PP here again. Here are some ideas for teaching about Native heritage for elementary school children:

Books
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/children-of-the-longhouse-joseph-bruchac/1102224325?ean=9780140385045&pcta=u&st=PLA&sid=BNB_DRS_Core+Shopping+Textbooks_00000000&2sid=Google_&sourceId=PLGoP62420&gclid=CjwKCAiA0IXQBRA2EiwAMODilzT8e82660S2wINcdb3pWlHSczXcHOy3JLIB1Wi3GsGXsxu4gse9KhoCWpMQAvD_BwE#/

I haven't seen any problems with the "if You Lived With (Cherokee, Iroquois, etc) series
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/957551.How_the_Stars_Fell_into_the_Sky

Activities

I haven't actually used this, but it looks like it might be ok-- I like that it focuses on a few specific tribes and their lives and customs instead of generic 'Native American'
https://www.rainbowresource.com/proddtl.php?id=019103&gclid=CjwKCAiA0IXQBRA2EiwAMODil3AW0ac0HnDefZWrUNfw0JgfzHlXPAwdMbFLN_oQtKF4n3qtCzA_ShoCmjAQAvD_BwE

Music
R. Carlos Nakai

There are lots of creative ways to make Native culture come alive for children that teaches them about the actual different cultures without reducing us to a stereotype

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want to ban something that is actually cool looking. Crazy.

My culture is not a costume to entertain you. It is deeply offensive and hurtful to see people reduce your culture to a caricature because they can't be bothered to learn anything about our people -- and to see that being ingrained and perpetuated starting at such a young age. It's akin to your kid bringing home a class art project of a watermelon drawing to celebrate Black History Month.

Headdresses are a sacred sacrament for the tribes that use them. They're not something that should be casually created and then worn.

I don't expect 3yos to make an accurate crafts - but the project should be based on actual culture and history and not caricatures or use sacred symbols. There are preschool appropriate activities children can do instead. Print some out for the school when you address this. (And thank you for speaking up!)

So everyone has to respect your sacred headdress BUT it’s totally cool for you to make your point by relying on a racist stereotype?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a preschool teacher...apparently I'm changing my November craft plans. I sadly had no idea the headdress was offensive. I'm glad I read this.

I hope this is sarcasm.

Are you aware that the rabid poster may NOT represent the majority opinion here?
Please don't indulge these people - they are confusing instances of true racism and xenophobia with holier-than-thou useless posturing.

We who have suffered real ethnic or cultural discrimination would prefer that these be addressed in laws and enforcement, rather than having bubble-living yuppies diluting the message by focusing on innocent little crafts for innocent little kids.

+1

Anonymous wrote:I think we're in danger of "exoticizing" other cultures when we get too worried about cultural appropriation.

We should make a genuine effort to teach and learn about a culture, not just use its material culture for our amusement or fashion, but food, art, rituals ... these are all the elements that make another culture relatable and make us fall in love with it.

Do you want children to grow up caring about the plight of the American Indians? Then they do need to learn age-appropriate information about them, preferably from Indians. But then we say, don't you dare make a version of that headdress you were so compelled by! Don't buy that beautiful vest with Indian designs at the powwow and wear it! In fact, don't go to the powwow since you're just watching for entertainment and general interest! Let them have their dignity, and leave them in obscurity!

There are appropriate and inappropriate ways to introduce cultures to children. It seems like we assume that it's always going to be inappropriate. We aren't all going to take a semester-long course on every other culture starting in PreK.

I am the PP who gave the examples of different 'Native American' headdress/hats/etc. The problem with the stereotypical hat is just that-- its a stereotype! It is like the "native maiden' Halloween costumes or drawing pictures of the Indians who met the pilgrims and depicting them like the Plains tribes. This type of learning does not actually teach anything. As a side note-- I actually do not have much of a problem with kids dressing up like Pocahontas. I think there is a big difference between dressing up as a caricature of a culture (and an inaccurate one at that) and dressing up as an actual character (note I am not saying I am particularly fond of how Disney portrayed Pocahontas in the movie, but the cat is long out of the bag on that one...)

