# data[].attributes.headline
Native American Students reflect on their time in school

# data[].attributes.subject
Native American Students reflect on their time in school

# data[].attributes.body
This is a great resource for teachers to understand some first hand experiences of students and some of the struggles that they go through at school

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Back to Show

Grade school students from Del Norte and adjacent tribal lands talk about their experiences in the school system and how they would change it to make it better for Native American students.
The Power of Stories is an archive of projects submitted every year to Building Healthy Communities (BHC) Statewide Convening. It showcases work created throughout California highlighting the power of individual and collective efforts to promote health and demonstrates how stories have the power to re-imagine and transform our communities. Produced in partnership with the California Endowment.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Native American Students Reflect on Their Experiences in School

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Students from Del Norte and adjacent tribal lands talk about their experiences in the school system and how they would change it to make it better for Native American students.

# data[].attributes.body
This is a great article that can help teachers understand issues regarding Native Americans.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
For 20 years I have been working with elementary school (K-6) and Head Start classrooms that have a large population of Native American children. When I visit Head Start classrooms, typically run by one tribe or another, I find children bubbling with enthusiasm and chatter. There are no communication blocks here!

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Tomie dePaola

Little Gopher becomes upset that he cannot keep up with the other boys his age because he is smaller. As he grows up, he comes to realize he has talents elsewhere and paints a beautiful, vibrant sunset.

# data[].attributes.headline
Inside life on the Lakota Sioux reservation 

# data[].attributes.subject
Inside life on the Lakota Sioux reservation 

# data[].attributes.body
This video shows you the Lakota Sioux reservation and what they do there.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Inside life on the Lakota Sioux reservation l Hidden America: Children of the Plains PART 1/5

# data[].attributes.body
An online resource and illustrated guide that is helpful for teachers and students about various Native American tribes

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Native Indian Tribes
A comprehensive and illustrated guide to Native Indian Tribes and the culture of the Native American and the indigenous people of North America. All of our articles are accompanied by pictures, paintings and many have videos - all bringing the life of Native Indian tribes to life and enabling a better understanding of each subject. Visit Land of the Brave for facts about Colonial America.

Native American Name Controversy
The Native American name controversy is a dispute about the acceptable terminology for the indigenous peoples of North America. We want to be culturally sensitive by using the most respectful and acceptable terminology. The terms Native, Native American, American Indian, Native Indian and Indian are generally deemed to be acceptable names. These are used interchangeably on this website, together with specific names of tribes, to indicate the original inhabitants of North American before the European colonists arrived. The term "Indian" originated when Christopher Columbus landed in America. Columbus thought that he had arrived in the East Indies on his way to Asia. The indigenous people of North America have been referred to as Indians, Red Indians, Redskins, American Indians, or Amerindians.

History of Native Indian Tribes
The history of the Native Indian tribes of North America are referred to on most pages and there is a large section covering the history of the Indian Wars, together with timelines and information about the 'Wild West' and the US Cavalry. The history of the Native Americans also covers the most famous Native Americans from the various tribes. Names we have all heard of such as Hiawatha, Sitting Bull, Cochise and Red Cloud. Learn about the life of the people of the Native Indian Tribes.

and the Their use of Culture of Native Indian Tribes
Discover interesting facts and information about the culture, religion, beliefs and ceremonies including Animal Totems Role of the Shaman or Medicine Man. Herbal Remedies and their involvement in Smudging Rituals. The types of houses and homes they lived in and their food. The clothes and clothing Indian tribes and Native American Symbols and designs

Native Indian Tribes - Pictures of the Native Americans
The Pictures of Native Americans in this section provide an opportunity to study the differences between the Indian tribes of Native Americans. There are pictures, paintings, images and photographs of the main Native Indian tribes and many of their great chiefs and leaders. In order to interpret the symbols on the pictures refer to Color Meanings and Symbolism.
The history of the Native Americans include interesting information and facts about the indigenous people of North America including the Cliff Dwellers and Mound Builders. Facts and interesting info about the Trail of Tears and the Five Civilised Tribes and together with details of the Native Indian Tribes who inhabited each U.S. State. Native Indian Tribes - History of Native Americans

The tools and weapons of the Stone Age civilisations of the Native Americans detailing info about the Native Indian Weapons and Tools
bow and arrows, tomahawks, war clubs, knives and lances made and how Native Indian Tribes - Woodland & Plains Indians & other Groups
The history and lifestyle of the different groups of Native Americans including the Great Plains Indians Stone Tools were made and how Native American Weapons were used by the men of the Indian tribes.

