indigenous peoples

Looking for magical tools to use with your students? You’ve come to the right place. In a series of toots, educators have shared some amazing tools on Mastodon. Let’s take a moment to explore those in this inaugural edition of Mastodon Magic! I’m going to present you with five favorites I’ve discovered so far.

What Is Mastadon?

Like an email service for social media, Mastodon provides people with places to connect. What makes Mastodon unique is that it is run by volunteers who create communities of people. People are welcoming and respectful. And there are no ads in Mastodon. Be sure to read TCEA’s How To Get Started with Mastodon.

What’s more, each community has a different address. You can connect to people in different communities, much the way you do via email – you need only know their address.

Here are some of the addresses for names that may be familiar to you:

You can find a list of educators online (take a look at how to add yourself to the list). Many educators are now joining Mastodon and connecting with others. Here are some tips for using Mastodon, and you can watch the video walkthrough series below to help you get started. A group to follow to stay up to date is @edtech@chirp.social once you get your Mastodon account.

Here’s an invitation to join the Mastodon.Education instance

Did You Know? Video Series on Joining Mastodon from Educators' Perspective
Want a little more information on Mastodon and how to get started there? Watch my video series on making the transition. These four videos will start you off right! They include: 

-> Part 1 - Introductions and Selecting a Sastodon Instance That Is Focused on Education

-> Part 2 - Exploring Mastodon Preferences

-> Part 3 - A Discussion of Apps to Use on Smartphones and Tablets

-> Part 4 - Migrate From One Mastodon Instance to Another

-> Part 5 - How to Set Up Your Profile, Bio, and Pin a Post

-> Part 6 - Importing the EduTooters List

Now, let’s explore some takeaways shared by educators on Mastodon.

Takeaway #1: Create Your Own Custom Map

You may recall I’ve written about the amazing ways maps can facilitate learning. I can’t wait to share this new tool with you! If you want to create your own map of the world, Europe, the United States, or other places, with MapChart, you can color code countries or states, fill in the legend, and save the map to your device. MapChart is the tool to use.

There are many maps to choose from, including:

World maps
Europe, Africa, the Americas, Asia, Oceania
US states and counties
Subdivision maps (counties, provinces, etc.)
Single country maps (the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and 20+ more)
Fantasy maps

What’s even more exciting? The created maps are licensed under a Creative Commons license. This means your high-quality PNG formatted image can be made for free and shared. Here’s a quick map of the two places I’ve lived most of my life:

Takeaway #2: Time for Inclusive Education

Looking for resources to educate on subjects that address stereotypes and stigmas? Then the TIE website provides a variety of resources you can use. The Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) describes itself this way:

Image Source: **Time for Inclusive Education (TIE)**

We take an educational approach to tackling homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic bullying and prejudice in schools. Fundamentally, we believe that LGBT history, role models, and equalities education should be taught within all schools. Education is the most powerful tool we have to tackle prejudice.

Only an educational approach can fully address the stereotypes and stigma which can lead to homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic bullying. We work with teachers and national decision makers, produce resources and curriculum materials, and deliver services in schools to raise awareness, heighten knowledge, and foster good relations.

TIE offers curriculum resources, including lesson plans and learning activities. These include mathematics worksheets, role models lesson plans, discrimination learning activities, and infographics. Although Scottish educators may find this of most use, there are resources any educator or institution can use.

Takeaway #3: Shared Piano Lab

A fun, browser-friendly tool you can use is the Chrome Music Lab. Although I lack musical aptitude now, I hope to someday add it to my repertoire.

If you know how to play the piano (I don’t), and have a couple of friends, you can play the piano in tandem with them. Isn’t that cool?

Takeaway #4: Technology Resources and Info

On Mastodon, you can find a rich, growing community of educators sharing resources. Also, people are generous. This New Hampshire educator from Pinkerton Academy has some great resources for you.

Christina DiMicelli (@MrsDi@qoto.org) shares some great slide decks you can swipe and use. With her permission, I share them with you and all #EduTooters who may find these resources useful.

How amazing is that?

