NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

ROBBINSDALE AREA SCHOOLS INDIAN EDUCATION PROGRAM

November 2015

Presidential
Proclamation
2015 National Native American
Heritage Month Proclamation

Tribal Nations & The

United States
Governmental status of tribal
nations is at the heart of issues
affecting Indian Country

Minnesota Tribal
Nations
Information about Minnesotas
11 Tribal Nations

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Topics for the

Classroom
Suggested topics for elementary
classrooms

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Recommended
Resources
Suggested curriculum resources
from Native communties

Recognizing the First Peoples

Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate and honor
the many ways Native Americas have signifigantly shaped the
nations character and heritage both historically and in the
present.

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This is an opportune time to educate our communities about the

achievements, contributions, and lives of the original peoples of
this land and their descendants.

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

November 2015

PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION:
NATIONAL NATIVE
AMERICAN HERITAGE
MONTH, 2015
By the President of the United States of America
The White House Office of the Press Secretary
American Indians and Alaska Natives enrich every aspect
of our country. As the first to live on this land, Native

President Barack Obama visited the Standing Rock

Sioux Tribal Nation on June 13, 2014. His visit
marked the 4th time a US President has visited Tribal
Nations land.

Americans and their traditions and values inspired -- and

continue to inspire -- the ideals of self-governance and
determination that are the framework of our Nation. This
month, we recognize the contributions made by Native
Americans since long before our founding, and we

resolve to continue the work of strengthening government-to-government ties with tribal nations and expanding
possibility for all.
Native Americans have helped make America what it is today. As we reflect on our history, we must acknowledge
the unfortunate chapters of violence, discrimination, and deprivation that went on for far too long, as well as the
effects of injustices that continue to be felt. While we cannot undo the pain and tragedy of the past, we can set out
together to forge a brighter future of progress and hope across Indian Country and the entire American landscape.
Since I took office, I have worked with tribal leaders to write a new chapter in our nation-to-nation relationship.
Ensuring young people have every opportunity to succeed is a critical aspect of our work together, and this year my
Administration hosted the inaugural White House Tribal Youth Gathering following the launch of Generation
Indigenous -- an initiative aimed at improving the lives of Native youth and empowering the next generation of Native
leaders. We will also host the seventh White House Tribal Nations Conference later this year, bringing together
leaders of 567 tribes to explore opportunities for progress, with a particular focus on young people. As part of our
agenda for providing Native youth the chance to realize their fullest potential, I have engaged tribal communities in a
range of critical areas, and we have worked together to boost high school graduation rates and afford young people
more chances to pursue higher education, employment, and professional development opportunities. We're also
working to expand access to health and counseling services essential to ensuring youth feel safe and heard.
My Administration has continued to partner with tribes to address vital gaps in resources for Indian Country,
including equipping communities with broadband, rebuilding infrastructure, spurring economic growth, and
increasing renewable energy. To confront the peril of a changing climate, we are also working with tribal leaders
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NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

November 2015

(Continued)
across America to develop effective approaches to
protecting our communities from this grave threat. And
because we know that fostering pride in the languages,
traditions, and practices that make up the extraordinary
richness of Native American culture is central to our
shared progress, my Administration remains committed
to ensuring every community feels connected to the
extraordinary legacies they are a part of.

TRIBAL NATIONS & THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Tens of million of Indigenous peoples inhabited North
America, and governed their complex societies, long
before European governments sent explorers to seize
lands and resources from the continent and its
inhabitants. These foreign European governments
interacted with tribes in diplomacy, commerce,
culture, and war- acknowledging Indigenous systems
of social, cultural, economic, and political
governance.
Tribal Nations have remained as political powers
from the colonial period until today- engaging in
commerce, trade, cultural exchange, and inspiring
the principles of freedom and democracy enshrined
in the US Constitution. As the United States formed a
union, the founders acknowledged the sovereignty of
tribal nations, and the federal government in the US
Constitution.
Tribal nations are part of the unique American family
of governments, nations within a nation, as well as
sovereign nations in the global community of nations.

