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November 4, 2024
Explore the depth, resilience, and vibrant present-day contributions of American Indian communities in Lisa O’Nan’s thought-provoking blog, which challenges oversimplified narratives and encourages meaningful celebration and understanding.
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“What?”
“What kind of Indian? Feather or Dot?”
Growing up in Oklahoma, I encountered this question more than once. Each time, my response was the same: squinted eyes, furrowed brows, and a slight tilt of the head, my disbelief and confusion hanging like a fog.
In those moments, I often thought, “Where do I even begin? Am I personally offended? Should I be doubly offended?” I am Choctaw, Cherokee, Muscogee, and a tribal citizen of the Muscogee Nation. My brother-in-law’s family is from India, and my beautiful niece was adopted from an orphanage there.
To reduce all of India to a dot, to simplify all of Native America to a feather—this is what struck me. Such simplifications strip away complexities, reduce sacredness, and box differences into quaint little containers labeled: The Past; Once Upon a Time; or Far, Far Away.
Our bloodlines, our spirits, our 574 federally recognized tribes, and our vastly different cultures, ceremonies, governments, voices, languages, visual arts, and poetry are alive and vibrant today.
As we approach November, National Native American Heritage Month, let’s not reach for that dusty box on a shelf. Native America is here. Native America is now. Our bloodlines, our spirits, our 574 federally recognized tribes, and our vastly different cultures, ceremonies, governments, voices, languages, visual arts, and poetry are alive and vibrant today.
So yes, in November, please acknowledge, recognize and celebrate American Indians’ past, present and future. Seek out reliable resources that are accurate, authentic and created by Native Americans. Integrate Native American history into American history. We cannot ignore how European colonialism forcefully and drastically altered the lives of Native Americans, nor can we overlook the years of broken treaties that exacerbated the theft of lands and led to genocide.
As Thanksgiving approaches, let’s not simplify “The First Thanksgiving” into a one-dimensional construction-paper feather. That simplified version is a myth meant to ease the hearts and minds of English colonizers. Instead, tell the story of the Wampanoag tribe and its interactions with the English settlers. Avoid the simplistic labels of “pilgrims” and “Indians.” It’s crucial for students to understand the Wampanoag's long and complex history with the English; and while there was indeed food and celebration of harvest, it was not merely a singular meal.
To celebrate the contributions of American Indians today, focus on contemporary heroes. Look to the politicians, writers, artists and engineers who are living, breathing and creating right now.
To celebrate the contributions of American Indians today, focus on contemporary heroes. Look to the politicians, writers, artists and engineers who are living, breathing and creating right now. Read a poem by Joy Harjo, a prolific writer, citizen of the Muscogee Nation, and the first Native American poet laureate of the United States. Explore the powerful and monumental sculptures by Raven Halfmoon, a Caddo artist. Invite guest speakers from local tribal communities to share their knowledge and experiences.
Though it may be easier to simplify, to reduce, to brush over, and to stick to what is comfortable, we must acknowledge that as a human race, we contain multitudes.
We can never be just one dot.
We can never be just one feather.
Share My Lesson is your go-to resource for indigenous peoples and Native American lesson plans with this free PreK-12 collection of resources.
This collection of preK-12 teaching resources is designed to help students understand the Thanksgiving holiday and use it as a reflective educational experience that honors the full breadth of its history. In recognizing the importance of this time of year, we are committed to shedding light on the stories that are often untold—particularly those of Native American cultures, whose land and lives form an integral part of the Thanksgiving narrative.
December 12, 2024