Takeaway #5: Native Land Digital

As I began this list with maps, it’s only fair that I should end it with the most exciting takeaway on this list. It may be serious, though, since it relates to the imprecise history of Indigenous Peoples. Upon arriving, the website immediately points out:

This map does not represent or intend to represent official or legal boundaries of any Indigenous nations. To learn about definitive boundaries, contact the nations in question.

Also, this map is not perfect – it is a work in progress with tons of contributions from the community. Please send us fixes if you find errors.

If you would like to read more about the ideas behind Native Land or where we are going, check out the blog. You can also see the roadmap.

As someone who grew up in the Republic of Panama with the stories of Urraca, an Indigenous warrior who fought the Spanish off until his death, this is an exciting revelation. Combine this map with the The Latin American History Podcast, and you can see travel back in time.

The Latin American History Podcast shares the story of Spanish and Portuguese America. It starts with its beginnings and continues until the present day. You can find other history podcasts here. Learn the history of the Taino, who were wiped out by conquistadores. When you see how far the Taino territories extended and their erasure from the land, it is quite sobering. The Native Land Digital website seeks to accomplish the following:

We aim to improve the relationship of people, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, with the land around them and with the real history and sacredness of that land.

This involves acknowledging and righting the wrongs of history, and also involves a personal journey through the importance of connecting with the earth, its creatures, and its teachings.

Let the connecting begin. I hope you’ll find your way to the Fediverse, where Mastodon instances abound. You’ll find many educators ready to welcome you there. This blog entry, How To Get Started with Mastodon, can aid you in your journey.

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Screenshot by author, Native Land Digital

Looking for free lessons and activities for your students? Let’s explore five sources of content– including lessons, books, Google Earth, and podcasts. You can adapt these resources for several purposes. The focus of the resources is on Indigenous peoples and Native American Heritage. Rediscovering our history and exploring native perspectives can provide powerful insights. One place to start learning is the National Museum of the American Indian.

Note: In writing this, I realize how ignorant I am in spite of my efforts. I invite those of you who know more to share what amazing resources may be missing in the comments. Let’s learn together.

#1: Indigenous Peoples Day Lessons and Activities

Indigenous Peoples Day includes a rich collection of lessons. You can use the content here for Native American Heritage Month (month of November).

TechLearning.com offers a list of lessons and activities; here are two that caught my eye from their list:

a) Celebrating Indigenous Languages. Use Google Earth to explore how indigenous languages are being kept alive. When you visit the website, you will find a digital homage to at-risk languages. On the website, they share:

Indigenous communities around the globe are working to preserve and revitalize their languages. They teach them to future generations and share them with non-Indigenous speakers. You will find indigenous traditional greetings, favorite sayings and meaningful songs.

b) Indigenous Peoples’ Day Resources. This website offers lessons, books, and films. The goal is to share what happened when Christopher Columbus invaded indigenous lands. Lessons focus on:

Critical analysis of the textbook version of Columbus’ discovery
Role-playing a trial of Columbus’ genocide of the Tainos people in the late 15th century
Analysis of President Andrew Jackson’s speeches relevant to the Trail of Tears

Current events are also included, such as the Dakota Access Pipeline. These lessons offer a powerful counterpoint to dominant cultural perspectives. They serve as a great way to engage students in problem-based learning (PBL). What’s more, students can develop critical thinking skills as they analyze past policies.

You can also find author interviews and booklists via the Colorin Colorado website.

native american history — Screenshot by author

#2: Teaching for Change

As a native Panamanian and American of Swedish descent, I undertook a quick inventory. The inventory wasn’t of my possessions, but rather, my history and cultural roots. Even though I grew up in Central America, I know very little about its history. Many children who grow up in the United States should learn the history of Central America. They also may be curious, as I am, about their heritage.

Teaching Central America offers this point:

More than four million Central Americans live in the United States today. The lack of school resources on Central American heritage make its history invisible. Central America is too-often portrayed as a strip of land on a map connecting North and South America. There is a scarcity of literature in the school libraries.

To address the dearth of resources on history and literature, you can find more online now. Teachers can find “free downloadable lessons, bios, poetry, and prose.” You can test your knowledge of Central America with a short quiz (I scored 1 correct out of 5).