Rooted in deep traditions and distinct

ways of life, tribal nations are defined
by Indigenous peoples, places, cultures,
and governance

This month, let us reaffirm our responsibility to

ensure each generation is defined by a greater
sense of opportunity than the last, and let us
pledge to maintain our strong relationship with
tribal nations across America. By keeping this
commitment, and by endeavoring to shape a future
in which every citizen has the chance to build a life
worthy of their hopes and dreams, we can ensure
that ours is a country that is true to our spirit and to
our enduring promise as a land where all things are
possible for all people.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of
the United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim November 2015 as
National Native American Heritage Month. I call upon all
Americans to commemorate this month with appropriate
programs and activities, and to celebrate November 27,
2015, as Native American Heritage Day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand
this thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord two
thousand fifteen, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and fortieth.
BARACK OBAMA

Source: NCAI- Tribal Nations & the United States: An Introduction

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

November 2015

TWIN CITIES
AMERICAN
INDIAN
COMMUNITY
One third of Minnesota American
Indian live in the central city areas
of Minneapolis and St. Paul, with an
additional 15% living in the suburbs.
One percent of the metro area
residents are American Indians, the

MINNESOTA TRIBAL NATIONS

third highest percentage of the 25

largest US cities. 43% of the
American Indian population are

In Minnesota, there are seven Anishinaabe (Chippewa, Ojibwe)

children under the age of 18.

reservations and four Dakota (Sioux) communities. A reservation or

community is a segment of land that belongs to one or more groups of

South Minneapolis has a large

American Indians. It is land that was retained by American Indian tribes

American Indian population,

after ceding large portions of the original homelands to the United

particularly in the Phillips

States through treaty agreements. It is not land that was given to

neighborhood that contains Little

American Indians by the federal government. There are hundreds of

Earth. Little Earth is the only

state and federally recognized American Indian reservations located in

American Indian preference project-

35 states. These reservations have boundary lines much like a county

based Section 8 rental assistance

or state has boundary lines. The American Indian reservations were

community in the United States.

created through treaties, and after 1871, some were created by

Executive Order of the President of the United States or by other
agreements.
Source: The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council

Twin Cities American Indians have

ties with Minnesota Reservations as
well as those in North and South
Dakota and Wisconsin.

Source: Minnesota Senate Office

[Web address]
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NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

November 2015

MINNESOTA ANISHINAABE RESERVATIONS

BOIS FORTE
BAND OF CHIPPEWA
Bois Forte, or strong
wood, was the French
name given to the
Ojibwe living in the
densest forest of what
is now extreme
northern Minnesota.

FOND DU LAC BAND OF

LAKE SUPERIOR
CHIPPEWA
The Ojibwe name for
the Fond du Lac
Reservation is
Nagaajiwanaang,
meaning where the
water stops.

GRAND PORTAGE
BAND OF CHIPPEWA

LEECH LAKE
BAND OF OJIBWE

The Grand Portage

Reservation, one of the
oldest Ojibwe
settlements in
Minnesota, was
important during the
Fur Trade era.

The Leech Lake Tribe

owns 5% of its land,
and 95% owned by
county, state, and
federal governments
including the National
Chippewa Forest.

MILLE LACS
BAND OF OJIBWE

RED LAKE
NATION

WHITE EARTH
NATION

Tribal members are

known for their
understanding and use
of tribal knowledge,
customs, beliefs, and
practices.

Often referred to as a
closed reservation,
the Tribal government
has full sovereignty. All
land is held in common
by the tribal members.

With the 1867 Treaty,

great pressure was put
on all Ojibwe bands in
Minnesota to relocate
onto one reservation.

