Northwest Center
for Sustainable Resources
Native American Educational Resources
The Native American perspective of our natural resources provides a unique understanding of the relationship of man and his environment. NCSR has developed two guides to assist educators in integrating this perspective into the educational process. These guides can be accessed by clicking on Educator's Guide. Additionally NCSR has compiled references to a variety of sources that can supplement the information in the Educator Guides. These references are provided below:
Printed Resources | Curriculum Activities | Video Tapes | Web Sites
| Printed Resources | |
| Cronon, William. 1983. "Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England." Hill and Wang, a division of Farrar, Straus and Giroux. New York. 241 pages. |
Changes in the Land offers a persuasive interpretation of the changing circumstances in New England's plant and animal communities that occurred with the shift from Indian to European dominance. |
| Blackburn, Thomas and Kat Anderson. 1993. "Before The Wilderness: Environmental Management by Native Californians." Ballena Press. Menlo Park, California. 476 pages. |
Before The Wilderness describes the practices of wilderness management by native Indians. Also this book offers better ways to manage our environment now. |
| Schoonmaker, Peter; Wolf, Edward and Hagen, Bettina von. 1997. "The Rain Forests of Home." Ecotrust. Portland, Oregon. 431 pages. |
The Rain Forests of Home offers a unified description of the characteristics, history, culture, economy, and ecology of the coastal temperate rain forest. |
| Coastes, Ned. "Teaching about American Indians." Nature Study v 46 (March 1994): p 3-4 |
Presents aspects of American Indian culture that the environmental education teacher should understand when teaching ecology in a Native American context. |
| Quinn, W.J. "Native American Hunting Traditions as a Basis for Outdoor Education." Journal of Outdoor Education, v26, p12-18, 1992093 . |
Discusses Native American hunting practices and beliefs applicable to an outdoor education curriculum, focusing on respect and reverence for the earth, animals, and the natural world. Suggests that Native hunting rationales could form a philosophical foundation for environmental education and outdoor education programs |
| Cajete, G. "Look to the Mountain: An Ecology of Indigenous Education." U.S.: Colorado, 1994 |
Explores the nature of indigenous education outlining key elements of American Indians perspectives on learning and teaching. Chapters exp.ore the spiritual, environmental, mythic, visionary, artistic, affective and communal foundations of indigenous education. |
| Gough, N., Kesson, K. "Boddy and Narrative as Cultural Text: Towards a Curriculum of Continuity and Connection." Australia: Victoria 1992 |
Suggests that deconstructing the modern metaphors of nature cultivated by modern science and industrialism is the first step towards reconstructing a relationship with the earth. Environmental educators can learn much from the narrative strategies of pre-modern cultures like Australian Aborigines and Native Americans about the assimilation of language to the world. |
| Barreiro, J. "The Search for Lessons." Akwe:kon Journal, v9, no2 (Summer 1992) p 18-39. |
Contrasts the expropriations and misrepresentation of Indian beliefs by "New Age" gurus with the respectful application of indigenous values to environmental ethics. Discusses indigenous models of ecosystemic adaptation in North and South America, the convergence of conservation efforts and Indian land rights, and issues in Native community-based development |
| Curriculum Activities | |
| Caduto, Michael and Brunchac, Joseph. 1998. "Keepers of Life - Discovering Plants Through Native American Stories and Earth Activities for Children." Golden, Colorado. 265 pages. Caduto, Michael and Brunchac, Joseph. 1988. "Keepers of the Earth - Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children." Golden, Colorado. 209 pages. |
These books include stories and activities which teach children respect and stewardship for the Earth and all living things. |
| "Completing the Cycle - It's Up to You: Responsibility for the Environment." Indian Dept. of Education. 1993 (Eisenhower National Clearinghouse 000 099) |
This instructional module has activities designed to provide students with a variety of concrete ways to study the relationships between behaviors and consequences. Hands-on activities focus on development of many content areas such as language arts, social studies, mathematics, science, fine arts, and health. Investigations also have look at how the people, events, and decisions of the past influence the present and future by examining Native Americans, pioneers, and people of today. |
| "Project Willow: Understanding Native American Culture Through Environmental Education." Developed through a partnership between the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California and schools districts in Nevada and California. 1995 (Eisenhower National Clearinghouse. 002-744) |
Ecological concepts such as resources, carrying capacity, competitions, niches, range, flow of energy, and ecological change are highlighted. The effort of Euro American settlement on Washoe lands along with how the loss of traditional lands has had a profound effect on Washoe people are examined. |
| Video Tapes | |
| "Chinook Trilogy: My strength Is From the Fish, Empty Promises Empty Nets, and Matter of Trust." Videocassette. Columbia River Inter-Tribal Commission Distributed by Wild Hare Media P.O. Box 3854 Portland, OR 97208. |
This three part video collection focuses on Indians of the Columbia River. My Strength Is From the Fish, reveals salmon are both the core of the culture and the Key to it's survival. Empty Promises Empty Nets, touches on landmark legal decisions concerning treaty-bound fishing rights of Columbia River Indians. The Final Part of the Series, Matter of Time, looks at current pressures and issues shaping salmon populations and an impassioned plea for change. |
| "The Mohawk Legacy: A Matter of Survival." Project Future Potsdam College of the State University of New York. 1992 (ENC 000-231) |
Produced by American Indians, the video is designed to be a teaching tool for middle school curricula related to biology, environmental studies, technology, culture or history. After discussing the Akwesasne culture and historical settings, a Mohawk artist and storyteller talks about the creation story, Mohawk tradition, symbolism, and their matrilineal social structure. |
| "The Huckleberry." Videocassette. Oregon State University College of Forestry. Forestry Media Center 248 Peavy Hall Oregon State University Corvallis, Oregon 97331-5702 |
This video provides an in-depth look at the huckleberry's importance in Native American life. |
| "Tribal Law, How Panther Got Tear Marks", "Karuk Basketmakers: A Way of Life", "Theft of Fire: A Yurok Tribal Legend, Why Coyote Has The Best Eyes." Videocassettes. Title V Indian Education Program, Hoopa, California. |
This series of video tapes covers a wide variety of stories and issues important to northern California tribes. |
| "EPA and Indian Country: Building Pesticide and Toxics Programs In Indian Country." Videocassette. Environmental Protection Agency United States. |
|
| Web Sites | |
| American Indian Resource Directory www.indians.org/Resource/resource.html |
|
|
American Indian Resources www.uwec.edu |
|
|
Native American Indian Resources www.kstrom.net |
|
|
Native American Home Pages www.nativeculture.com |
|
| American Indian Environmental Office www.epa.gov/indian/index.htm |
|
| Native Americans and the Land www.nhc.rtp.nc.us/tserve/nattrans/ntecoindian.htm |
|
| The American Indian Higher Education Consortium www.aihec.org |
|
|
Printed Resources | Curriculum Activities | Video Tapes | Web Sites | Back to top |
|
Updated December 2007 by Marketing and Student Recruitment.
Copyright 2007 Northwest Center for Sustainable Resources, Salem, Oregon.