Native American Curriculum Initiative
Amplifying Native Voices in the classroom, building bridges between Native and educational communities
Join Us in Celebrating Orange Shirt Day!
On September 29, the state of Utah will be celebrating Orange Shirt Day. This day acknowledges that boarding schools are a part of our history. Wearing an orange shirt symbolizes the movement to honor the experience of those who went to Native American boarding schools, to honor them, and to show a collective commitment to recognize that every child matters.
Our goal is to create awareness of the individual, family and community intergenerational impacts of Native American Residential Schools through Orange Shirt Day activities, and to promote the concept “Every Child Matters.”
Amplifying Native Voices
The Native American Curriculum Initiative is an initiative of the BYU ARTS Partnership. The BYU ARTS Partnership's mission is to ensure that all children benefit from an education that provides for academic excellence, social confidence, and personal expression through experience with the arts.
In order to do this, we believe we need to expand notions of belonging in the classroom with more space for the voices on the margins. Teachers, school administrators, students, and their communities can grow together and contribute to a more equitable learning environment by exploring cultures, their own and others, through the arts.
Vision & Mission
Vision: Amplify Native voices in the classroom
Mission: Use principles of partnership to build bridges between Tribal Nations and educational communities within Utah. Create arts-integrated resources, model respectful collaboration, and provide experiences that inspire confidence in addressing cultural content in the classroom.
Guiding Principles
- Know your own culture.
- Assume goodwill and learn from mistakes.
- Ask with genuine intent and listen attentively.
- Accept "no" gracefully.
- Use accurate and original sources from the past and present
- Embrace partnership and reciprocity.
- Allow the time needed for authentic growth.
Tribal Partners in Utah
Crucial to this endeavor is establishing a collaborative partnership with tribal nations of Utah in the creation of lessons that align with tribal customs and traditions. The BYU Arts Partnership believes "the greatest impact for change will be accomplished through collaborative efforts involving teachers, schools, districts, departments, and universities," and in this case, tribal nations. Providing arts-integrated lesson plans, an artist roster, and other resources in partnership with and approved by tribes will add validity and another layer of confidence and support for teachers and children.
Native Resources for the Classroom
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Native American Lesson Plans
The lesson plans developed as part of the Native American Curriculum Initiative allow teachers to: integrate Native American perspectives when teaching core subjects, feel confident using tribe-approved materials, and use the arts as a culturally responsive pedagogy.
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Online Course "Amplify Native Voices in the Classroom"
Consider registering for our new 1-credit online course "Amplifying Native Voices in the Classroom" to learn HOW to implement our tribe-approved arts-integrated lesson plans and select culturally appropriate resources for your classroom. -
Blogs & Articles
Learn about topics such as: indigenous foodways, evaluating resources, the native literacy project, opinion editorials, moving towards cultural responsiveness, and many more!
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Native American Teaching Artist Roster
Native American Teaching Artists are one of the best resources for your classroom when seeking to provide accurate and authentic voices in your students' learning experiences. Our initiative can connect you to these individuals through our partnership with the Utah Division of Arts and Museums, funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
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Artful Teaching Podcast
The BYU ARTS Partnership presents the stories of teachers, Native artists, and community members working to amplify Native voices, enhance student learning and improve school culture through culturally responsive teaching and indigenous pedagogy.
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Native American Children's Books
We love to help teachers find the best children's books for their classrooms. As more Native American authors write from an authentic voice and position, the time has come to replace many Native American-themed classroom books with more affirming, credible literature.
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Present & Ancestral Maps
Our team of instructional designers has designed maps showing the historical and modern geography of Native lands in our area to help teachers empathize with Native perspectives and understand Native American terminology and facts.
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Our Recommendations for more Native American Classroom Resources
Find a list of additional resources we recommend for their effort and ability to produce accurate and authentic Native content for the classroom.
Bear River Massacre Commemoration Ceremony
Recording Knowledge Keepers and Culture Bearers
Arts Express 2022
"Ask Brenda" Video Series
Recordings of Paiute Lesson Plans in Cedar City
Remembering the 8 Sovereign Groups and 5 Tribes of Utah
Online NACI PD Course
Want to learn more?
Consider registering for our new 1-credit online course "Amplifying Native Voices in the Classroom" to learn HOW to implement our tribe-approved arts-integrated lesson plans and select culturally appropriate resources for your classroom.
Click here to register and learn more about our online PD course.
NACI in the News
Deseret News: Meet 3 little-known Utah women who've changed our state for good by Brenda Beyal and Heather Sundahl
Desert News: Navajo code talkers should be remembered for more than just WWII by Brenda Beyal and Heather Sundahl
Connect with us!
Newsletter
The best way to get the latest news on new lesson plans and upcoming workshops is to subscribe to our NACI mailing list. Join here!
Social Media
Instagram @everychildeveryart
Facebook @byuartspartnership
Pinterest @byuartspartnership
Youtube @byuartspartnership
"Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children"
-Sitting Bull
