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    American Indian Studies: STI

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    Since Time Immemorial

    Inauguration Day 2021 Teaching Resources from SPS Curriculum and Instruction

    On January 20th, President-elect Joe Biden will take the Oath of Office and be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States of America during an inauguration ceremony. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris has also made history as the first woman and the first person to identify as Black and as South Asian American to serve in the role of Vice President.

    Many teachers are considering ways to approach teaching about the inauguration. The resources listed below are lessons and activities to help you teach about the event through a non-partisan lens.

    View Teaching Resources 

    American Indians, American Presidents book coverAmerican Indians/American Presidents: A History (book)

    "Focused on major turning points in Native American history, American Indians/American Presidents shows how Native Americans interpreted the power and prestige of the presidency and advanced their own agendas, from the age of George Washington to the administration of George W. Bush. The contributing authors draw on inaugural addresses, proclamations, Indian Agency records, private correspondence, and photographs in the museum’s collections to shed new light on the relationship between America’s presidents and Native American leaders."—National Museum of the American Indian, published 2009.

    Remote Learning: Lesson Plans & Continuous Learning Resources

    Washington State Tribal History & Seattle Public Schools:

    Living Nations, Living Words: A Map of First Peoples' Poetry 

    image of Living Nations Living Words map

    Joy Harjo (Muscogee Creek), the first Native American U.S. Poet Laureate, launched Living Nations, Living Words: A Map of First Peoples' Poetry—an interactive map of contemporary Native poets.

    "For my signature project as the 23rd Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry, I conceived the idea of mapping the U.S. with Native Nations poets and poems. I want this map to counter damaging false assumptions—that indigenous peoples of our country are often invisible or are not seen as human. You will not find us fairly represented, if at all, in the cultural storytelling of America, and nearly nonexistent in the American book of poetry." —U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo

    Listen to the Library of Congress collection of audio recordings of 47 contemporary Native American poets reading and discussing an original poem. Poets include Joy Harjo, Louise Erdrich, Natalie Diaz, Ray Young Bear, Craig Santos Perez, Sherwin Bitsui, Layli Long Soldier, and other featured voices.

    Learn more about Joy Harjo and other Native American poets

    Superintendent Juneau Reads Fry Bread with Seattle Super Readers!

    Watch and read along with Superintendent Juneau (Mandan, Hidatsa, Blackfeet) as she shares Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story, a picture book by Kevin Noble Maillard Seminole), for Seattle Super Readers Book of the Month (8:46-minute video).

    I Am Native: A Video Highlighting Native American SPS Students and Leaders

    I Am Native: A Discussion Between Seattle Public Schools Native American Students and Leaders (9:29-minute video on Vimeo) features Superintendent Denise Juneau, Board President Zachary DeWolf, Vice-President Chandra Hampson and students from Nathan Hale High School’s šəqačib program.

    Since Time Immemorial logo

    RCW 28A.320.170 Washington State Curricula: Tribal History & Culture

    From the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 28A.320.170, 2015, Washington State Legislature:

    Upon social studies curriculum adoption, a school district shall incorporate curricula about nearest tribes’ histories, cultures, and governments. School districts meet the requirements by using the state-developed curriculum Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State AND incorporating elements that are regionally specific. 

    Modifications & Required State Collaboration

    School districts shall collaborate with OSPI on curricular areas regarding tribal government and history that are statewide in nature, such as the concept of tribal sovereignty and the history of federal policy towards federally recognized Indian tribes.

    Why American Indian Studies?

    We use the name American Indian Studies because:

    • American Indian is the legal term for the federally recognized tribes that reside within the U.S.

    • Unlike other American ethnic groups, federally recognized tribes and nations deal with U.S. state, and local governments on a "government-to-government" basis.

    Our Partner Tribes

    Meet our partner tribes under the Treaty of Point Elliott: The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe and The Suquamish Tribe.

    Muckleshoot Indian Tribe logo

    Suquamish Indian Tribe logo

    Contact Us

    Gail T. Morris ~ Nuu-chah-nulth
    Native American Education Program Manager
    206-252-0948
    gtmorris@seattleschools.org

    Shana Brown ~ Yakama, Muckleshoot 
    Native American Education Curriculum Specialist srbrown@seattleschools.org

    Lushootseed translation of "We would like to acknowledge that we are on the ancestral lands and traditional territories of the Puget Sound Coast Salish People"