Our class has worked very hard creating headbands and beads for necklaces. We added "tatoos" before going to lunch. Other classes dressed as Pilgrims and Native Americans as well to reinact the first Thanksgiving.
Breaks my heart to see kids taught that dressing up as my people is okay. You would not lets these kids black face for MLK day would you? Think before you teach, these kids have bright futures but telling them to do this and letting them think its okay is not cool. - A native teen that wont be shamed! Break the cycle.
I agree with the above post. Native American "regalia" are not costumes. They are ceremonial clothing, just as a priest or rabbi wears in the church or synagogue. Please allow these beautiful children to learn the real meaning of Thanksgiving and Columbus Day. The history of Native America is one full with pain, suffering, trauma and death from which many of us are still recovering.
This is not meant to be disrespectful to what you are trying to teach, however, the real Thanksgiving, for Native America, are called our "Days of Mourning." http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/article/the-wampanoag-side-of-the-first-thanksgiving-story-64076
I was directed to this post by some dear friends. I would kindly ask as a mother as well as an ally to indigenous culture to look into reconfiguring your curriculum. A different approach to teaching the first thanksgiving is needed. Instead of dressing the children as "indians" perhaps teach them a little of the indigenous culture during that time and place. Dressing children in such a way is rather insensitive. I often think in terms of empathy. What if my son had these sorts of projects in his class? What if some of his classmates were indigenous? Would he or I feel comfortable with construction paper headbands with fake feathers being worn? The answer is no. Native culture is so very rich and beautiful. Let the children learn that rather than allowing the perpetration of stereotyping. Thanks Kat
The world has changed and perhaps you may consider revisiting history. Europeans invaded a country belonging to others and decided they wanted it... From the history I have uncovered, close to 100 million people were killed on the American continent (north and south) by would be, pilgrims...
Love, compassion, tolerance and acceptance of our human nature can bring us together as children of God...
With all due respect, we can learn both sides of the equation and the true history of Native Americans. When we do not know something, we fill in the blanks. After that we perpetuate the story. I see an inherent desire to teach about Natives. The main thing you guys can do is teach whats beyond the history books. Writing a curriculum is difficult work. I also suggest writing to your local university's American Indian Studies dept or UNM (New Mexico), ASU, NAU and Uof A (All Arizona), including Tribal colleges such as Dine College (http://www.dinecollege.edu/) their professors are Native and can give you amazing insight and direction. Good luck and God bless.
I wonder if the pilgrims were handing out blankets full of small pox aswell? and alcohol lets not forget the number one fatality choice out there first introduced by the white man.....
Better to perhaps introduce them to our (my) culture by letting them learn from the many sources of information available to them. Our culture's curiosity and goodwill led to the European culture getting into this country in the first place, not the myth that Native Americans were perched behind trees with bow and arrow or guns. The real violence that was perpetrated against our people is hidden by these strange violent stereotypes of us as scalping bow and arrow shooting blood thirsty savages. We are instead an intelligent, thoughtful culture that have much to teach young people!
you need to stop this way . . . this is not instruction . . . you have no idea what you are doing if your intent is to instruct the children as to how natives, or even colonists, were back then . . . encouraging the childen to dress up like this is a parody and is very disrespectful to real native people . . . either leave it alone or get a real native to do the lesson . . . this is not your lesson to teach . . .
Breaks my heart to see kids taught that dressing up as my people is okay. You would not lets these kids black face for MLK day would you? Think before you teach, these kids have bright futures but telling them to do this and letting them think its okay is not cool. - A native teen that wont be shamed! Break the cycle.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the above post. Native American "regalia" are not costumes. They are ceremonial clothing, just as a priest or rabbi wears in the church or synagogue. Please allow these beautiful children to learn the real meaning of Thanksgiving and Columbus Day. The history of Native America is one full with pain, suffering, trauma and death from which many of us are still recovering.
ReplyDeleteThis is not meant to be disrespectful to what you are trying to teach, however, the real Thanksgiving, for Native America, are called our "Days of Mourning." http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/article/the-wampanoag-side-of-the-first-thanksgiving-story-64076
Be blessed always!
Sandy
I was directed to this post by some dear friends. I would kindly ask as a mother as well as an ally to indigenous culture to look into reconfiguring your curriculum. A different approach to teaching the first thanksgiving is needed. Instead of dressing the children as "indians" perhaps teach them a little of the indigenous culture during that time and place. Dressing children in such a way is rather insensitive. I often think in terms of empathy. What if my son had these sorts of projects in his class? What if some of his classmates were indigenous? Would he or I feel comfortable with construction paper headbands with fake feathers being worn? The answer is no. Native culture is so very rich and beautiful. Let the children learn that rather than allowing the perpetration of stereotyping.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kat
The world has changed and perhaps you may consider revisiting history. Europeans invaded a country belonging to others and decided they wanted it... From the history I have uncovered, close to 100 million people were killed on the American continent (north and south) by would be, pilgrims...
ReplyDeleteLove, compassion, tolerance and acceptance of our human nature can bring us together as children of God...
Peace & Love, Juan Robinson (from Colombia)
With all due respect, we can learn both sides of the equation and the true history of Native Americans. When we do not know something, we fill in the blanks. After that we perpetuate the story. I see an inherent desire to teach about Natives. The main thing you guys can do is teach whats beyond the history books. Writing a curriculum is difficult work. I also suggest writing to your local university's American Indian Studies dept or UNM (New Mexico), ASU, NAU and Uof A (All Arizona), including Tribal colleges such as Dine College (http://www.dinecollege.edu/) their professors are Native and can give you amazing insight and direction. Good luck and God bless.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the pilgrims were handing out blankets full of small pox aswell?
ReplyDeleteand alcohol lets not forget the number one fatality choice out there first introduced by the white man.....
Better to perhaps introduce them to our (my) culture by letting them learn from the many sources of information available to them. Our culture's curiosity and goodwill led to the European culture getting into this country in the first place, not the myth that Native Americans were perched behind trees with bow and arrow or guns. The real violence that was perpetrated against our people is hidden by these strange violent stereotypes of us as scalping bow and arrow shooting blood thirsty savages. We are instead an intelligent, thoughtful culture that have much to teach young people!
ReplyDeleteyou need to stop this way . . . this is not instruction . . . you have no idea what you are doing if your intent is to instruct the children as to how natives, or even colonists, were back then . . . encouraging the childen to dress up like this is a parody and is very disrespectful to real native people . . . either leave it alone or get a real native to do the lesson . . . this is not your lesson to teach . . .
ReplyDelete