What should we understand about Indigenous peoples and Tribal Nations living today?
state that Indigenous peoples and Tribal Nations are present-day communities; explain that Tribal Nations are distinct nations with governments; use a Nation’s specific name instead of treating all Indigenous peoples as one group
Listen to three Nation names: Cherokee Nation, Pueblo of Acoma, and Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. Practice saying that these are three distinct Nations, not one group with one culture
Indigenous peoples are connected to the first peoples of lands and to communities that continue today. In the United States, people may identify with terms such as American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or a specific Nation or community name. People and Nations choose the names that are accurate for them. Indigenous people are children, elders, artists, teachers, scientists, health workers, farmers, language keepers, business owners, leaders, and much more. They live in cities, rural areas, reservations, villages, and many other places. Indigenous life belongs in the present tense as well as the past
A Tribal Nation is more than a cultural group. It is a political community with citizens and a government. Sovereignty means the Nation has authority to govern itself. Tribal governments may make laws, operate programs, care for lands and waters, support languages, and provide services. The exact structure differs by Nation. Colonization, forced removal, broken agreements, and policies that tried to erase Indigenous languages and cultures caused lasting harm. Indigenous Nations and people also maintained families, knowledge, government, creativity, resistance, and community. At Kindergarten level, the central truth is clear: Indigenous peoples did not disappear, and Tribal Nations continue
When the information is known, use the specific Nation or community name. Distinct Nations have different histories, languages, governments, and cultural practices
Choose a current webpage, children’s book, photograph, or video produced or recommended by the specific Nation. Say the source and date rather than presenting a generic ‘Native American’ image
Historical lessons often use past-tense images, which can create a false idea of disappearance. Pair history with contemporary people, governments, and community life
Revise the sentence ‘Indigenous people lived here long ago’ so it tells a fuller truth. Include both continuing presence and a specific Nation or community when that information is known
Indigenous peoples and Tribal Nations are diverse, contemporary communities. Tribal Nations are distinct political nations with governments and sovereignty, and each should be named and studied through accurate Nation-specific sources
Work through all 8 questions. Open an answer only after you have written or explained your response.
Indigenous peoples live in many communities today
A distinct Indigenous political community with a government
Authority to govern
A specific name recognizes that Nations are distinct and avoids treating many peoples, histories, and governments as one culture
Accept a respectful contemporary scene. Present-day details correct the false idea that Indigenous people and Nations exist only in the past
Yes
A current source created or recommended by that Nation
Continue today