Reading and Writing Workshop
Native American History in the 21st Century — Voices, Movements, and Sovereignty
Session 1: Tribal Nations Today
Topic: How Native American nations govern themselves and the ongoing challenges they face in modern America.
Goals:
Write an analysis comparing the challenges highlighted in the 19th-century report with the current challenges facing tribal nations today. How has tribal self-governance evolved?
Session 2: Modern Political Movements
Topic: The rise of Indigenous activism, focusing on the #NoDAPL movement and broader environmental justice fights.
Goals:
Create a persuasive essay from the perspective of a Native activist at Standing Rock. Incorporate historical references from past movements like AIM.
Session 3: Native American Education and Youth
Topic: Education for Native youth today, including the role of Native-run schools and cultural revitalization.
Goals:
Write a reflective piece imagining you are a Native youth navigating both a traditional Native school and a public school system. How does each impact your sense of identity and future?
Notes:
Session 1: Tribal Nations Today
Topic: How Native American nations govern themselves and the ongoing challenges they face in modern America.
Goals:
- Understand tribal sovereignty and self-governance.
- Explore the relationship between tribal nations and federal/state governments.
- Discuss modern issues facing Native nations today (health, economy, jurisdictional challenges).
- "Tribal Nations and the United States: An Introduction" (National Congress of American Indians)
https://www.ncai.org/about-tribes - "Tribal Self-Governance and Self-Determination" (U.S. Department of the Interior)
https://www.bia.gov/service/self-determination - Public domain historical reference:
"Report on Indian Affairs" (1889) - Office of Indian Affairs (contextual for how governance has changed)
https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000052871
Write an analysis comparing the challenges highlighted in the 19th-century report with the current challenges facing tribal nations today. How has tribal self-governance evolved?
Session 2: Modern Political Movements
Topic: The rise of Indigenous activism, focusing on the #NoDAPL movement and broader environmental justice fights.
Goals:
- Examine the #NoDAPL protests at Standing Rock.
- Analyze Indigenous perspectives on environmental protection and sovereignty.
- Connect modern activism to historical resistance.
- "Standing Rock Sioux Tribe v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: A Fight for Sacred Lands" (U.S. District Court documents, public domain)
https://earthjustice.org/sites/default/files/files/DAPL-Complaint-7-27-16.pdf - "The Black Snake: Standing Rock, the Dakota Access Pipeline, and Environmental Justice" (Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review)
https://harvardcrcl.org/the-black-snake-standing-rock-the-dakota-access-pipeline-and-environmental-justice/ - Public domain historical reference:
"Voices of the American Indian Movement" – Excerpts from Congressional Records (1970s)
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-CRECB-1978-pt2/pdf/GPO-CRECB-1978-pt2-7-1.pdf
Create a persuasive essay from the perspective of a Native activist at Standing Rock. Incorporate historical references from past movements like AIM.
Session 3: Native American Education and Youth
Topic: Education for Native youth today, including the role of Native-run schools and cultural revitalization.
Goals:
- Explore the importance of culturally relevant education.
- Understand the legacy of boarding schools and the shift toward Indigenous-run institutions.
- Discuss the successes and ongoing challenges for Native youth.
- "Indian Education for All: Montana Office of Public Instruction"
https://opi.mt.gov/Educators/Indian-Education-for-All - "Bureau of Indian Education Strategic Direction 2018-2023" (public domain document)
https://www.bie.edu/sites/default/files/documents/idc2-084353.pdf - Public domain historical reference:
"Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs" (1901) – Boarding School section
https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000052871
Write a reflective piece imagining you are a Native youth navigating both a traditional Native school and a public school system. How does each impact your sense of identity and future?
Notes:
- Each session can include a discussion portion, comparing historical materials to modern-day developments.
- Optional additional texts could include poems, short stories, or essays by contemporary Native American authors (e.g., Joy Harjo, Tommy Orange), though these are not in the public domain.