Absolutely take your kids to pow-wows, I personally thing it is a great way to expose kids and teach them that First Peoples are still around and that we have a rich culture. Just be respectful while you are there-- you know, the same way you would be if you were to visit another place of cultural significance for any other culture-- say a new house of worship.

Teach them age-appropriately. Exactly. Read up about your local tribes and their history. Learn about how they lived in your area. Of course you do not have the time or resources to talk about all the different groups, so focus on those near you and see if there are any events or local sights to go see. You can easily spend a week exploring a bit about the people who lived in your area. I am just asking that you do it in a way that is respectful of the fact that North America (and South America) were actually home to numerous diverse cultures and languages. We weren't primitive or 'noble' savages and actually had rich ways of life. You wouldn't try to learn about a stereotypical 'Asian' (because China differs drastically from India), or a stereotypical 'European' (because Russians and Italians likely would not like being grouped together), etc, I think you get the picture.

For the adults-- if you want to learn more about the Indigenous groups native to the Americas, I recommend the book, 1491.

OP, tell the director that you don't want your kid participating in "art projects" that celebrate racial caricatures and remove the context from sacred symbols.

If 3 year olds are old enough to learn about native cultures at all, they are old enough to actually talk about specific tribes' practices instead of some sort of caricature of what 'Indians" do. You can dumb stuff down for preschoolers without being gross and offensive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm a preschool teacher...apparently I'm changing my November craft plans. I sadly had no idea the headdress was offensive. I'm glad I read this.

I hope this is sarcasm.

Are you aware that the rabid poster may NOT represent the majority opinion here?
Please don't indulge these people - they are confusing instances of true racism and xenophobia with holier-than-thou useless posturing.

We who have suffered real ethnic or cultural discrimination would prefer that these be addressed in laws and enforcement, rather than having bubble-living yuppies diluting the message by focusing on innocent little crafts for innocent little kids.

Well put! Liberal intolerance on display for all to see.

Np.

Bahahaha. This is what Liberal mommies do all day. Pearl clutching a**holery, out to ruin it for everyone.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a preschool teacher...apparently I'm changing my November craft plans. I sadly had no idea the headdress was offensive. I'm glad I read this.

I hope this is sarcasm.

Are you aware that the rabid poster may NOT represent the majority opinion here?
Please don't indulge these people - they are confusing instances of true racism and xenophobia with holier-than-thou useless posturing.

We who have suffered real ethnic or cultural discrimination would prefer that these be addressed in laws and enforcement, rather than having bubble-living yuppies diluting the message by focusing on innocent little crafts for innocent little kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want to ban something that is actually cool looking. Crazy.

My culture is not a costume to entertain you. It is deeply offensive and hurtful to see people reduce your culture to a caricature because they can't be bothered to learn anything about our people -- and to see that being ingrained and perpetuated starting at such a young age. It's akin to your kid bringing home a class art project of a watermelon drawing to celebrate Black History Month.

Headdresses are a sacred sacrament for the tribes that use them. They're not something that should be casually created and then worn.

I don't expect 3yos to make an accurate crafts - but the project should be based on actual culture and history and not caricatures or use sacred symbols. There are preschool appropriate activities children can do instead. Print some out for the school when you address this. (And thank you for speaking up!)

I really don’t understand why thoughtful posts like these get eyerolls. There’s a multi page thread on the off topic board about how people don’t say omg and teach their kids not to say it, even though they don’t personally find it offensive, but someone else might. That’s fine. It’s respectful. But a cultura group is saying please don’t make fun of us/caricature our sacred symbols/lump several groups into one, and it’s an eye roll. When we teach the kids about Hanukkah, we’re not calling it Jewish Christmas, making paper yarmulkes, and taping fake paper curls to their heads are we? It’s not that different conceptually. If you can see why one is offensive, you should be able to see why both are.