, Eastern Woodland cultures, the Northwest Indian tribes, Northeast Woodlands Indian Tribes, Southwest Indian Tribes, Southeast Indian Tribes, the Arctic and Sub-Arctic Indian Tribes and the California Native Americans and Indian Tribes. Learn about their way of life and the environments that sustained and dictated their lifestyles of Native Indian tribes.

Native Indian Tribes - Native American Art, Patterns and Designs
The definition of culture and meaning, customs, traditions, material objects, arts, art, music, crafts, pottery, dance, designs, drawings, patterns, weapons, artefacts, baskets and beadwork. The article on Writing in Symbols and Pictures also refers to this aspect of Native American art forms.

Native Indian Tribes - Native American Clothing
The natural resources and materials available provided the clothing of the Native American. The weather and the changing seasons also affected their way of life and clothing at different times of the year. Articles about the men's clothes and the clothing of the women. Their different styles of headdresses and moccasins and how these were made.

The white settlers from Europe and their encroachment on the way of life and lands occupied by the indigenous population led to may battles and conflicts and many Indian Wars which were fought between the tribes of different locations and the European settlers who had headed west and the US Cavalry. The Indian Wars included the French Indian War, Pequot War, Bacon's Rebellion, King Philip's War, Pueblo Revolt, Yamasee War, Seven Years War (French and Indian War), Tecumseh's War and the Battle of Tippecanoe, the Creek wars, the Sioux Wars including the Battle of Little Bighorn, the Apache Wars and the Seminole wars.
Native Indian Tribes - The Indian Wars

Native Indian Tribes - Native American Houses
The life styles of Native Americans ranged from nomadic, semi-nomadic to static and their houses and homes reflected their way of life. The different types of Native American houses, homes and shelters included tepees, wigwams, brush shelters, wickiups, chickees, earthen houses, hogans, earth lodges, pit houses, longhouses, adobe houses, pueblos, asi, wattle and daub, grass houses and plankhouses. All of these houses, shelters and homes are described together with pictures, photographs and paintings.

Native Indian Tribes - Native American Symbols
This section covers a variety of different subjects with articles about Native American arts, crafts, designs, symbols, jewelry and artefacts.

Discover the secret meanings of the Hand Symbol or gain some inspiration and ideas for . Symbols and Meanings American Indian Tattoos including the Serpent Symbol. The Native American Symbols and Signs section include articles about the Creek Alphabet, Rock Hieroglyphics including the Dighton Rock inscription, Picture Writing, Writing in Symbols and Tree Pictures together with the Dictionary of Symbols

Native Indian Tribes - Native American Indian Names
This section contains A - Z Lists of Native American baby names including Fox Names and Apache Names with interesting facts and information about Native American Names, Naming Traditions, Initiation Ceremonies and Tribal Customs.

Native Indian Tribes - Physical Characteristics
The physical characteristics can be generalised as dark brown eyes, prominent cheek bones, straight black hair, and scantiness of beard. The skin color of Native Indians varies from very light in some tribes such as the Cheyenne, to almost black in others, such as the Caddo and a yellowish color in such as the Flatheads.

Native Indian Tribes - Native American Stories
The Native American Stories in this section provide an opportunity to read about the stories of Native Indian tribes and many of their great chiefs and leaders. Classic Short stories for kids and children of all ages on the subject of Native Indian Tribes.

Native Indian Tribes - Famous Native Americans
This section on Native Indian Tribes contains articles relating to the life and times of the most famous Native Americans including Hiawatha, Sitting Bull, Cochise and Red Cloud with a short biography with interesting facts and history about their lives and why they were famous.

