United States History

Columbus and Thanksgiving

Many of the resources under the Hot Topics tab on this website will be useful for teachers who address Columbus or Thanksgiving. The increasing number of cities electing to change Columbus Day to Indigenous People's Day provides an opportunity to consider Native perspectives. See this article in the Missoulian. 

Forced Assimilation Policies

Each Billings high school and middle school library has a gallery of images and documents to support teaching and learning about the Boarding School Era, available for check out. The trunk contains instructions for teachers and student writing prompts.

Another great resource is from the Montana Historical Society is Montana's Landless Indians and the Assimilation Era of Federal Indian Policy.  This resource is full of powerful primary source documents and images, as well as student work sheets and suggested approaches. 

American Indian Civil Rights Protest in the 60s and 70s

Some U.S. history textbooks briefly mention the American Indian Movement (AIM) in a study of the Civil Rights era.  Another Group, Indian of All Tribes, successfully occupied Alcatraz in an effort to raise awareness about unjust policies and conditions in Indian Country.  Below is a PDF copy of the first newsletter published by the Indians of All Tribes in January 1970, explaining their cause, goals and activities on Alcatraz.  It is fascinating, and kindly shared with permission from John Robinson (Northern Cheyenne) who was involved in the occupation for the first ten months. 

The Journey “Sxwiwis – The Journey” has been authored by curriculum designer Julie Cajune (Salish). She writes: “A singular historic event can have significantly different outcomes for individuals or groups that are culturally, socially, or economically divers or dissimilar.” 

Native Knowledge 360

 This site provides resources and lessons for teachers.  Below you will find lessons specific to teaching United States History.  

American Indian Perspectives on ThanksgivingThis teaching poster, designed for educators and students grades 4–8, examines the deeper meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday for American Indians through the themes of environment, community, encounters, and innovations. Appropriate for use at any time during the year, the poster includes information that is essential to understanding and teaching about American Indians along with compelling images and ideas for classroom activities.

We Have a Story to Tell: Native Peoples of the Chesapeake Region is intended for use with students in grades 9–12. It provides information and primary source materials related to key periods and events in the history of the Algonquian communities of the Chesapeake Bay region. It also guides students through an in-depth examination of contemporary issues that are important to these communities' survival.