[RSCT] Curriculum Resources for Alternative Views on Columbus Day

[ZEZULA, KATHERINE]

Do you know of any children's literature that tells an honest story-
possibly from the perspective of the indigenous peoples?

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From: rs-bounces at criticalteach.org on behalf of Bob Peterson
Sent: Sun 10/11/2009 10:26 PM
To: RS critical teach list serve
Subject: [RSCT] Curriculum Resources for Alternative Views on Columbus
Day


Great resources to Reconsider Columbus Day and Rethink Columbus.
 
Why rethink Christopher Columbus? Because the Columbus myth is a
foundation of children's beliefs about society. Columbus is often a
child's first lesson about encounters between different cultures and
races. The murky legend of a brave adventurer tells children whose
version of history to accept, and whose to ignore. It says nothing
about the brutality of the European invasion of North America.
 
We need to listen to a wider range of voices. We need to hear from
those whose lands and rights were taken away by those who "discovered"
them. Their stories, too often suppressed, tell of 500 years of
courageous struggle, and the lasting wisdom of native peoples.
Understanding what really happened to them in 1492 is key to
understanding why people suffer the same injustices today.
 
 
1) A new one minute public service announcement asking people to
Reconsider Columbus Day go to:
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il5hwpdJMcg
or to
www.reconsidercolumbusday.org <http://www.reconsidercolumbusday.org/> 
 
 
2) The book Rethinking Columbus: The Next 500 Years
More than 90 essays, poems, interviews, historical vignettes, and
lesson plans reevaluate the myth of Columbus and issues of indigenous
rights. Rethinking Columbus is packed with useful teaching ideas for
kindergarten through college
 
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/publication/columbus/columbus.shtml
 
 
3) Unlearning "Indian" Stereotypes
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/publication/uis-dvd/
 
Narrated by Native American children, the DVD Unlearning "Indian"
Stereotypes teaches about racial stereotypes and provides an
introduction to Native American history through the eyes of children.