Native Indian Tribes for kids

History of Native Americans

Images and Pictures of Native Indians

Interesting Facts and information for kids and schools

Life, culture and beliefs

Culture and way of life

Native Indian Tribes for kids with pictures and Videos

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Pictures! Videos! Facts and Information about Native Indian Tribes. Comprehensive guide to Native Indian Tribes including the Apache, Sioux, Cherokee, Hopi, Cheyenne and Chinook. Information, pictures and facts about the history of Native Indian Tribes

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Joseph Bruchac

Brown Squirrel teases Bear after he proves that Bear cannot stop the sun from rising. This Native American legend holds hidden messages and lessons about anger and pride.

# data[].attributes.headline
What Every Teacher Needs to Know to Teach Native American Students

# data[].attributes.subject
What Every Teacher Needs to Know to Teach Native American Students

# data[].attributes.body
This articles includes information that could be valuable to teachers who teach Native Americans.

# data[].attributes.headline
The National Congress of American Indians

# data[].attributes.subject
The National Congress of American Indians

# data[].attributes.body
This website provides news and articles on everything that is going on within the Native American Society.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The National Congress of American Indians, founded in 1944, is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the broad interests of tribal governments and communities.

More About NCAI

The NCAI PRC supports Indian Country in shaping its own future as the leading center for tribally driven policy research.

The Tribal Supreme Court Project-a collaboration between NCAI and the Native American Rights Fund- monitors litigation in which Native people have a significant stake and coordinates strategy among a network of over 250 tribal leaders, attorneys, and law professors.

Established in 2009, the Partnership for Tribal Governance creates, coordinates, and makes accessible the knowledge, tools, and resources that tribal nations and leaders need in order to strengthen their governance systems and more effectively exercise their sovereignty.

President Obama declared his commitment to fulfilling the consultation requirements of Executive Order 13175, NCAI supports tribes in this process with resources.

Featured
September 30, 2022

Featured
September 13, 2022

Featured
September 12, 2022

About the 501(c)(3) NCAI Fund: The National Congress of American Indians Fund (NCAI Fund) is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit public-education arm of the National Congress of American Indians, the Nation's oldest and largest organization made up of American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments and their citizens. The NCAI Fund's mission is to educate the general public, and tribal, federal, and state government officials about tribal self-government, treaty rights, and policy issues affecting Indian tribes, including the interpretation of Indian statutes. Donations to the NCAI Fund are tax deductible as charitable contributions.

About the NCAI 501(c)(4): The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit social welfare organization, and the oldest and largest organization made up of American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments and their citizens to advocate on their behalf. NCAI's mission is to advocate for the protection of treaty rights, inherent rights, and other rights guaranteed to tribes through agreements with the United States and under federal law; to promote the common welfare of American Indians and Alaska Natives; and to promote a better understanding of Indian peoples. Donations to NCAI are not tax deductible as charitable contributions for Federal income tax purposes.

Oct 12, 2022
Virtual

Oct 30, 2022 - Nov 4, 2022
Sacramento, California

View National Calendar

FY 2022 Indian Country Budget Request: "Restoring Promises"
Download Full Report >

Tribal Nations and the United States: An Introduction
Developed by NCAI, this guide seeks to provide a basic overview of the history and underlying principles of tribal governance.
View & Download the Guide >

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The National Congress of American Indians, founded in 1944, is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the broad interests of tribal governments and communities. More About NCAI The NCAI PRC supports Indian Country in shaping its own future as the leading center for tribally driven policy research.

# data[].attributes.headline
25 Little Known Facts about Native Americans

# data[].attributes.subject
25 Little Known Facts about Native Americans

# data[].attributes.body
This gives some facts about Native Americans that may not be know to the majority of people. It gives a more in depth look into their culture.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
25 Little Known Facts About Native Americans

# data[].attributes.headline
Professor looks at the evolution of Native American Education

# data[].attributes.subject
Professor looks at the evolution of Native American Education

# data[].attributes.body
This video goes through the evolution of Indian education.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Professor Looks At Evolution Of American Indian Education

# data[].attributes.body
This website is to help those with Native descent through their education.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was formed by Native educators in 1969 to encourage a national discourse on Native education. For 47 years, NIEA has hosted an annual convention to provide a forum for collaboration.

