Seven-Generation Teaching Brought to Topeka Classrooms
Looking seven generations down the road guided a Friday visit to the Topeka Center for Advanced Learning & Careers, where students encountered tribal history rarely found in public school curricula. Tara Mitchell, deputy tribal historic preservation officer with the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, stepped into the classrooms to share traditions and raise awareness during Native American Heritage Month, as reported by WIBW.
Students Show Surprise When Learning Difficult Tribal History
Students frequently encounter common stereotypes about tribes, according to Mitchell. Classroom conversations offer an opening to present harder history that routinely draws expressions of astonishment.
“You know, when I get into some of the harder history that’s really difficult to talk about, I get a lot of like surprise looks,” Mitchell said. “They never knew some of this history. A lot of them want to know more. Maybe they are native, but they don’t know much about their tribe. I want to try to encourage them to learn more and reach out to, you know, maybe their tribe, who they are, their parents, their grandparents, and, you know, get to know who they are.”
Bridging the Curriculum Gap on Tribal Nations
Public schools rarely cover tribal history, leaving a stark gap that direct visits aim to bridge. Mitchell shared a specific generational teaching with 13 NEWS, urging students to think about future descendants and to ensure the world remains good for great-great-great-grandkids.
“It’s important because not a lot of people know about our tribe and not a lot of people know about tribal history. It’s not taught in public schools. I think that we do need to start teaching tribal history in public schools to bring awareness to tribal nations’ history and that we’re still here,” Mitchell said. “We’re not, you know, we’re not in the past. We’re still practicing our traditions and, you know, teaching our children.”
