,
13 tweets,
5 min read
Read on Twitter
Today is National Native American Heritage Day.
Today is a day to reflect upon & improve our understanding of the many different Native American cultures.
The problem is, most of us don't truly understand how ignorant we are on this subject.
👇👇 Let me explain. 👇👇
THREAD
Today is a day to reflect upon & improve our understanding of the many different Native American cultures.
The problem is, most of us don't truly understand how ignorant we are on this subject.
👇👇 Let me explain. 👇👇
THREAD
2/
FACT: Research (A) shows 87% of what K-12 schools teach our kids about Native American cultures only includes information about these cultures from before 1900.
Think about that! It means we literally rely upon century-old contexts to teach our kids about Native peoples.
FACT: Research (A) shows 87% of what K-12 schools teach our kids about Native American cultures only includes information about these cultures from before 1900.
Think about that! It means we literally rely upon century-old contexts to teach our kids about Native peoples.
3/
In Many modern textbooks still perpetuate negative stereotypes against Native Americans. "These texts presented Indigenous Peoples as thieves, drunks, bloodthirsty savages, and lazy." (A)
In Many modern textbooks still perpetuate negative stereotypes against Native Americans. "These texts presented Indigenous Peoples as thieves, drunks, bloodthirsty savages, and lazy." (A)
4/
We remain largely ignorant to the true horrors our forefathers inflicted upon Native Americans.
A 2013 study of CA textbooks found that they ignore (or deny) the genocide of N. Americans during the Gold Rush, instead describing the period as "exciting" or "thrilling." (B, C)
We remain largely ignorant to the true horrors our forefathers inflicted upon Native Americans.
A 2013 study of CA textbooks found that they ignore (or deny) the genocide of N. Americans during the Gold Rush, instead describing the period as "exciting" or "thrilling." (B, C)
5/
We as a nation tend to view "Native American" as one ethnic group instead of the over 600 different sovereign cultures the term represents. (D)
We as a nation tend to view "Native American" as one ethnic group instead of the over 600 different sovereign cultures the term represents. (D)
6/
“An ordinary citizen of Texas has far more in common with a citizen of Massachusetts or Oregon than a Penobscot Indian from Maine or a Seminole from Florida has with a Gwich’in native from Alaska or a Hopi from Arizona.” (D)
“An ordinary citizen of Texas has far more in common with a citizen of Massachusetts or Oregon than a Penobscot Indian from Maine or a Seminole from Florida has with a Gwich’in native from Alaska or a Hopi from Arizona.” (D)
7/
Why the long thread?
Well, Native Americans deserve better. They're not the simplified, 1-dimensional antiquated culture Hollywood makes them out to be.
Why the long thread?
Well, Native Americans deserve better. They're not the simplified, 1-dimensional antiquated culture Hollywood makes them out to be.
8/
Many of them have fought for this country.
Many of them have fought for this country.
9/
We even 2 new Native American women in Congress: Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) and Sharice Davis (Ho-Chunk).
We even 2 new Native American women in Congress: Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) and Sharice Davis (Ho-Chunk).
10/
So, on this Native American Heritage Day, let's honor your fellow indigenous countrymen & women by doing what we can to better educate ourselves on their cultures.
That starts with confronting our ignorance and preconceived notions. I'd recommend reading Source D below.
So, on this Native American Heritage Day, let's honor your fellow indigenous countrymen & women by doing what we can to better educate ourselves on their cultures.
That starts with confronting our ignorance and preconceived notions. I'd recommend reading Source D below.
11/
Source A: teachingforchange.org/wp-content/upl…
Source B: journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.117…
Source C:
google.com/url?sa=t&sourc…
Source A: teachingforchange.org/wp-content/upl…
Source B: journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.117…
Source C:
google.com/url?sa=t&sourc…
Yeesh. I need to proofread next time. Excuse the typos. 😅