Did You Know?
Microsoft has an Indigenous theme for its Edge browser. You can find Google Chrome browser themes that have a Native American look to them appear online.

The website offers a few free books for students, including:

Wilfredo: Un Nino de El Salvador (45 pages, free)
Beauty and Eco-Relationships in the Natural World of Central America
Leaving Home: Socratic Dialogue with Art
Geography is History: Locate the Countries of Central America
Rediscovering America

Although these are for elementary level students, there are others for older students. This site offers some fantastic content.

#3: University of Connecticut

Need to deepen your knowledge of African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino history? Consider the resources the University of Connecticut offers as one source. Their online curriculum offers an African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino studies course. The content has five units featuring:

Early Beginnings
Blood and Beauty
Sweat
Resistance
Where Are We Now

Each unit is replete with readings, primary sources, historical fiction, films, and activities. The historiographies cover quite a bit of ground, including web and journal articles. You will find quotes like this one from Jayline Hernandez Gomez:

“Although I come from an uneducated family background, my parents are not the ones who failed to educate me,” Hernandez Gomez read during a three-minute public comment. “My history classes failed me.” (Source)

With websites like this one, you get a sense of the scope of what’s left to learn about history. One drawback to the site is that it relies on published books, so you may find yourself paying out of pocket.

#4: A Google Slides Template

Check out this Native American Heritage focused, Google Slides template. Developed by Google for Education, it offers a wide variety of slides and activities. For example, you will find links to make a copy of Google Slides templates for:

Native American Heritage Month Activity (requires Google account)
World Kindness Day Compliment Chain

These two templates are simple and meant for children to use. Students customize the compliment chain:

In addition, Google Arts and Culture has released a massive Indigenous Americas collection. Some of the things you will find in it include:

And there’s much more– like sixty-five years of Navajo history through music.

#5: The Clio

The Clio makes it easy to explore history. Among the walking and virtual tours, you will find a focus on Native American History. For example, you can find walking tours for the Crow, the Nez Perce War of 1877, and the Native American Museum. There are others, of course.

Having grown up reading Donald Clayton Porter’s historical fiction, which had an interesting take on early colonial conflict with First Nations, I found Clio’s content enlightening. The site provides some real history to explore in pictures, audio, and video.

Additional Resources

If you’re like me, you love to read and listen to others. Allow me to share a few sources of both.

No doubt, you’ve read your share of “white Indian” stories. That is, children adopted or stolen from American settlers, then raised by Indigenous peoples. One of the books in my school library included Conrad Richter’s “The Light in the Forest.” I still remember my negative reaction, but curiosity spurred me on. Since then, I found many better stories.

Learn more about the We Are Water Protectors

You may find this collection of kid-friendly books better fare than those two authors. It’s important to keep in mind that…

Only 1% of the children’s books published in the U.S. in 2016 featured Indigenous characters, and even fewer (1/4 of the 1% = 8 books total) were written by Indigenous authors. (source)

Explore more titles via Strong Nations, an indigenous book publisher and seller. Debbie Reese shares more books of interest. You may gain a deeper appreciation for cultures lost and at-risk, as well as why they became so.

Finally, listen to these three podcasts for children:

Intended for younger children, they have a common goal of celebrating indigenous stories. Educators may also find this Kidlit These Days episode of interest, Episode 13: An Indigenous Peoples’ History.

Deepen Your Awareness of History

Don’t be afraid to explore and deepen your knowledge. There’s so much to learn and share about Indigenous peoples and Native Americans. Why not start with this collection of children’s books?

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Screenshot by author

Mastodon Magic: Five Tools Shared by Educators

What Is Mastadon?

Here’s an invitation to join the Mastodon.Education instance

Takeaway #1: Create Your Own Custom Map

Takeaway #2: Time for Inclusive Education

Takeaway #3: Shared Piano Lab

Takeaway #4: Technology Resources and Info

Takeaway #5: Native Land Digital

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Five Resources for Indigenous Peoples and Native American Heritage

#1: Indigenous Peoples Day Lessons and Activities

#2: Teaching for Change

Did You Know?

#3: University of Connecticut

#4: A Google Slides Template

#5: The Clio

Additional Resources

Deepen Your Awareness of History

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