Native kids tackle media

Learning to tell stories

Native teens gain media experience in after-school programMaybe you've seen them out there with note pads, microphones and cameras, talking to officials, to everyday people, to those who live on the streets. They're kids, and they're asking lots of questions. They want to know why things are the way they are, what needs to change and what it all means.

They're members of MEDIAK, an after-school media program for Native teens, and they're taking on tough topics--depression, suicide, rape, abuse. Why, they want to know, do Native American teens drop out of school at twice the national average? What is life like when you're pregnant and alone? How does being in a drunken-driving accident that kills a friend alter a person's life?

Getting ready for Thanksgiving

Native Americans:  Lesson PlansWith Thanksgiving approaching, teachers across the country are getting ready to teach children about Native Americans. Unfortunately, far too often, November and Thanksgiving (and Columbus Day) are the only times of the year that Native peoples make an appearance in the curriculum. That is not "best practice!" I urge teachers to teach about American Indians throughout the year. Here's one book to help you do that.

A terrific resource for early childhood teachers is Lessons from Turtle Island: Native Curriculum in Early Childhood Classrooms, by Guy W. Jones and Sally Moomaw.

Blog covers kids' lit

American Indians in Children's Literature

Critical discussion of children's books that contain images and content about American Indians.

Transmitting knowledge via comics

Some postings on using comics to transmit cultural knowledge to native (African) people:

HIV and AIDS:  Human Rights for Everyone--Comic Booklet

Are Your Rights Respected?--Comic Booklet

How to Make Grassroot Comics

Eyes Wide Open--Comic Book

Reach Out Speak Out--Comic Booklet

'Badilika Uishi' Comic Book

Big money for Native book

Check out another posting in Newspaper Rock about an author who may have part of his novel translated into Cherokee.

Cartoon legends of the Oneida

See my posting over in Newspaper Rock for another way to tell Native stories.

Salish and Kootenai keyboards

Tribal languages, at your fingertipsStudents across the reservation will have the languages of the Salish and Kootenai tribes right at their finger tips.

Modified keyboards featuring unique characters will soon be available in area schools and will enable students to type in traditional Salish and Kootenai languages--the result of hard work by a former SKC technology director.