Teaching and Learning About Native Americans

The AIC is a key organization in the Chicago Native American community. This website provides information about Chicago-area powwows and other events.

Every other year, AILA publishes a list of picture books, middle grade books, and young adult books that it recognizes for presenting “Indigenous North American peoples in the fullness of their humanity.”

Articles in this richly illustrated magazine for adults cover a wide range of topics related to Native cultures.

The editors of the AICL blog list some of the best books featuring Native content, each year, including picture books.

This federal webpage offers reports and resources based on a comprehensive effort to recognize the troubled legacy of federal Indian boarding school policies with the goal of addressing their intergenerational impact and to shed light on the traumas of the past.

Articles in this magazine cover contemporary and historical art by Native people and include many images of people and artwork.

This lesson plan is useful as background information for early childhood educators or parents. It is designed for use with An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People.

This media outlet’s website is a source of up-to-date news and opinion, both text and video, on topics especially relevant to Native Americans.

This U.S. government document lists all 560-plus federally recognized Native nations, tribes, bands, and other groups.

Welcome to education materials for educators on Indigenous People of Illinois. You will find activities, videos, and resource materials. These resources are for your use in teaching about Indigenous or Native people in Illinois.

A land acknowledgement is a formal statement that recognizes and respects Native peoples as traditional guardians of lands and the enduring relationship that exists between Native peoples and their traditional territories. This university webpage gives several options for land acknowledgements as well as pronunciations for tribal nations in Illinois.

This website offers access to episodes of the animated children’s program featuring Indigenous children and families living near Denali in what is now known as Alaska. Related online games and activities also are featured.

The Mvskoke Language Program will preserve, maintain and revitalize the language of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, by connecting with tribal elders, encouraging adult citizens, and teaching our children the significance of reading, writing, and speaking the language of our ancestors. Mvskoke Language Program is a Resource Center for speaking and teaching the Mvskoke Language.

This set of webinars provides educators with background information on a range of topics related to Native Americans.

This website offers a variety of resources, from collections of images to professional development webinars for educators.

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. Each program engages noted guests and experts with callers throughout the United States and is designed to improve the quality of life for Native Americans.

This website is a source of award-winning music videos and information about performers; some are appropriate to share with young children.

This webpage links to several lists of recommended books for young people and to resources on related topics.

This website includes resources for classroom use and recorded webinars for educators, with information about a range of topics related to Native people’s lives and history.

This Indigenous-led, carefully researched web resource includes blogs and interactive maps that enable users to find the ancestral homelands of Native nations.

This 12-minute video, intended for children in kindergarten to second grade, gives an overview of Native Americans in what is now called Illinois, from Cahokia to the present.

Digital resources for educators include images of objects in the museum’s collection, and information about them.

This lesson plan is useful as background information for early childhood educators or parents. It is designed for use with An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People.

This short official proclamation explains reasons for observing National Native American Heritage Month.

This short official proclamation explains reasons for observing National Native American Heritage Month.

This archived podcast addresses two important matters affecting Native people: The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma and recent challenges to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).

This blog post by Nambé Pueblo blogger Debbie Reese lists sturdy books for babies and toddlers, featuring Native children and families.

This booklet-length report from NCAI provides easy-to-understand background information for adults about tribal governance and the political relationships Native Nations have with the U.S. government.

This 2018 article includes factual information about Chicago’s contemporary Indigenous community.

This resource for educators suggests 14 picture books by Native writers and artists, with emphasis on tribal nations of the Great Lakes region.