Native American Heritage is #MoreThanAMonth
National Native American Heritage Month has a long and complex history. It began as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions of Native people to the establishment and growth of the U.S at the turn of the century that eventually resulted in President George W. Bush’s designation of November as “National American Indian Heritage Month” in 1990 (source). We must acknowledge that indigenous people are still present, are still fighting for their sovereignty, and that this is their land. The land we know as Chicago is the traditional lands of the Council of the Three Fires: The Odawa, Ojibwe and Potawatomi Nations.

We stand in solidarity with Chicago’s Native American community and are committed to not just celebrating them for the month of November-but also elevating their voices, complex identities and histories, and their lived experiences as part of our inclusive curriculum all year long. The Department of Social Science & Civic Engagement, outlines the importance of Social Science instruction that is culturally relevant and sustaining for all communities in the new Social Science Vision.  

We hope the resources below will help ensure that the histories and stories of Native people are centered, honored, and uplifted in social science curriculum and instruction throughout the school year.
Voices from Chicago's Native American Community
Lisa Bernal is an enrolled member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Nation. She is the Program Manager of the CPS American Indian Education Program.

What would you like Social Science teachers to know about Chicago’s Native American community?

Our students, teachers, and community members who identify as Native American live all over the city, speak a variety of languages, and have complex identities. There is no one way to identify as indigenous and therefore, we must allow and respect those who do. Finally, to celebrate and honor Native voices, heritage, and history our office encourages all educators to incorporate indigenous voices and perspectives in your inclusive curriculum all year round. 

View their resources here.
Les Begay is an enrolled member of the Dine’ Nation. He is a former Board Member for the American Indian Center of Chicago, most recently his term ended in 2020. He spent 30 years in the telecommunications sector in sales management, both domestically and internationally. He currently does sales and telecommunications consulting which includes work with Tribal Nations. He is on the Advisory Council for the Newberry Library’s McNickle Center, My Brother’s Keeper of the Obama Foundation and a newly appointed member of the Illinois Arts Council. He is also one of the founding members of the Indigenous Peoples’ Day Coalition of Illinois.

How can allies honor and celebrate Indigenous people all year round? 

Read his response here!
Reflection from a CPS Classroom
Ebinger School Fifth Grade Researchers conducted a deep dive into the cultures and traditions of the Indigenous Peoples of North America. 

Each learner was challenged with the question "How do we know about Native peoples' stories of the past and how do we keep them alive today?" prompted and supported by our Skyline framework. After collaborative research, independent tribal research projects, exposure to Native American folktales/art and schema building activities, the students were presented with historical problems. 
We now are researching the modern day conflicts our Indigenous People currently face. Having established the historical foundations for my students have inspired them to continue the unit further. I am deeply proud of their continued curiosity and work. 

--Maggie Mulhern-Burke, Ebinger Elementary School
Curricular Resources on Native American Heritage
How should we honor indigenous people, both their legacy, activism, and identities today?
To answer this Essential Question we invite you to explore and engage with our Mini-Inquiry Unit and our Indigenous Peoples' Day Guidance.
Continuous Learning Among Community
Students can authentically communicate and critique conclusions through a variety of mediums, and apply learning through informed action. 
Gather is an intimate portrait of the growing movement amongst Native Americans to reclaim their spiritual, political and cultural identities through food sovereignty, while battling the trauma of centuries of genocide.

View the film on Netflix, Amazon, Vimeo, Itunes or Kanopy see here.
Join Our Team!
Attention Educators! Are you passionate about culturally responsive social science? Do you innovate in civic learning practices like discussion of controversial issues or community-based learning? Come join our team!


Email us at ssce@cps.edu with questions.  
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