Resources

This Native American Heritage Month, we celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of Native Americans. We invite you to expand your knowledge and awareness of the experiences and histories of Native Americans. From lesson plans to movie recommendations, our resource list can help get you started.

Community Organizations

1. Baltimore American Indian Center (Baltimore, MD)
   • The Baltimore American Indian Center (BAIC) is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1968 with a mission to “assist and support American Indian and Alaskan Native families moving into an urban environment and adjusting to the culture change they will experience.” The BAIC is the only resource in the greater Baltimore area where Natives can learn what it means to be American Indian and that educates non-Native people about the myriad cultures and legacies of American Indian and Alaskan Native peoples.
2. American Indian Community House (New York City, NY)
   • The mission of American Indian Community House (AICH) is to improve and promote the well-being of the American Indian Community and to increase the visibility of American Indian cultures in an urban setting in order to cultivate awareness, understanding and respect.
3. Native American House Alliance (Philadelphia, PA)
   • Native American House Alliance (NAHA) is an urban non-profit that will promote the general welfare of Native Americans in the Philadelphia area.
4. Council of Three Rivers American Indian Center Inc. (Pittsburgh, PA)
   • We promote the socio-economic development of the Native American community and others who experience the same type of economic difficulties in the Greater Pittsburgh metropolitan area.
5. Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness (MA)
   • Our mission is to preserve Native American cultural traditions; to assist Native American residents with basic needs and educational expenses; to advance public knowledge and understanding that helps dispel inaccurate information about Native Americans; and to work towards racial equality by addressing inequities across the region.
6. Wabanaki REACH (ME)
   • We support the self-determination of Wabanaki people through education, truth-telling, restorative justice, and restorative practices in Wabanaki and Maine communities. We design our structures and processes to be responsive to Wabanaki communities and beneficial to Wabanaki people.
7. National Indian Education Association

• • Offering teacher pipeline, support systems, and professional learning initiatives, the National Indian Education Association advances comprehensive, culture-based educational opportunities for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. Formed in 1969, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by Native educators who were anxious to find solutions to improve the education system for Native children.

In Person Events (2023)

• Saturday, November 18, 11 am – 7 pm (ET) – 47th annual Pow Wow (Baltimore American Indian Center)
  • Get ready for a day filled with vibrant colors, rhythmic dances, and rich cultural traditions. Experience the mesmerizing beats of traditional drums and the graceful movements of Native American dancers. Immerse yourself in the fascinating history, art, and spirituality of indigenous cultures. This in-person event promises to be a memorable celebration of Native American heritage. Tickets are $10.

• Tuesday, November 21 6:00pm – 7:00pm (ET) – Exploring Native Ancestry: Navigating the Path to Reconnection (Prince George’s County Memorial Library System)  
  • Presented by Troi Madison Newman, a Black Indigenous Enrolled Citizen of the Piscataway Conoy Tribe. This enlightening presentation delves into the importance of reconnecting with Native ancestry. We’ll explore the historical impact of colonization and assimilation on indigenous communities in our region and the transformative journey of rediscovering and preserving their rich heritage. 

 Virtual Events (2023) 

• Saturday, November 4, 12-3 pm (ET) – Native Knowledge 360° and Teaching for Change Virtual Teach-In: Indigenous Education (Museum of the American Indian and Teaching for Change)

• • Teachers will select two workshop breakout sessions that include relevant and resource-rich training experiences to support the effective use of American Indian-focused classroom lessons, and resources from Teaching for Change and the museum. Tickets are $15.

• Tuesday, November 28, 5-6 pm (ET)– Inclusion Talk Series – Decolonize and Indigenize: Combatting Structural Violence against American Indian and Alaska Native Communities featuring Dr.  (Compass Family Services)

• • Join Compass Family Services as they raise awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced historically and in the present, and how tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.

Articles

1. Changing the Narrative about Native Americans: A Guide for Allies (First Nations Development Institute)
2. Changing the Narrative about Native Americans: A Guide for Native Peoples and Organizations (First Nations Development Institute)
3. Considering Native Students: A Learning and Programming Toolkit for SEAs, LEAs, and Tribes (The National Comprehensive Center Native Education Collaborative) 
4. Deborah A. Miranda reads and discusses Indigenous Physics: The Element Colonizatium (Library of Congress)  
5. The Impact of Words and Tips for Using Appropriate Terminology: Am I Using the Right Word? (Native Knowledge 360) 
6. Indigenous Voices: Discover the beauty of Nanjemoy Creek – How the Piscataway people are still protecting this pristine Potomac place (Potomac.org)
7. Integrating Native People in Curriculum: Learning from the Past and Current Voices (New America) 
8. Living Maya Time (Smithsonian) 
9. Native Land Digital (Native Land) 
10. A Proclamation on National Native American Heritage Month, 2021 (The White House) 
11. Q&A: Native Knowledge 360° (Learning for Justice) 
12. Response to Changing Horizons: A Reflection on Native American Art, Identity, and Belonging (Zach Taylor Art)
13. Rewriting History – for the Better (Learning for Justice) 
14. Teaching and Learning about Native Americans- FAQ (Native Knowledge 360) 
15. The Thanksgiving Tale We Tell Is a Harmful Lie. As a Native American, I’ve Found a Better Way to Celebrate the Holiday (Time) 
16. The Voices of Power and the Power of Voices: Teaching with Native American Literature (The Alan Review) 
17. Why Do Native People Disappear From Textbooks After the 1890s? (Education Week) 
18. With and About: Inviting Contemporary American Indian Peoples Into the Classroom (Learning for Justice) 

