Legislation to provide states with more comprehensive and accurate education on Native American history was introduced to Congress this past week in advance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday, October 9.
Led by Minnesota Senator Tina Smith, the Native Histories and Cultures Education Act would help improve how public schools teach Indigenous history to students in kindergarten through 12th grade by developing nationally focused curricula on Native cultural traditions, historical and ongoing contributions, and the evolution of the relationship between the federal government and tribal communities.
“It is unacceptable that so many Americans are under and misinformed about Native peoples and their history,” Smith said in a press statement, adding that the bill would help dispel “harmful misconceptions and stereotypes” about Indigenous individuals and communities.
The proposed legislation was inspired by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community’s Understand Native Minnesota initiative to bolster education of Native history and culture in the state. Part of the campaign’s focus has been on changing the narrative typically taught in classrooms, which tends to focus on the past instead of highlighting Native peoples’ current experiences.
A 2015 study by Pennsylvania State University researchers found that 86.6% of state-mandated educational content only taught Native American history and culture in a pre-1900s context.
Through the act, expanded educational curricula would be produced under the direction of the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) and made with the direct involvement of tribal nations and organizations, as well as other groups focusing on Indigenous history education. The legislation would also implement a grant program, managed by NMAI, that would provide support to state educational agencies, tribal nations and organizations, and Native Hawaiian education groups to further develop existing curriculum.
These grants would help support the creation and establishment of educational programs on Native history and culture with a local and regional focus.
The Native Histories and Cultures Education Act was initially introduced to Congress last year in March before the Senate subsequently referred it to the Committee on Indian Affairs. The bill’s latest introduction comes at a pivotal time in public education, as critical race and queer theory is under attack by various right-wing legislators and conservative lobbyists.
“Teachers and Native groups around the country have been sounding the alarm and pushing for action on this issue for years, and it’s time we listened,” Senator Smith said in a statement.
Hyperallergic has reached out to the senator and NMAI for additional comment.