Courtesy of the Brown Quarterly

Vol. 4, No. 3 (Fall2001)

Native American Issue

Title:

Changing Lifestyles

Developed by:

Stella Calles

Overview

The Native Americans have demonstrated the desire to protect their identity, languages, culture, customs, and heritage in the United States. In the late 1800’s the United States government decided to support an educational experiment that specifically targeted the Native Americans. They hoped this experiment would change the ways the Native Americans lived. Special boarding schools were created in locations all over the United States with the purpose of “civilizing” American Indian youth. You will be able to read materials that document the stories of REAL Native Americans who were boarded at these schools to learn the “WHITE “culture. The pictures of the students who were sent to the boarding schools will be a resource for you to place yourself in their shoes for a moment.

Despite the acculturation of the American Indians in the boarding schools, lifelong friendships were developed and their identity was preserved.

BEFORE PICTURE AFTER PICTURE

Courtesy of Old Fort Lewis College

Arizona State Standards

Introduction

As you are gathering information, place yourself in these children’s time period.

Imagine that you are about seven years old. You have just been told by your parents that you will be sent away to another place to be schooled by a group of people who do not speak your native language. The location where you will be sent, your parents cannot visit you. You will have no communication with anyone from your family. Think of how you will be able to survive the transition from one place to another without your family.

Quest(ions) and the Task

Task: In groups of four, you will be instructed to gather information on the Native American Children who were sent to boarding schools in the United States. This research project will consist of a nine week unit. You will need to decide among your groups which topic you would like to work on. Here are the topics to choose from.

*Why were the Native American children targeted to be “civilized”?

*Who thought about having boarding schools? What part of the U.S. were these schools in?

*How long were these children expected to live there?

*How did their families feel about this idea?

*What happened to these children?

Questions to think about as you are reading and researching.

How will you survive in a foreign place?

What is the purpose for this trip to an unknown place?

Who else will be going with you?

Why is this happening to you?

What can you do to stop it?

Do you think this was an appropriate idea? Why or why not?

Do you think it should have happened?

Student Roles/Titles.

Person 1 : Journalist

Your job is to separate the materials that will be used for the research project.

Person 2: Computer Wiz

As a researcher, your job will be to go to the web sites and find other information that will lead to your research.

Person 3: Go For It Materials leader

As a materials gatherer, you will need to find the paper, pencils, markers, construction paper, and any other materials to help your group.

Person 4:  Refine/ Define leader

As a researcher, you will need to review the information your group has found and proceed to separate the information into an outline. This will allow the others in your group to choose the area they want to specialize in.

Process:

You will be able to work as a group and be able to read and research about why Native American children had to be exposed to this treatment by the government of the United States. You are to find the facts. With those facts then you will begin to format your own concerns and thoughts according to the questions that are outlined for you.

Directions:

Everyone in your group will have their own packet with the questions you will be responding to.

Make sure everyone has multiple copies of any materials you find.

Remember to highlight information that you think is important for others to know.

In class you will be able to get in your groups to discuss your findings.

Step 1. You will decide as a group what job you would like to have.

Step 2. As a group decide what is the presentation you would like to agree on to present to the class.

Step 3. Remember to value others comments and opinions.

Presentation Options:

· Power Point Presentation

· Flow chart

· Oral Presentation with graphic visuals

· Recording with graphic visuals

· Timeline

Example of a Timeline

Resources

· http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_f/erdrich/boarding/keyissues.htm

· http://brownvboard.org/brwnqurt/04-3/04-3a.htm

· http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_f/erdrich/boarding/index.htm

Evaluation/Grading Criteria

The following rubric will be used to evaluate your finished product. Please refer to it to do your best writing.

Rubric

Conclusion:

As you reflect on your findings concerning the “civilization” of the Native American children and what they had to go through during this time in America answer the following question,

Could this happen again in America?