Teaching Materials for Native American History  Tags: native_americans alaska_natives lane_community_college_library teaching history anthropology literature ethnology  

What started at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S., has resulted in a whole month being designated for that purpose.

Early Proponents

One of the very 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 meeting in Lawrence, Kans., 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.

The year before this proclamation was issued, Red Fox James, a Blackfoot Indian, rode horseback from state to state seeking approval for a day to honor Indians. On December 14, 1915, he presented the endorsements of 24 state governments at the White House. There is no record, however, of such a national day being proclaimed.

State Celebrations

The first American Indian Day in a state was declared on the second Saturday in May 1916 by the governor of N.Y. Several states celebrate the fourth Friday in September. In Illinois, for example, legislators enacted such a day in 1919. Presently, several states have designated Columbus Day as Native American Day, but it continues to be a day we observe without any recognition as a national legal holiday.

Heritage Months

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

• "America's History in the Making" looks at Pre-Columbian America and early contacts between Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans. On the series Web site, click on Interactives for relevant activities.


• Learn about the Mississippians and other civilizations of the Americas with "Bridging World History", discover civilizations of the Americas within the broader framework of human history. Click on Archive to find relevant images.


• The first program of "A Biography of America" looks at the development of civilizations from ancient times through the conquests of Columbus.


• In "Rural Communities: Legacy & Change", learn about the losses experienced by Indian communities - as recounted in Program 4, "Legacy" - as well as the successes - as described in Program 5, "Act Locally...and Invest."


• "Human Geography: People, Places, and Change" Program 5, "Alaska: The Last Frontier?" traces the history of settlement in Alaska and exploitation of the region's natural resources, and the struggle of the people of Kenai Peninsula to reclaim their history and preserve their language and culture.


• "American Passages: A Literary Survey", features the work of Simon Ortiz, Leslie Marmon Silko, and Luci Tapahonso. Explore the series Web site to find information on Chippewa Songs, Ghost Dance Songs, and several authors, plus images in the archive.


• Watch "Artifacts & Fiction: Workshop in American Literature" Workshop 8, "Ceremonial Artifacts," for a demonstration of how the study of relevant cultural artifacts like Native American Pomo baskets can enhance students' understanding of literature.


• Learn from the writings and perspective of Shirley Sterling, author of "My Name Is Seepeetza," and other authors featured in "Teaching Multicultural Literature: A Workshop for the Middle Grades"


• On the Web site for "The Expanding Canon: Teaching Multicultural Literature in High School," discover the work of Native authors such as James Welch. Click on Workshop Home for a list of all featured authors.


• See an interview with author N. Scott Momaday about his award-winning book "House Made of Dawn" in Program 9 of "Literary Visions".

Discover Native America

• The mission of DiscoverNativeAmerica.com is to give the world one convenient site to learn about the history and culture of the American Indian tribes of the United States;
• to share this information with native peoples and others throughout the world;
• to provide a source for all young native people to learn about each other;
• to educate the general public regarding American Indian history and culture;
• to encourage communication among Indian tribes;
• to inform tourists and travelers of the tribes that offer cultural events and activities to the outside world;
• and to welcome visitors to these American Indian reservations.
• Discover Native America is a technological tool designed to allow American Indian Tribes to self-promote and participate on a collective basis.