Indigenous People: Engaging in Awareness and Experiences

In the past, FHWP has informally collaborated with the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserves NPS through NWP Write Out events and writing workshops with an Artist in Residency program.  This year, we will launch a more established partnership through this mini-grant opportunity. FHWP will follow our model successfully established with the  partnership with Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site. During the 2021-2022 grant cycle, FHWP will engage in awareness experiences concerning indigenous people and specifically those of the tallgrass area. This work will also be grounded in the understanding of Critical Race Theory and Cultural Racism. The proposed plan promotes the idea of further expanding the walls of the classroom and boundaries of the parks by inviting National Writing Project Teacher Leaders to engage in place-based learning.

 

Teacher leaders will engage in place-based learning and writing activities in the area of understanding indigenous people, their erasure, and histories in the state of Kansas. Place-based learning and writing will occur at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserves NPS, Kaw Mission, and Mid-America All-Indian Center, and utilizing resources from Haskell Indian Nations University.  Additionally, teacher leaders will select from three optional two or three-day writing marathons for place-based learning and writing. There are nearly 30 state and national historic Native American sites across Kansas as pre-Kansas was the homeland to Arapaho, Cheyenne, Comanche, Kansas, Kiowa, Osage, Pawnee, and Wichita tribes. These place-based experiences will support state initiatives and resources. This project supports NWP Educator Innovator partners such as Facing History and Ourselves. These sites and resources will be used to heighten teacher awareness of the erasure of indigenous people in our current curriculum and consideration of opportunities to share the lived experiences of our indigenous people. In addition to these place-based writing experiences, teacher leaders will engage in shared readings and self-selected materials. On-going conversation will allow for awareness to be explored. Participants will read the following texts: Walking with Grandfather: The Wisdom of Lakota Elders  by Joseph Marshall III, Mankiller: A Chief and Her People by Wilma Mankiller & Michael Wallis; and, Spirits of the Earth: A Guide to Native American Nature Symbols, Stories, and Ceremonies by Bobby Lake-Thom. Beyond these three whole group texts, teacher leaders will be provided a bibliography of adult nonfiction literature, picture books,  and middle grade/young adult literature. They will select one adult nonfiction of their choice and one picture book/middle grade/young adult. Toward the end of the winter session, FHWP will host an Open Seminar. Teacher leaders will facilitate roundtable discussions using their resources, writing, and place-based experiences to guide the discussion. A keynote speaker will be part of the Open Seminar. Weather permitting, this will take place at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserves NPS.

Spring 2021 (April-May)

·       Publicize and open registration

·       Finalize participants

·       Purchase the three required text for each participant

·       Provide an overview of the project

·       Schedule meeting dates 

Summer 2021 (June-August)

·       Read and engage in conversation around first required text

·       Engage in place-based writing events

·       Participants will select two additional materials from a provided list

Fall 2021 (September-December)

·       Read and engage in conversation around second required text

·       Engage in place-based writing event

Winter 2022 (January-March)

·       Read and engage in conversation around third required text

·       Engage in place-based writing event

·       Open Seminar/roundtable discussions

·       Budget and grant reporting

 

FHWP Co-Site Director will lead the collaboration and planning by setting up place-based learning

and writing experiences with the entities outside of Tallgrass Prairie National Preserves NPS. The Rangers at Tallgrass Prairie National Preserves NPS will lead place-based learning at their site. Ten FHWP teacher leaders will participate in this project. During the winter session’s Open Seminar, there will be the opportunity to impact many teachers across the state. 

 

The purpose of this project is to build awareness through place-based learning, writing, and reading. This learning, awareness, and growth will be shared during the Open Seminar. Following the 2021-2022 grant cycle, the next step would be to engage in an actionable project similar to the curriculum development being implemented with Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site during the 2021-2022 grant cycle.