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

November 2015

MINNESOTA DAKOTA
COMMUNITIES

LOWER SIOUX INDIAN

COMMUNITY

PRAIRIE ISLAND
INDIAN COMMUNITY

Although Lower Sioux

was the name given to
the community after
treaties in 1851, the
traditional homeland if
Cansayapi (where
they marked trees red).

After the US-Dakota

War, several families
returned to Prairie
Island to buy back
small parcels of their
ancestral home. 50
years later, they
became federally
recognized.

SHAKOPEE
MDEWAKANTON SIOUX
COMMUNITY
Tribal members are
direct lineal
descendants of
Mdewakanton Dakota
people who resided in
villages near the lower
Minnesota River.

US-DAKOTA WAR OF
1862
Beginning in 1805 , a series of
treaties forced on the Dakota Nation
would take away their homeland,
destroyed their ability to provide for
themselves, and created an
increasing reliance upon the US
governments promises for payments
and goods. For the next several
decades, missionaries, fur traders,
Indian agents, and the US government
all worked first to change the culture
of the Dakota later to eradicate the
Dakota Nation.
Finally, in 1862, the Dakota could no
longer take this mistreatment. Their
ancestors battled for their homelands,
their way of life, and their culture. The
events of 1862 ended with the largest
mass execution in United States
history when 38 Dakota were hanged
at Mankato.

UPPER SIOUX
COMMUNITY
The land called
Pejuhutazizi Kapi (the
place where they dig for
yellow medicine) has
been the homeland for
the Dakota Oyate
(Nation) for thousands
of years.

Avis Charleys drawing For Every

Great Man, There is a Great Woman
Source: The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

November 2015

TOPICS FOR THE CLASSROOM

Educating students should always be respectful of peoples, families, and cultures. We should continually strive
for authenticity and developmental appropriateness. When choosing materials, they must be historically
accurate, specific to a particular Native culture, and balanced as to point of view.
Source: Lessons from Turtle Island by Guy W. Jones and Sally Moomaw

RESERVATIONS & COMMUNITIES

CONTRIBUTUTIONS

Reservation and communities are influenced by

history, geography, and contemporary issues.

Recognizing Native American contributions is

essential to understanding the roots of American
and world culture. Contributions include everything
from foods, technology, architecture, medicines,
and government.

MNISOTA: A DAKOTA PLACE

The state of Minnesota likes within Dakota

homelands.
The name Minnesota is derived from the Dakota
words Mni Sota, meaning, Land where the waters
reflect the clouds. Many place names are based on
the Dakota language (Wayzata, Minnehaha,
Chaska).

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

November 2015

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
The following are recommended websites, guides, films, etc., featuring culturally accurate content.

Why Treaties Matter

Treatiesmatter.org/exhibit/educator
The Why Treaties Matter traveling exhibit continues to serve as an
educational tool for schools, community organizations, and beyond.
Community members and educators developed a guide to accompany the
exhibit content including background information, student readings and
activities, vocabulary lists, and suggested web and print resources

Ojibwe and Dakota Curriculum

www.ojibwe-dakota-in-mn.com
Developed by the Office of American Indian Education ISD #622, the
curriculum was gathered and developed by Ojibwe and Dakota educators,
and American Indian Education Advisory Committee, Non-Native
elementary teachers, curriculum specialists and lead teachers.

Bdote Memory Map

http://bdotememorymap.org/
MniSota: A Dakota Place- An interactive website by the local Dakota
community and Minnesota Humanities Center featuring information based
on Dakota maps, language, oral stories, and histories including the
aftermath of the US-Dakota War of 1862 and the Dakota Diaspora.

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

November 2015

Lessons of Our Land

http://www.lessonsofourland.org/
Interdisciplinary curriculum developed by the Indian Land Tenure
Foundation featuring stories, lessons, and games. Content is tribally
specific to emphasize relationships between lands and people.

National Museum of the American Indian

http://www.nmai.si.edu/explore/foreducatorsstudents/classroomlessons/
Classroom lessons offering Native perspectives on history and
contemporary lives of several tribal nations throughout the United States.