I think the eyerolls are about this "It's akin to your kid bringing home a class art project of a watermelon drawing to celebrate Black History Month." Trying to sound smart and then saying something so stupid and thoughtless. A headdress is not akin to a watermelon.
And your post is equally ridiculous and insulting. yarmulkes and curls are not a Hanukkah thing. Have you never made a paper menorah, b/c these do get made as well as paper dreidels.

BTW this is Native American Heritage month, a headdress is a part of Native American heritage. This is why some people don't find it offensive. The kids aren't making them to celebrate Thanksgiving, it is should be a part of the celebration Native American Culture.

This is a teaching moment Op for you and your child. Nothing to lose your sh*t over.

Anonymous wrote:I think we're in danger of "exoticizing" other cultures when we get too worried about cultural appropriation.

We should make a genuine effort to teach and learn about a culture, not just use its material culture for our amusement or fashion, but food, art, rituals ... these are all the elements that make another culture relatable and make us fall in love with it.

Do you want children to grow up caring about the plight of the American Indians? Then they do need to learn age-appropriate information about them, preferably from Indians. But then we say, don't you dare make a version of that headdress you were so compelled by! Don't buy that beautiful vest with Indian designs at the powwow and wear it! In fact, don't go to the powwow since you're just watching for entertainment and general interest! Let them have their dignity, and leave them in obscurity!

There are appropriate and inappropriate ways to introduce cultures to children. It seems like we assume that it's always going to be inappropriate. We aren't all going to take a semester-long course on every other culture starting in PreK.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You want to ban something that is actually cool looking. Crazy.

My culture is not a costume to entertain you. It is deeply offensive and hurtful to see people reduce your culture to a caricature because they can't be bothered to learn anything about our people -- and to see that being ingrained and perpetuated starting at such a young age. It's akin to your kid bringing home a class art project of a watermelon drawing to celebrate Black History Month.

Headdresses are a sacred sacrament for the tribes that use them. They're not something that should be casually created and then worn.

I don't expect 3yos to make an accurate crafts - but the project should be based on actual culture and history and not caricatures or use sacred symbols. There are preschool appropriate activities children can do instead. Print some out for the school when you address this. (And thank you for speaking up!)

I really don’t understand why thoughtful posts like these get eyerolls. There’s a multi page thread on the off topic board about how people don’t say omg and teach their kids not to say it, even though they don’t personally find it offensive, but someone else might. That’s fine. It’s respectful. But a cultura group is saying please don’t make fun of us/caricature our sacred symbols/lump several groups into one, and it’s an eye roll. When we teach the kids about Hanukkah, we’re not calling it Jewish Christmas, making paper yarmulkes, and taping fake paper curls to their heads are we? It’s not that different conceptually. If you can see why one is offensive, you should be able to see why both are.

Blah blah blah
Suck it up

Jeez, lighten up.

I think we're in danger of "exoticizing" other cultures when we get too worried about cultural appropriation.

We should make a genuine effort to teach and learn about a culture, not just use its material culture for our amusement or fashion, but food, art, rituals ... these are all the elements that make another culture relatable and make us fall in love with it.

Do you want children to grow up caring about the plight of the American Indians? Then they do need to learn age-appropriate information about them, preferably from Indians. But then we say, don't you dare make a version of that headdress you were so compelled by! Don't buy that beautiful vest with Indian designs at the powwow and wear it! In fact, don't go to the powwow since you're just watching for entertainment and general interest! Let them have their dignity, and leave them in obscurity!

There are appropriate and inappropriate ways to introduce cultures to children. It seems like we assume that it's always going to be inappropriate. We aren't all going to take a semester-long course on every other culture starting in PreK.

And I wanted to preschool teacher! I'd be in trouble every day.
You want to do something? Help to get rid of Columbus Day.