Indigenous Peoples' Day Curriculum Teach-In
Saturday, September 7
9:30AM-2:00PM
National Museum of the American Indian
4th and Independence Avenue SW
Washington, D.C.
Join the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) and D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice (a project of Teaching for Change) for talks and workshops on teaching about Indigenous Peoples’ histories and experiences today.

The speakers and workshops will feature classroom resources for K–12 from Native Knowledge 360°, NMAI’s initiative to transform teaching and learning about American Indians, as well as resources from the Zinn Education Project, including the campaign to abolish Columbus Day.
The keynote speaker is Dr. Debbie Reese, an educator and founder of American Indians in Children’s Literature (AICL). She is a tribally enrolled at Nambe Owingeh, a federally recognized tribe, and grew up on Nambe’s reservation. She holds a PhD in curriculum and instruction from the University of Illinois. Reese is coauthor of An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People.
Workshops will include:

  • Essential Understandings for Learning and Teaching about American Indians: Beyond Cowboys vs. Indians
  • Building Critical Literacy in Your Classroom: American Indians in Children's Literature
  • The Great Inka Road: Engineering an Empire, an NK360° Digital Lesson
  • The People vs. Columbus, et al.
  • Teaching about Indigenous Women in an Elementary Classroom
  • Caretakers of the Earth: Continuing the Legacy in Elementary Classrooms
  • ‘Don’t Take Our Voices Away’: A Role Play on the Indigenous Peoples’ Global Summit on Climate Change

A registr ation fee of $25 includes coffee, lunch, a copy of An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People , and other classroom resources. Registered participants will receive a follow-up email to select preferred workshops and meal type.

Teaching for Change and NMAI will also host a teach-in in New York City on September 28 .
Resources to Abolish Columbus Day
When the school curriculum celebrates Columbus, children are taught that it’s OK for white people to rule over peoples of color and that militarily powerful nations can bully weaker nations. By his own account, Columbus enslaved people, destroyed cultures, and terrorized those who challenged his rule. It’s time to abolish Columbus Day.
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Resources for Teaching about Indigenous Peoples
More D.C. Area Events
Let’s Talk! Talking about Race at Home 
Saturday, August 17 from 9:30AM-2:00PM
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Teaching for Change is honored to co-facilitate an event for parents of young children (ages 0-6) at the National Museum of African American History & Culture (1400 Constitution Avenue NW) with Dr. Beverly Tatum. This special workshop will be an opportunity for parents and families to learn more about racial identity development in young children, and to think critically about how you can engage with your child(ren) in age-appropriate ways to discuss tough questions about race at home. Note that space is limited.