Books  

1. American Indians in Children’s Literature  
2. American Indians / Indigenous Peoples / Native Nations (Social Justice Books)  
3. Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story, by Kevin Noble Maillard  and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal 
   • Told in lively and powerful verse by debut author Kevin Noble Maillard, Fry Bread is an evocative depiction of a modern Native American family, vibrantly illustrated by Pura Belpre Award winner and Caldecott Honoree Juana Martinez-Neal. 
4. House Made of Dawn, by N. Scott Momaday  
   • An American classic, House Made of Dawn is at once a tragic tale about the disabling effects of war and cultural separation, and a hopeful story of a stranger in his native land, finding his way back to all that is familiar and sacred. 
5. An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States, by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz  
   • Spanning more than four hundred years, this classic bottom-up peoples’ history radically reframes US history and explodes the silences that have haunted our national narrative. 
6. The Larger Voice: Celebrating the Work of Native Arts and Cultures Foundation Literature Fellows (Native Arts and Cultures Foundation) 
7. Native American Book Distributors-Publishers and Comics (Native Today) 
8. Native American Heritage Month (Anti-Defamation League)  
9. New Books on Native American History and Life (Facing History and Ourselves) 
10. Thunder Boy, Jr., by Sherman Alexie and illustrated by Yuyi Morales 
    • From New York Times bestselling author Sherman Alexie and Caldecott Honor-winning Yuyi Morales comes a striking and beautifully illustrated picture book celebrating the special relationship between father and son. 
11. The Round House, by Louise Erdrich 
    • Erdrich’s The Round House is a page-turning masterpiece of literary fiction–at once a powerful coming-of-age story, a mystery, and a tender, moving novel of family, history, and culture. 
12. Waterlily, by Ella Cara Deloria 
    • When Blue Bird and her grandmother leave their family’s camp to gather beans for the long, threatening winter, they inadvertently avoid the horrible fate that befalls the rest of the family. Luckily, the two women are adopted by a nearby Dakota community and are eventually integrated into their kinship circles 
13. We Are Water Protectors, by Carole Lindstrom and illustrated by Michaela Goade 
    • Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption. 
14. When We Were Alone, by David Robertson and illustrated by Julie Flett 
    • A young girl notices things about her grandmother that make her curious. Why does her grandmother have long, braided hair and beautifully colored clothing? Why does she speak Cree and spend so much time with her family? As she asks questions, her grandmother shares her experiences in a residential school, when all of these things were taken away. 

Lesson Plans

1. Celebrate Native Americans in the Classroom (Education World) 
2. Indigenous Peoples Resources: Lesson Plans (Capital City Public Charter School, Washington DC) 
3. Infusing Indigenous Perspectives in K-12 Teaching (University of Toronto) 
4. Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month (National Education Association) 
5. Native American Heritage Month (Anti-Defamation League) 
6. NK360 Educational Resources (Native Knowledge 360) 

People to follow on social media  

1. Alcatraz Canoe Journey – @alcatrazjourney (Instagram)  
2. All My Relations Podcast – @amrpodcast (Instagram)  
3. Autumn Peltier – @autumn.peltier (Instagram) 
4. Indigenous Educators – @indigenouseducators (Instagram)  
5. Indigenous People’s Movement – @indigenouspeoplem (Instagram)  
6. Matika Wilbur – @project_562 (Instagram)  
7. Mikana Project – @projet_mikana (Instagram)  
8. Morning Star Gali – @saylooli (Instagram)  
9. Sarah Eagle Heart – @ms_eagleheart (Instagram)  
10. National Museum of the American Indian – @SmithsonianNMAI (Twitter), @NationalMuseumoftheAmericanIndian (Facebook)
11. Tomas Karmelo Amaya – @tomaskarmelo (Instagram)  
12. Xiuhtezcatl Martinez – @xiuhtezcatl (Twitter) 

Webinars & Videos 

1. Using Culturally Responsive Practices to Support Native American Students (MAEC) 
2. 6 Stories Celebrating Native American History and Culture (Great Big Story) 
3. 30 Stories for 30 Days of Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month (PBS) 
4. Changing the way we see Native Americans (TEDxTeachersCollege) 
5. Honoring Indigenous Cultures and Histories (TEDxMinneapolis)

