[LM_NET] November/Teaching about American Indians

[Debbie Reese <debreese@UIUC.EDU>]

[Please forward to teachers, parents, and librarians.]

American Indian "Pourquoi" tales
http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/

A few days ago, the White House proclaimed November to be National American 
Indian Heritage Month. This happens every year. Across the country, 
teachers begin their lessons on American Indians, and their professional 
organizations and associations help them by suggesting activities they can do.

For example, the ReadWriteThink website (maintained by the International 
Reading Association and the National Council for Teachers of English) has a 
page (to get to it, go to their 
<http://www.readwritethink.org/calendar/index.asp>calendar and click on 
November 2nd) .

Here's the activity at the top of the page:

"Engage your students in an exploration of Native American heritage through 
a study of Native American pourquoi tales. Pourquoi tales explain why 
something or someone, usually in nature, is the way it is. Have your 
students read a variety of Native American pourquoi tales and then write 
original texts."

The activity is very popular, most adults did this activity when they were 
kids. It seems harmless and fun, but is it?

Is it harmless to take a peoples way of thinking about the world and use it 
as a playful model for a writing activity?

Would you do this with Genesis?

There is a double standard at work, subtly undermining the integrity of 
indigenous peoples whose stories are trivialized in this way. Engaging in 
these seemingly harmless activities has ramifications for the way children 
learn to think about American Indians and others whose stories are used 
like this.

Let's stop doing it.

Or, let's do it to Genesis, too. Teach children that all religions deserve 
the same treatment.

Debbie A. Reese (Nambé Pueblo)
Assistant Professor, American Indian Studies
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Native American House, Room 2005
1204 West Nevada Street, MC-144
Urbana, Illinois 61801

Email: debreese@uiuc.edu
Internet Resource & Blog: 
http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/
Native American House: http://www.nah.uiuc.edu

TEL 217-265-9885
FAX 217-265-9880


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