Introduction
Native Americans have been living on the North American continent for thousands of years. They were moved from the lands they occupied onto reservations established by the US government in the 1800s. The forced movement traumatically affected tribes and wiped out clans and whole families. Today, federally recognized tribes work with the government to obtain funds to sustain the tribes. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), a government agency, was established to assist the tribal government in distributing funds to sustain the tribes. Although the BIA agency assisted, many tribes lacked basic living standards. For example, running water and electricity were not in many homes. The tribal office has voiced these concerns, but their voices and advocacy did not travel far up the BIA ladder. Eventually, some individuals stepped up to fight the struggles for the primary living standard on the reservation. These individuals created a movement known as the American Indian Movement (AIM). These leaders became prominent figures who fought for better housing, better health care, native language and culture education, and treaty rights.
Many tribes signed numerous treaties with the government during the 1700s to the 1900s. The government did not recognize most treaties unless the tribes stayed on their reservation. The last treaty signed was when tribes agreed to stay on their reservations, and then the government provided for their livelihood. The government did not support many tribes in urban areas near large cities. These tribes relied on the churches because churches use American Indians to get funds. Many examples of how the government helped the tribes were not suitable for many tribal families, like the food distribution program known as the monthly commodity trucks. I remember these trucks parked at the chapter house distributing cases of can food. Some of the cans were outdated and were not suitable to eat.
I want my students to know native historical events and native leaders who made changes for the good of their people. I want my students to understand how and why the American Indian Movement (AIM) formed a coalition to help their tribal community and helped other tribes across the nation. They will learn how AIM informed other tribes using the news networks and how the leaders help individuals and families in need and fight police brutality and white community members who dislike American Indians. My students will learn about the AIM influential leaders and read about the leaders’ lives, objectives, and causes in how the leaders stood for Indian rights.
My students are fifth graders, and the majority of them are Diné who live in the town of Kayenta. However, some students reside in outlying areas that are about 25 to 70 miles away from school. These students are bussed from their homes and to school during their school day. For example, Rough Rock is about 70 miles one-way and one-hundred forty-mile round trip. That is many miles for students to travel to school. Other outlying areas are Dennehosto, Chilchinbeto, Baby Rock, Black Mesa, Tsegi, Cow Springs, Betatakin, Shonto, Diversion Dam, Oljato, and Monument Valley. Families in these outlying areas prefer to have their child(ren) attend the Kayenta School District because of its resources like Chromebooks, hotspots, delivered breakfast and lunches and learning packets for online distance learning.
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