Academic, Therapeutic, and Consultative Interventions

Books

An Indigenous People’s History of the United States for Young People

This book dismantles a Westernized version of history. The foundation and “discovery” of the United States is told from an Indigenous perspective. Dunbar dives into the stories of treaties, genocide, the roles of British colonizers, and ways the U.S. system perpetuates misconceptions of the country’s history. It is modified from the original text in order to reach a younger student audience. Scholars often gain a deeper understanding of the historical trauma, unyielding resilience, and colonizing educational practices through these stories.

A Teacher’s Guide to Historical and Contemporary Kumeyaay Culture

This text is filled with resources on Kumeyaay history and culture, student activities, Kumeyaay language, Kumeyaay books for students, additional resources for educators, and more. It was created with third and fourth grade teachers in mind but is rich with information that could be modified for any grade level. Scholars have found it very helpful for learning the local histories, culture, and using curriculum from this book in their interventions.

Collected Wisdom: American Indian Education

This book challenges historical oppression of Native American students in the education system by compiling the stories and collective wisdom of over 60 teachers of Native American students. It includes historical context, personal stories, ideas, and examples of real-world situations and decolonizing approaches for educators who work with Native children. Scholars have found reading these personal stories and contexts helpful when considering cultural aspects of intervention design, and in some cases have used the stories as part of their intervention work.

Decolonizing Methodologies

This book provides an in-depth analysis and history of the relationship between academic research and Indigenous communities. Linda Tuhiwai Smith discusses the impact colonization and Westernized research methods have had on Indigenous knowledge and identities. Scholars have found her words enlightening when processing ideas of historical trauma, decolonization, and Indigenous-specific issues in psychological and educational research.

Honoring Heritage Culturally Appropriate Approaches for Teaching Indigenous Students ***

This book focuses on culture-based education which is a culture-centered and culture-specific approach in all aspects of education for Indigenous youth (language, cultural content, cultural context, community, and assessment). It addresses Indigenous knowledge in culturally appropriate teachings of subjects like art, science, and greater implications of the school system.

Indigenous Community: Rekindling the Teachings of the Seventh Fire

This book discusses Indigenous values, knowledge, and ways of being in the context of education. Cajete gives insight into how colonization and Western education have impacted Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. The book includes extensive ideas and approaches for educators to incorporate Indigenous models and teachings in order to heal our communities. Scholars have found Cajete's ideas helpful when developing knowledge in this area and when working with children at practicum.

Reclaiming Youth At Risk: Our Hope For the Future

This book is a portrait of the alienation of children in the modern, Western society alongside a holistic Indigenous philosophy of child development. The authors use the context of education when offering strategies for encouragement and reclaiming our struggling youth. The book shares a “Circle of Courage” that gives students a sense of belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity. Scholars use this Native model of resilience work at the forefront of their counseling interventions.

Teaching 21 Thinking Skills for the 21st Century: The MiCOSA Model 1st Edition

This book illustrates 21 essential critical thinking skills with concepts, application, and case examples for each. Explicit instruction along with mediated learning strategies allows educators to positively impact student’s ability to access curriculum in the classroom and create connections and success outside the classroom. The skills and techniques also depend on cultural adaptations and responsiveness. This is a vital text for scholars to read in order to incorporate thinking skills and mediation into their direct interventions for Native students.

We Are Dancing For You: Native Feminisms and the Revitalization of Coming-of-Age Ceremonies

This book is a collection of personal stories about cultural revitalization and tradition from within the Hoopa Valley Tribe. It makes connections and context with the women’s coming-of-age ceremony, the Flower Dance and focuses on the women who worked to revitalize the tradition through oral story-telling, museum archives, and anthropological records. It demonstrates a story of cultural revitalization in a Native woman’s tribe promoting strong cultural resilience and combating colonizing forces of gender inequality, stereotypes, and violence. Scholars have found the text powerful and illuminating when discussing Indigenous resilience and cultural identities. It helps them conceptualize the power of revitalization of cultural practices, community identity, and building resilience through incorporating these into their counseling and academic interventions.

Videos

Navajo Math Circles

Navajo Math Circles follows Navajo students in a lively collaboration with mathematicians. Using a model called math circles, the students stay late after school and assemble over the summer at Diné College in Tsaile, Arizona, to study mathematics. The math circles approach emphasizes student-centered learning by putting children in charge of exploring mathematics to their own joy and satisfaction.

The documentary reveals the challenges in education on the Navajo Nation and looks at a new approach for improving the mathematical skills of students. The Navajo Math Circles project summons applications of math in Native culture to provide tools for increasing math literacy, and highlights the special connections between Navajo culture, natural beauty, and mathematics. The film shows how math circles help raise the hopes of parents, students, and teachers for a brighter future.