It’s hard to
beat 30,000 years ago; that is the latest calculation as to when humans arrived
in the Western Hemisphere. Indigenous People’s Day, celebrated in the United States
on October 11, honors the rich heritage and contributions of Native Americans. By
doing the following activities, you too can appreciate these varied peoples throughout
the year.
CONNECT:
- Learn the history of Indigenous People’s Day by watching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nET5LBB_wLE.
- Discover 10 Native American inventions commonly used today at https://www.history.com/news/native-american-inventions
- Explore Alaska Native history and culture by watching “Grandpa's Drum” from “Molly of Denali”: https://ca.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/mod19-soc-grandpasdrum/grandpas-drum-molly-of-denali/ . “Molly of Denali” was created by Alaska Native writers and advisers. It’s also one of the first children’s television programs to have a Native American lead.
- Watch pow wows at https://youtu.be/jQ-9QCDp9Ho. You can find more details at https://www.powwows.com/what-is-a-pow-wow/
CREATE:
- Try some of the ways that kids can observe Indigenous People’s Day: https://www.rebekahgienapp.com/indigenous-peoples-day/
- Sing a Native American lullaby at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB9W5PntH3s
- Hungry to know about native life and food? Chew on this information: https://www.historyforkids.net/native-american-food.html You may already have tried some of their native food!
CARE
- Enjoy with your family the video read aloud We Are Water Protectors read by the author, Carole Lindstrom: https://youtu.be/2YHaRmj9wLU What are ways that you can help water become clean again?
- A lovely, earth-conscious way to honor indigenous culture and to “give back” is to plant some Native American plants as a family. Some native plants to consider are milkweed plants and pawpaw trees. You can consult the U.S. Forest Service website (https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/) to learn more about native plants and how to plant and care for them.
- How are Black-Indigenous youth working to advance social justice? This Indigenous Peoples’ Day program highlights youth of blended Black and Native heritage who use art, activism, and policy to advance Black and Indigenous solidarity and affect positive change in their communities: https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/student-programs/distance-learning/#indigenous-peoples-day
CAREERS:
Indigenous
people often encounter barriers to employment. Understanding these obstacles
can lead to thinking about ways that you can become more culturally aware and
competent, which can help all people to find meaningful work: https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/8-basic-barriers-to-indigenous-employment
