I had a great time at the Indian Education for All Best Practices workshop in Billings a few weeks ago, seeing old friends and making new ones and learning about cool resources and opportunities. Back in the early 2000s, I often heard teachers say "I want to teach IEFA but I don't have the resources (or knowledge)." I don't hear that much anymore. And good thing, because there are so many incredible resources and learning opportunities available.
Two Summer PDs
Dr. Anna East has put together a remote, asynchronous course, June 8-28, with six required one-hour meetings via Zoom with an all-star list of speakers: Native American Studies for Teachers. Participants can earn 3 UM graduate credits or 45 OPI renewal units. Cost is on a sliding scale ($25-$275 with an extra $155 to UM for folks wanting graduate credits.
The Olga Lengyel Institute (TOLI) is once again offering Worlds Apart But Not Strangers: Holocaust Education and Indian Education for All. Designed for middle and high school teachers, the seminar, which will held in Billings from July 22-27, 2024, will explore connections between Indian Education for All and Holocaust Education, examine the impact of government policies (both in Germany and the U.S.), and explore stereotypes and biases that influence interactions in local schools and communities today. Participation is free, including books, materials, lunches, and one dinner. OPI renewal units will be offered; participants can also earn 3 MSU-B graduate credits for $135. Low-cost on-campus housing is available.
Lesson Plans
OPI has created a new high school lesson plan, Ako Mic Mi (Feathers) – Blackfoot Mapmaker 1801. Created in 1801, the map describes a landscape of over 200,000 square miles, from Oregon to North Dakota and Alberta to central Montana. According to Dr. Shane Doyle, "the map identifies the major tributaries of the Missouri River, from the Milk River in the north and the Bighorn River in the south, and includes the location of prominent island mountain ranges..." It also notes "the estimated number of nights to travel between each river." A version of the map made its way into the hands of Lewis and Clark, who referred to it on their journey.
Billings School District has a phenomenal IEFA program and websites with lesson plans and recommended book lists, many of which are accessible to folks outside the district. Check out their high school IEFA math lessons, other high school lessons, and their middle school lessons. I also really like their recommended book lists. Here's the one for middle school and here's the one for high school (scroll down).
Speaking of reading lists, there were lots of great recommendations made during our most recent PD, Literature and Social Studies, most of which were IEFA-related. I pulled together this list of links for attendees, but thought some of you might also find it useful, so I'm sharing it here, rough as it is.
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