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The U.S. education system does a great disservice to Indigenous people. As a society we have effectively committed a massive act of cultural erasure, simplifying the past and present of an entire people into footnotes within the stories of “great” (and typically white) men. For a large percentage of our students, Native people exist in one or both of the following places: A) Reservations, or B) the distant past. Little do our students know that several of their living, breathing classmates belong to local tribes, but for a slew of reasons choose not to wear this fact on their sleeves. And for those students, the absence of their cultural heritage represented in school is the norm; to hear the name of their tribe mentioned, or to spend a class period highlighting a Native artist, for example, would be a unique day indeed. Cherie Dimaline's Young Adult novel, "The Marrow Thieves," is an excellent way to introduce high school students to the past, present, and future of the Indigenous experience. Telling the story of Frenchie, a teen searching for a sense of home and community in a world ravaged by climate change, Dimaline shines a light on the injustices of residential schools and assimilation and emphasizes the value of preserving cultural traditions. Alongside reading the novel, students will explore the challenging history of treaties between the U.S./Canadian government and tribal nations. They will also learn about tribes in their home state of Oregon, encouraging them to reconsider the nature of land ownership and one's connection to the soil on which they live. Only by engaging with the past can we chart a path forward, and this unit will be an accessible tool to accomplish just that.

About my class

The U.S. education system does a great disservice to Indigenous people. As a society we have effectively committed a massive act of cultural erasure, simplifying the past and present of an entire people into footnotes within the stories of “great” (and typically white) men. For a large percentage of our students, Native people exist in one or both of the following places: A) Reservations, or B) the distant past. Little do our students know that several of their living, breathing classmates belong to local tribes, but for a slew of reasons choose not to wear this fact on their sleeves. And for those students, the absence of their cultural heritage represented in school is the norm; to hear the name of their tribe mentioned, or to spend a class period highlighting a Native artist, for example, would be a unique day indeed. Cherie Dimaline's Young Adult novel, "The Marrow Thieves," is an excellent way to introduce high school students to the past, present, and future of the Indigenous experience. Telling the story of Frenchie, a teen searching for a sense of home and community in a world ravaged by climate change, Dimaline shines a light on the injustices of residential schools and assimilation and emphasizes the value of preserving cultural traditions. Alongside reading the novel, students will explore the challenging history of treaties between the U.S./Canadian government and tribal nations. They will also learn about tribes in their home state of Oregon, encouraging them to reconsider the nature of land ownership and one's connection to the soil on which they live. Only by engaging with the past can we chart a path forward, and this unit will be an accessible tool to accomplish just that.

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Past projects 1

Indigenous Literature to Chart New Paths

About my class

About my class

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Mr. VanVickle's Classroom Edit display name

Support his classroom with a gift that fosters learning.

Support Mr. VanVickle's classroom with a gift that fosters learning.

Past projects 1

Indigenous Literature to Chart New Paths

About my class

About my class

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Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.