NIEA adheres to the organization's founding principles-

to bring Native educators together to explore ways to improve schools and the education of Native children;

to promote the maintenance and continued development of Native languages and cultures;

and to develop and implement strategies for influencing local, state, and federal policy and policymakers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The National Indian Education Association (NIEA) was formed by Native educators in 1969 to encourage a national discourse on Native education. For 47 years, NIEA has hosted an annual convention to provide a forum for collaboration.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Gordon Regguinti

Eleven-year-old Glen Jackson, Jr., an Ojibway Indian from northern Minnesota, helps his father harvest wild rice, the sacred food of his people.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Audrey Osofsky

This book teaches students the importance and traditions of families within the Native American culture. It details the story of an older sister weaving a dream catcher for her baby sister to sift out the bad dreams.

# data[].attributes.body
This website is a nonprofit that provides survival needs to Indian reservations. It also has resources on traditions and culture for different tribes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Today, many tribes in the United States are reviving their traditions and cultures. Central to this cultural renaissance is the importance of language and ceremony. A number of tribes have created language learning programs to preserve and pass on their tribal dialects to future generations.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Aliki

Thousands of years ago, Native Americans found the corn plant and learned to nourish and grow over generations. The novel goes on to explain the plants many uses and describes how Native Americans introduced it to the new settlers in America.

# data[].attributes.body
This lesson plan teaches about the ative Americans interactions with music and dancing.

# data[].attributes.body
This lesson plan teaches about the roles each member of a family takes on for native Americans.

# data[].attributes.body
This lesson plan teaches about the traditions of story telling, history, and humor for native Americans.

# data[].attributes.headline
Reference Encyclopedia of the American Indian

# data[].attributes.subject
Reference Encyclopedia of the American Indian

# data[].attributes.body
This book provides the addresses for most of the Native American tribes as well as a bibliography of Native American books.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Ignatia Broker

The author explains the life of the Minnesota Ojibway through her great-great-grandmothers eyes.

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Ned Ackerman

This is a novel about a boy named Running Crane in the Blackfoot tribe. He is from a different tribe that doesn't have many horses and proves his worth to his new tribe by taming the legendary spirit horse.

# data[].attributes.headline
Men on the Moon: Collected Short Stories

# data[].attributes.subject
Men on the Moon: Collected Short Stories

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Simon J. Ortiz

This is a collection of short stories about Native Americans living in the cities or the land. They talk about the issues they deal with that influence their lives.

# data[].attributes.headline
Why are Native Students Being Left Behind?

# data[].attributes.subject
Why are Native Students Being Left Behind?

# data[].attributes.body
This article explains how education for Native Americans has changed over the years.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The approximately 48,000 students who attend the BIE-operated or tribal grant schools underperform Native students in other public schools. In one study of fourth graders, BIE students on average scored 22 percentile points lower for reading and 14 points lower for math than American Indian students attending public schools.

Like almost all isolated rural schools in America, BIE schools struggle to attract and keep qualified teachers and principals. But the problems that make it hard for these schools to attract talent go deeper, to their structure and finances.

To begin with, the principals of these federally- supported schools must navigate Byzantine, overlapping BIE regulations to execute the most basic functions, such as purchasing textbooks and school lunches. This gets in the way of "focusing on their primary mission of instructional leadership," a federal study group reported to the Department of Interior. The same study group noted that tribally-controlled schools are funded by the federal government at just 67% of their administrative costs, leaving principals to dip into instructional budgets to cover those.

Many of these schools are in such extreme states of disrepair-with leaking roofs and walls, asbestos, mold, and aging bus fleets traveling roads that become impassable in bad weather -that the backlog repair bill for the 68 highest-risk facilities is $1.3 billion. Some 60 percent of schools also lack the bandwidth or computers to support online learning and assessments, with most dependent on outdated T1 connectivity.

