Culture plays a large but often unnoticeable role in what we teach and how we teach children. We are a country of immense diversity, but in classrooms the dominant European-American culture has become the language of learning.

Stereotyping is a poor substitute for getting to know individuals at a more intimate, meaningful level. In this article, the author talks about the myths and stereotypes about Native Americans, and shares his view on the most important considerations that teachers and others might keep in mind when assessing curriculum, developing lesson plans, or…

White teachers in Indian schools often find themselves unprepared for their task. They do not understand the history, culture, communities, and learning needs of their students. In this article, the author challenges these educators to become better teachers of Indian children and shares some of the lessons she learned about becoming a better…

In this article, the author states, that Montana's tribal colleges have always operated in accordance with the tenets of Indian Education for All (IEFA), and many include in their mission statements the advancement of their tribes' culture and traditions. The current challenge facing tribal colleges is to meet the demands of Montana's education…

American students' knowledge of Indian history and culture is woefully inadequate. Montana now requires its teachers to remedy this situation, but it has become clear that, to do so, they themselves must first be re-educated. In this article, the author shares her experience developing an online course that would help teachers meet the…

This article presents a teacher's story regarding the necessity of a laws such as Indian Education for All (IEFA). According to the law, all school personnel are expected to "gain an understanding of and appreciation for the American Indian people." It is deeply rooted in democracy and reflects so much of what the teachers believe about…

In this article, the authors describe the extraordinary perseverance, and a series of legislative efforts of Indian education advocates in implementing a bill known as Indian Education for All (IEFA). The bill established three primary objectives with regard to Indian education in the state: (1) Every Montanan, whether Indian or non-Indian, is to…

Many concepts forming the foundation of the outdoor/experiential learning movement have parallels in Native American traditions. The National Indian Youth Leadership Program focuses on key Native American values such as family commitment, service to others, spiritual awareness, challenge, meaningful roles, recognition, responsibility, natural…