6th Grade: Native American Land Curriculum, Standard Four Lessons

by Shannon Britton

Native American Land Curriculum

6th Grade

Standard Four: The Future of American Indian Lands

Strengthening Traditional Land Values

Standard One Goal: The student will develop an understanding of the manner in which a return to American Indian traditional values can help correct the effects of decades of erosion of their homelands.

Rationale: The final standard looks to what Indian communities should consider as they work toward a successful future in managing their lands. Indians have had their lands severely diminished and, in many cases, they have been moved great distances from their original homelands. This diminishment and displacement has had significant impacts on tribal culture, clan and social structure, traditional education, languages and overall tribal health. Tribal nations are finding the means of asserting their sovereign status and taking steps to correct some of the harm to their tribal societies and land bases. This assertion can include acquisition of lost lands, halting the erosion of land bases, restoration of traditional land values and development of sustainable land-based tribal economies.

Lesson 2: Tribal Leadership
Achievement Goals: Understand the importance of leadership in managing the tribal interests with respect to retaining and restoring traditional land (or water) uses By studying the Makah Whaling Conflict, students will come to understand the importance of leadership in managing the specific interests of their tribe with respect to retaining and restoring traditional land (or water) uses. The National Council for Science and the Environment has an excellent site on the whaling conflict and it will be used for this lesson. Additionally, students will participate in a simulation in which various groups articulate views on how a land policy decision should be made.
6th Grade, Standard 4,Lesson 2: Background, Student Activity, Evaluation, Resources	6th Grade, Standard Four, Lesson Two, Lesson Plan Overview	The Makah Whale Hunt Information	"Dr. Rock" from Environmental Protection, Native American Lands, HSU
			"Dr. Rock Worksheets" from Environmental Protection, Native American Lands, HSU
Lesson 3: Managing Sustainable Resources
Achievement Goals: Research an example of a sustainable tribal land and natural resource management operation and identify how this operation helps the tribe and tribal people. In this lesson, students will study Menominee Tribal Enterprises as an example of how tribal nations are practicing sustainable land and natural resource management. After they learn about this tribal initiative, they will imagine how various uses and extraction of natural resources can be done sustainably.
6th Grade, Standard 4,Lesson 3: Background, Student Activity, Evaluation, Resources	6th Grade, Standard 4,Lesson 3: Lesson Plan Overview	Edge of the Woods Forestry for the Seventh Generation	Menominee Tribal Enterprises, A Success Story