Nationwide, BIE-funded school buses-like this one outside of the St. Francis Indian School on the Rosebud Reservation-travel nearly 15 million miles each year across rural terrain. A shortage of federal funds means BIE schools can be on the hook for as much as $100,000 in gasoline and maintenance expenses.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why are Native Students Being Left Behind? | Teach For America

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The approximately 48,000 students who attend the BIE-operated or tribal grant schools underperform Native students in other public schools. In one study of fourth graders, BIE students on average scored 22 percentile points lower for reading and 14 points lower for math than American Indian students attending public schools.

# data[].attributes.headline
Dictionary of Indian Tribes of the Americas: Volumes I, II, III

# data[].attributes.subject
Dictionary of Indian Tribes of the Americas: Volumes I, II, III

# data[].attributes.body
These books provide information on most of the Native American Tribes in the Americas. It also gives maps as to where they were located.

# data[].attributes.headline
Custer's Fall: The Native American Side of the Story

# data[].attributes.subject
Custer's Fall: The Native American Side of the Story

# data[].attributes.body
Author: David Miller

Told from the perspective of the only survivors, the Native Americans give an account of the battle of The Little Bighorn.

# data[].attributes.headline
Soft Rain: A Story of the Cherokee Trail of Tears

# data[].attributes.subject
Soft Rain: A Story of the Cherokee Trail of Tears

# data[].attributes.body
Author: Cornelia Cornelissen

Told in the perspective of a nine year old girl, Soft Rain tells about the tragedy the Cherokee tribe went through when they were forced west on the trail of tears.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
For this edition of Quality Counts, the Commentary editors reached out to researchers and a policymaker, all of whom are known for their work in early-childhood education. These four contributors were asked:

What's a research concern that we still need answered about early-childhood education?

What follows is Susan C. Faircloth's response to this question. See more responses.

Research suggests that the quality of early-childhood education and care plays a critical role in helping to shape children's school readiness, as well as their subsequent academic achievement. In effect, the more prepared students are to learn, the likelier they are to perform better academically. Unfortunately, the bulk of this strain of research fails to adequately acknowledge the role that schools must play in preparing children, particularly children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. This oversight raises a number of important concerns and questions, including what does it mean for these students to be ready for school and what does it mean for schools to be ready for these students.

In the case of American Indian and Alaska Native children, "ready schools" reflect an ability and willingness to accommodate the tribal, cultural, and linguistic diversity of the more than 600 federally and state-recognized tribes and Alaska Native groups within the United States, as well as the indigenous languages (approximately 200 of them) that tribal members still speak today.

Although research is needed, it is important to acknowledge that research alone will not improve the educational conditions or subsequent outcomes for young American Indian and Alaska Native children. For research to truly make a difference in the lives of these children, researchers must collaborate with community and tribal members and practitioners who understand and value the role that language and culture play in developing and implementing effective early-childhood-education programs and practices that can be readily and widely translated and implemented.

In sum, research must answer the critically important question: What must schools do to be ready to educate, care for, and nurture young American Indian and Alaska Native children?

Published in Print: January 8, 2015, as Readying Schools for Native Students

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.
Back to Top

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Cultural Diversity a Critical Consideration for Native Students

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
For this edition of Quality Counts, the Commentary editors reached out to researchers and a policymaker, all of whom are known for their work in early-childhood education. These four contributors were asked: What's a research concern that we still need answered about early-childhood education? What follows is Susan C.

# data[].attributes.body
This resource provides ancestry for most native american tribes. It has family tree  searches and many articles about the different tribes in the Americas.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The homepage, Indians.org has been Serving the Tribes, While Sharing the Culture since 1995.

# data[].attributes.headline
Link to a list of Native American Books  for K-12 

# data[].attributes.subject
Link to a list of Native American Books  for K-12 

# data[].attributes.headline
How a struggling school doubled its Native American Graduate rate

# data[].attributes.subject
How a struggling school doubled its Native American Graduate rate

# data[].attributes.body
This video shows a way that a Native American school provided their students with a successful education.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How a struggling school for Native Americans doubled its graduation rate