Issues
Battling Racism
For Teachers
American Indians: What NOT
to teach
Do not speak as though Indians
belong to the past.
(replace used to, were, did
- with still, are, do)
Do not talk about "them" and "us".
Do not lump all American Indians together.
Do not expect American Indians
to look like Hollywood
movie Indians.
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 American Indians
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 are not alive
and well today.
Do not let children dress up
like Indians.