Funny Indian Names
- Scantily dressed maidens
- Dancing in a circle
- Tomahawks
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Feather bonnets
- Buckskins
- Warpaint
- Teepees
- Colored macaroni necklaces
- Cleveland Indians
- Central Indians [St. Joseph]
If the above are on your list, you are not an unusual person. Most Anglo peoples in North America will have the same things listed. Why don't we have athletic mascots like the three new ones below?
click to open the picture
What about your attitudes about Native Peoples? Do you subscribe to the normal view that is represented by the following image? [What is the 'message' of this image?... what do you "see" in this picture?] .... what do you see on the bottom left corner? Indian Stereotypes
click to open the picture
from BlueCorn Comics
Do you agree with the following statement---
It is universally admitted that the earth was designed for improvement and tillage, and the right of civilized communities to enter upon and appropriate to such purposes, any lands that may be occasionally occupied or claimed as hunting grounds by uncultivated savages, is sanctioned by the laws of nature and of nations.
Noah Noble, Governor of Alabama, 1832
I wonder of Governor Noble has heard of the "Trail of Tears"
What do you think? Do you agree with the above?
As with other non-Anglo or non WASP peoples, do you hear and laugh at jokes that poke fun at Native Americans?
INJUN TROUBLE
Back in the old Wild West, there were two blond cowpokes, Jeff and Dave. One day, the two were enjoying a strong sarsaparilla in the local saloon, when a man walked into the bar with an Indian's head under his arm.
The barman shakes his hand and says, "I hate Indians; last week the bastards burnt my barn to the ground, assaulted my wife and killed my children." He then says, "If any man brings me the head of an Indian, I'll give him one thousand dollars."
The two blonds looked at each other and walked out of the bar to go hunting for an Indian. They were walking around for a while when suddenly they saw one; Jeff threw a rock which hit the Indian right on the head.
The Indian fell off his horse, but landed seventy feet down a ravine. The two nuts made their way down the ravine where Dave pulled out a knife to claim their trophy.
Suddenly, Jeff said, "Dave, take a look at this." Dave replied, "Not now, I'm busy."
Jeff tugged him on the shoulder and says, "I really think you should look at this."
Dave said, "Look, you can see I'm busy. There's a thousand dollars in my hand."
But Jeff was adamant. "Please, Dave, take a look at this."
So Dave looked up and saw that standing at the top of the ravine were five thousand red Indians.
Dave just shook his head and said, "Oh . . . my . . . God . . . we're going to be millionaires!
What does this "joke" tell us about Native Americans and other Americans?
What do you know about Sacajawea
As President John Kennedy once said
|
RATIONALE:
So, by now.... what do you think? If you are thinking that you need some new information about Native Americans or Indians, you are doing a good job. The reason that so many children and adults have so many misconceptions about Indians is that we are all a victim of both the media and the lack of information that teachers generally have. Your knowledge at this point about Indians probably is not much beyond the following:
The good Indians of Massachusetts saved the Pilgrims and then the Pilgrims had all of the Indians over for lunch one day. There is some fact but a lot of fiction with this story.
All Indians live in a teepee.
All Indians sit in a circle "Indian style"
All female Indians are squaws
All Indians eat buffalo meat.
All Indians wore a macaroni necklace.
All Indians died off in the 1800's because the only good Indian was a dead Indian.
The purpose of this learning module will be to extend the information that you currently have, to correct some of the misinformation that you have and for you to become more sensitive to Native Americans.
This module will be used as an example of how to teach about one cultural group. In most cases the model and information that you will be presented with could easily be adapted to any other diverse group in American society.
Take note, however--- it is easy to become trapped or "feel good" because you had an Indian unit, an African-American unit, an Asian unit or a Hispanic unit. History should be taught so that it includes a broad perspective and not merely have "a unit" and then never talk about the people again during other units. All of the people should be merged with the full and true story of the American culture and nation.
Forty years later we want to correct the statement that President Kennedy made in 1963.
Resources:
Teaching About Native Americans. NCSS Bulletin No 84
Video: Code Talkers
Video: American History Lost, Stolen
Video: Corn
Annie and the Old One
"Indian Awareness Inventory"
Major Concepts:
concept
generalization
spiral curriculum
environment
natural resources
habitat
conflict
Native American dispersion and varying life styles because of environment
decision tree
culture, diversity, ethnocentrism
change
adaptation
Native Values vs. Anglo Values
Additional Teaching Materials & Native American WebSites:
Teaching Young Children About Native Americans Young children's conceptions of Native Americans often develop out of media portrayals and classroom role playing of the events of the First Thanksgiving. Includes specific teaching strategies.
- Native Americans: Iowa Tribe
Read about the Iowa (a.k.a. Ioway) tribe that lived in the Midwest. Topics include their clothing, food, hairstyles, tattoos, and more.- Native American- Overview from Asia to Western Hemisphere
- Native Americans: Mound Builders
These sites are about ancient mounds built by a group of Native Americans
referred to as Mound Builders. The tribes include the Mississippi, Hopewell,
and Adena. View photographs of these mounds and find out how and why they
were built- First Thanksgiving As part of Scholastic's Learning Adventure, "The First Thanksgiving," we traveled back to 1621, the year of the first Thanksgiving feast celebrated by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians. Following is the conversation with Russell Peters, a Mashpee Wampanoag who lives in Brookline, Massachusetts. During the project, Mr. Peters answered questions as a Wampanoag Indian in 1621, using his Indian name, "Fast Turtle."
- Native Americans - Searching for Knowledge and Understanding Lesson Plans
- Indian Cultures
- Native Americans - Searching for Knowledge and Understanding Unit plan for Native American unit.
- DINE - Navajo Language Listen to the Dine language
Reservation Boarding School System in the United States, 1870 -1928. In what ways do you agree with or disagree with the policy and program of the reservation boarding schools?
Native Peoples of North America... Cultures of North America overview of each group
First Person Accounts as written by American Indian Students at Hampton Institute, 1878-1923 Scroll down to the First Person Accounts. Read several stories. What is your impression? What are your thoughts as you read? after you are finished?
Vietnam Veterans' War Story!: American Warriors, Native American Indians KIA Vietnam Since Word War I, American Indian have served in the United States Armed forces. During the Vietnam War, close to 90% of the 86,000 Indians who enlisted volunteered, giving Native Americans the highest record of service per capita of any ethnic group. Over half served in combat
http://www.bible.ovc.edu/missions/indians/indpopmap.jpg
1860 I. T. Census Oklahoma 1860-1890. Native peoples.
Information on American Indians Bibliography of many pages relating to Native Peoples. Quite extensive
American Indian Population by Reservations and Statistical Areas (2000 Census)
American Indian Statistics by Social and Economic Factors (2000 Census)
Click to see the picture.
From the picture to the left to the picture below.
Why?
Click to open the picture
