Thread by @KaitlinCurtice

Recently, I visited my kids' school and went to 11 different classrooms (k-2nd graders) to tell them a little about Anishinaabe culture, Potawatomi language, who Native Americans are, the Great Lakes, wild rice, and to read them Bowwow Powwow by Brenda Child.

A few observations:

First, kids are amazing.

When given new information, they soak it up and want so badly to explore and understand it. They asked amazing questions, and very thoughtful ones. We need to equip them with resources to explore these questions, especially around these topics.

Second, I'm grateful my kids are exploring who they are. Growing up, my family didn't talk about being Potawatomi as a thing to be proud of. We didn't explore the depth and beauty of what that means. My kids are actively thinking about it daily, and it shows. I'm proud of them.

In one class, a teacher asked me if I'd come back and teach the kids about Sacagawea.
I couldn't explain in that moment that I'm not equipped to come teach about any Native person they are studying.
She meant well.
I hope the kids learn well.

In a few classes, as I was sitting there, the teachers encouraged the kids to ask questions-- in the PAST TENSE. So even as I am sitting there, reading a book from an Indigenous woman who is LIVING, we are still talked about in past tense, history, what was.
That needs to change.

It seems like a lot of teachers are equipped to teach the same vague stories, riddled with mistruths every year. If things change, it's last minute efforts, and that's not enough time to really explore the problems. These ideas/histories/stories need to be examined all year long.

It was really moving to hear the kids yell to me, "MIGWETCH!" after I finished reading to them and taught them how to say it, and how the teachers encouraged it. A highlight of the day, for sure.

One last thing I notice is people/teachers being oddly intimidated by me like I'm going to bite them. Walking on eggshells, afraid to get too close.

We are just people. Parents, friends, lovers, writers, doctors, Netflix-binge-watchers. Please don't act like we're aliens.

I know it's weird to have Indigenous people come to teach and share things you know will go against allllll the things taught. But it's important and beautiful. It's truth-telling, and we deserve that no matter how old we are.

We're doing this together.
Let's not forget that.

I'm so grateful to the librarian at the school who set it all up for me. And y'all, I was exhausted by the end.

But I hope it brought new life and thoughts and considerations to these kiddos.

Thanks for being an encouragement to me here.