Minnesota schools are getting new materials to enhance their teaching of Native American history, as an emerging book series aims to blend a more comprehensive approach with compassion and curiosity.
The "Native American Lives" series, recently launched by the Minnesota Humanities Center, provides free biographies of Dakota and Ojibwe leaders and changemakers. Last fall, more than 5,500 books were distributed to public elementary and middle school libraries around the state, at no cost.
There's a profile of Carrie Cavender Schommer, one of five remaining first language Dakota speakers. She taught in the Yellow Medicine East School District.
Roberta Bjerkeset, director of Indian education in the district, said Schommer used her gifts with care and purpose to revitalize the language while enabling younger Natives to embrace their identity.
"Many of the times she said, and it's reflected in the book, is, 'Know who you are. And if you know the language, then you understand what it means to be Dakota,'" Bjerkeset recounted.
Her district's student population is nearly 20% Native American but Bjerkeset said the effort helps non-Native students, too. She added it gives them a deeper understanding of the Upper Sioux Community and pushes aside misconceptions.
Four book titles were part of the fall series, and another three were announced this month. The Minnesota Humanities Center sends out the books with support from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and the state's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
Sophia Blue, Native American liaison and paraprofessional at Yellow Medicine East, said having the books to work with can elevate the curiosity of teachers, not just students.
"There have been previous teachers, or even principals, who didn't even know all of her accomplishments," Blue observed. "It's just education for everyone."
For many years, states like Minnesota were scrutinized for not having a detailed K-12 curriculum covering Native American history. Recent moves have tried to address it, including a 2023 Minnesota law requiring teachers to undergo training on tribal history and culture when renewing their license. Yellow Medicine East leaders said resources are still hard to come by and the books can help fill the gaps.
