It has been an action-packed start to the semester for our 7th and 8th-grade Native American History elective! Over the first three weeks, students have moved beyond the textbook to engage in hands-on learning, cultural immersion, and meaningful community collaborations.
Weekly Traditions: Beading and Language
Our weekly schedule is anchored by visits from local experts who bring history and culture to life:
Tuesdays: Cultural Arts – JoAnn “Dumps” Mitchell from the Prairie Band Potawatomi Boys & Girls Club is teaching the students the art of beading. Students have selected personal images and have officially begun sewing their own custom medallions.
Thursdays: Potawatomi Language – We are honored to have a dedicated team from the Prairie Band Potawatomi Language Department teaching our students. Students are currently learning how to introduce themselves and engage in simple conversations.
Our Thursday Instructors include:
Sogi LeClere – Language Department Director
Dr. Robert E. Lewis, Jr. – Curriculum & Instruction Manager
Cindy LeClere – Language Instructor
Jayme Mitchell – Apprentice II
Nomkiwash Potts – Apprentice II
Brennah Simon – Apprentice I
Regional Studies and Food Sovereignty
Students recently explored the First Nations People of California, specifically the Miwok. We learned that 75% of Indigenous people in that region relied on acorns as a primary daily food staple. Students studied the intensive process of turning acorns into meal—including drying, grinding, and leaching tannic acid—and discussed the 1,185 bedrock mortars found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Coming Soon: Students will apply these lessons by baking their own hazelnut bread loaves!
Art and Storytelling
The class recently explored the “Turtle Island” creation stories of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) and Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) nations. Inspired by these narratives, students are currently working to create original watercolor scenes depicting these oral histories. Thank you, to Mr. Triplett, for helping us with the supplies to create these!
Literature and Historical Accuracy
We have begun reading the historical fiction novel, Two-Moon Journey: The Potawatomi Trail of Death. To help distinguish fact from fiction, the PBP Language Center teachers will be assisting us with:
Navigating primary source documents and archives.
Understanding correct Prairie Band Potawatomi word usage within the context of the story.
Learning on the Move: Field Trip Success
On January 16th, students visited "The Americans" Smithsonian Exhibition. Using a scavenger hunt to guide their curiosity, students explored the complex history and negative impacts of historical events on First Nations people. Following the tour, the group ate their sack lunches and held a reflective discussion at the Old Bingo Hall building.
Special Thanks: We would like to thank Mr. Glotzbach, RVMS Transportation, and Tara Mitchell for making this valuable field trip possible.
Looking Ahead
The coming weeks will feature several community guest speakers who will visit the classroom to discuss history, career paths, entertainment, and food sovereignty.
We are incredibly thankful for our community stakeholders and the collaborative spirit that makes this class such a unique experience for our students!
