How to Teach About American Indians

Accurate instruction about American Indian people has been woefully inadequate to date. This guide will enable the school library media specialist to help teachers and students teach and learn about American Indian people, history, culture, and contemporary issues in ways that are authentic, accurate, and appropriate. It provides accurate information, recommends appropriate resources, and offers guidelines for selection of instructional materials and activities, plus model lessons for teaching in appropriate and culturally sensitive ways. This invaluable resource is designed to fit into existing classes and curriculum patterns and is both practical and thought-provoking.

KAREN D. HARVEY is Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the University of Denver. She has been involved in social studies education and multicultural education for over 25 years. She is the editor ofAmerican Indian Voices (1995), an anthology of American Indian literature,Plains Indians (1993), a children's book, and is the coauthor of Indian Country: A History of Indian People in America (1994) andTeaching About Native Americans (1990).

LISA D. HARJO is program director of the Circle of Learning Early Childhood and Family Education Program of the Denver Indian Center. She is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. She is the coauthor ofIndian Country: A History of Indian People in America (1994), Teaching Native Americans (1990), and other publications about American Indians.

LYNDA WELBORN is senior consultant, School Library Media, Colorado State Library, where she provides technical assistance to 176 school districts. She is the coauthor ofThe Impact of School Library Media Centers on Student Achievement (1993).