Podcasts 

1. All My Relations 
   • All My Relations is a podcast hosted by Matika Wilbur (Swinomish and Tulalip) and Adrienne Keene (Cherokee Nation) to explore our relationships— relationships to land, to our creatural relatives, and to one another. 
2. Indigenous Insights: An Evaluation Podcast 
   • Indigenous evaluation conversations
3. Native America Calling 
   • Native America Calling is a live call-in program linking public radio stations, the Internet and listeners together in a thought-provoking national conversation about issues specific to Native communities.   
4. Native Opinion 
   • Native Opinion is a unique education, entertainment and informational radio show and podcast. Hosts, Michael Kickingbear, of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, and David GreyOwl, a member of the Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama, present an Indigenous view on American history, politics and culture, and how those things impact and shape Native American lives. 
5. Not Invisible: Native People on the Frontlines 
   • The Not Invisible: Native Peoples on the Frontlines is a collection of stories gathered through interviews with Native peoples from around the world who are standing up to protect the planet and our future. 
6. The Red Nation 
   • The Red Nation Podcast features discussions on Indigenous history, politics, and culture from a left perspective. Hosted by Nick Estes with help from our friend and comrade Sina. 
7. This Land 
   • How a string of custody battles over Native children became a federal lawsuit that threatens everything from tribal sovereignty to civil rights. 
8. Toasted Sister 
   • After contact, Indigenous foodways and knowledge were devastated, nearly destroyed and replaced with foods that are far from the people. So today, I’m talking to Native chefs and foodies about what Indigenous cuisine is, where it comes from, where it’s headed and how it’s used to connect them and their communities to their origins and traditions. 

American pop culture that is inclusive of Indigenous communities

Movies and TV shows can provide a window into the lives and cultures of the characters depicted in ways that can both dismantle and reinforce cultural stereotypes. When consuming movies and TV shows that depict characters and cultures different from your own, be careful not to allow the dramatization to nurture harmful stereotypes. No cultural dramatization can fully represent the spectrum of human qualities, characteristics, and cultures of any particular group of people. 

Movies & Documentaries

1. The American Buffalo (2023) 
   • For thousands of generations, buffalo (species of bison) have evolved alongside Indigenous people who relied on them for food and shelter, and, in exchange for killing them, revered the animal. The stories of Native people anchor the series, including the Kiowa, Comanche, and Cheyenne of the Southern Plains; the Lakota, Salish, Kootenai, Mandan-Hidatsa, and Blackfeet from the Northern Plains; and others.
2. The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open (2019) 
   • After a chance encounter on the street, a woman tries to encourage a pregnant domestic abuse victim to seek help. 
3. Boy (2010) 
   • Set on the east coast of New Zealand in 1984, Boy, an 11-year-old child and devout Michael Jackson fan, gets a chance to know his absentee criminal father, who has returned to find a bag of money he buried years ago. 
4. Fancy Pants (2023) 
   • Following her sister’s disappearance, a Native American hustler kidnaps her niece from the child’s white grandparents and sets out for the state powwow in hopes of keeping what is left of their family intact.
5. Lorena, Light-footed Woman (2019) 
   • A young woman of the Tarahumara, well-known for their extraordinary long-distance running abilities, wins ultramarathons seemingly out of nowhere despite running in sandals. 
6. Our People Will be Healed (2017) 
   • A look at the efforts involved with decolonizing Manitoba’s First Nation communities. 
7. Playing for the World: A unique look at a Native American female basketball team (PBS) 
8. Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World (2017) 
   • A documentary about the role of Native Americans in popular music history. 
9. Smoke Signals (1998) 
   • Arnold rescued Thomas from a fire when he was a child. Thomas thinks of Arnold as a hero, while Arnold’s son Victor resents his father’s alcoholism, violence and abandonment of his family. 
10. Standing Bear’s Footsteps (PBS) 
    • Standing Bear’s Footsteps is the story of a Ponca chief who went to court to prove he was a person—and in the process redefined what it means to be an American. 
11. Unspoken: America’s Native American Boarding Schools Part One (PBS) 
12. Unspoken: America’s Native American Boarding Schools Part Two (PBS) 

TV Shows

1. Basketball or Nothing (2019) 
   • The lives of the Chinle High School boys’ basketball team are based on the Navajo Nation reservation in Arizona. 
2. Dak’Toká Taíno (I Am Taino) (2019)
   • A young Taíno girl, Marabelí, visits her grandma, Abuela Yaya after Hurricane María. Marabelí expresses her fears of survival, while Abuela Yaya comforts and reminds her of their resilient Taíno ancestors and challenging history. This film warmly reflects on the future of Puerto Ricans as an indigenous society.
3. Molly of Denali (2019-) 
   •  An action-adventure comedy that follows the adventures of feisty and resourceful 10-year-old Molly Mabray, an Alaska Native girl, her dog Suki, and friends Tooey and Trini on their adventures in epically beautiful Alaska. 
4. Reservation Dogs (2021-2023) 
   • Comedy series about four Native American teenagers growing up on a reservation in eastern Oklahoma. 
5. Rutherford Falls (2021-2022) 
   • A small town in the Northeast is turned upside down when local legend and town namesake, Nathan Rutherford (Ed Helms) fights the moving of a historical statue. 
6. Trickster: Miniseries (2020) 
   • Jared is an Indigenous teen struggling to keep his dysfunctional family above water. When he starts seeing strange things – talking ravens, doppelgängers, skin monsters – his already chaotic life is turned upside down.