Some helpful suggestions for Teachers

Do not introduce a Native American guest in your classroom
by saying to your children: "What is he/she?"

Do not use alphabet cards that say: A is for apple, B is for
ball, and I is for Indian. (Native people are not 'objects')

Do not speak as though Native people belong only to the past.
(replace used to, were, did - with still, are, do)

Do not talk about "them" and "us".

Do not lump all American Indian people together.

Do not expect Native people to look like Hollywood
movie Indians or Edward Curtis photographs.

Do not let TV stereotypes go unchallenged.

Do not let students get the impression that a few "brave"
Europeans defeated millions of "Indian savages" in battle.

Do not teach that Indigenous people are just like other
racial and ethnic minorities.

Do not assume that American Indian children are well
acquainted with their heritage.

Do not assume that there are no American Indian
children present in your classroom.

Do not let students think that Native ways of life have no
meaning today, and that those ways are not alive and well today.

Do not let children dress up like Native people.

Refrain from putting on dress-up plays about the 'First Thanksgiving'.
Instead of perpetuating a myth, educate your students about real history.