You are here

Teaching and Learning

American Indian Studies (Wisconsin Act 31)

The resources on this webpage have been inlcuded to highlight ways educators can integrate American Indian Studies (Wisconsin Act 31) content, topics, and perspectives into their teaching and practice. Information from these resources can be incorporated into a school district’s curriculum through a balanced, comprehensive, and aligned framework that can be adapted to local contexts and community needs.

Additionally, these resources are designed to help educators at all grade levels engage with the knowledge, skills, and ways of knowing related to teaching and learning about the American Indian Nations of Wisconsin. They provide guidance and information to support the meaningful integration of American Indian Studies (Wisconsin Act 31) content into both school district curricula and classroom lesson plans.

The following videos from Wisconsin First Nations Education offer discussions and examples demonstrating how to effectively integrate or incorporate American Indian Studies (Wisconsin Act 31) content into school districts and classrooms.

*The sharing of any materials or resources on this page does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Educators are encouraged to review all resources carefully and use their professional judgment to determine appropriateness based on grade level and student readiness.

Wisconsin First Nations Education

The Wisconsin First Nations Education website is designed to support administrators, teachers, librarians, and other educators by providing a wide-ranging collection of educational videos, professional development resources, lesson plans for all grade levels, and instructional tools for classrooms and libraries. The site aims to assist school districts and libraries in integrating information about the American Indian Nations of Wisconsin into their curricula and enhancing teaching and learning opportunities.

Additionally, the website offers professional learning resources for educators, including a Frequently Asked Questions section to address questions that may arise when teaching about Native cultures. It also features Meet Our Teacher Exemplars videos showcasing Wisconsin educators demonstrating how to integrate American Indian Studies (Wisconsin Act 31) into students’ everyday learning. 

Here are links to the PK–12 booklists available on the website under the Resources section:

Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS)

The resources provided by the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS) Press and Education Services include classroom tools, primary sources, an e-newsletter, an education listserv, and a variety of publications. These materials have been selected to demonstrate how educators and others can incorporate, integrate, or infuse American Indian Studies content into their teaching and instructional practices.

Information from these resources can be incoporated into classroom, school, or district curricula through a balanced, comprehensive, and aligned framework that is flexible and adaptable to local contexts and needs.

Here is a collection of additional resources and materials available from the WHS Press:

The University of Wisconsin Press also offers a variety of resources and materials for American Indian Studies. The following books are available through UW Press:

Like WHS Press, the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) Press offers a variety of resources and materials to support Native American Studies. Educators can incorporate the information from these resources into classroom, school, or district curricula using a balanced, comprehensive, and aligned framework that can be tailored to local contexts and needs.

Below is a collection of additional resources and materials available from MNHS Press:

The University of Minnesota Press also offers a range of resources and materials for American Indian Studies. The following link provides access to books available from UM Press:
 

PBS Wisconsin

PBS Wisconsin Tribal Histories highlights the voices of tribal community members, elders, and storytellers as they share the cultures and oral traditions of their Tribal Nations, traditions that have shaped their communities across generations. This series of half-hour programs explores the histories, cultures, and traditions of all eleven federally recognized American Indian Nations of Wisconsin, as well as one Tribal Nation working to regain federal recognition. The following 25–26 minute documentaries are part of the Tribal Histories project:

In addition, PBS Wisconsin offers a wide range of related resources, including documentaries, an image gallery, various maps, and educational outreach activities:

PBS Wisconsin Education | Learning Powered by Curiosity

The Ways is a production of PBS Wisconsin Education | Learning Powered by Curiosity. This resource is an ongoing series of stories from Native communities around the central Great Lakes. Designed for students in grades 6–12, it features videos, interactive maps, and digital media that explore contemporary Native cultures and languages. The Ways supports educators in meeting the requirements of American Indian Studies (Wisconsin Act 31), while also broadening and deepening understanding of Native identity and communities.

The series includes 4–5 minute videos that highlight each of the eleven federally recognized American Indian Nations of Wisconsin. The videos also provide real-life examples of the daily lives and experiences of Indigenous people and communities across Wisconsin. Below is a list of videos from The Ways project:

Another series of resources from PBS Wisconsin Education | Learning Powered by Curiosity is Wisconsin Biographies, “a collection of media designed to enrich social studies and literacy curriculum through the stories of notable figures in Wisconsin history. Each story features a 3–5 minute animated video that engages learners of all ages. While the content is aligned with 4th-grade standards, it is suitable for use with both younger and older students.” Three stories in particular to highlight include the following:

Additionally, Wisconsin Hometown Stories offers programming for students in grades 2 through 12. This series explores the history and development of specific Wisconsin communities through the personal stories and experiences of their residents.

We Are Healers

We Are Healers is a digital media resource that highlights the stories of American Indian health professionals. The project aims to inspire American Indian youth to see themselves in careers such as dentists, nurses, pharmacists, and physicians by sharing the experiences of Native role models. Through these stories, We Are Healers promotes healthy, active lifestyles and encourages young people to draw on the strength of their tribal “healing traditions” as they pursue educational and professional opportunities.

Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC)

GLIFWC offers a variety of resources, including the opportunity to subscribe to their newspaper, Mazina’igan, as well as booklets, written supplements, posters, books, maps, educational media, and videos such as Ojibwe Treaty Rights: Connections to Land & Water. Additional educational brochures are also available for purchase. These materials can be accessed through the GLIFWC Education Outreach and Exercising Treaty Rights sections.

In addition, GLIFWC has released a video series titled Ogichidaa Storytellers:
 

Links to Other Instructional or Related Resources:

A key consideration when selecting literature and written resources is ensuring they are accurate and authentic, reflecting both historical and cultural integrity. The following links offer online guidance for evaluating the accuracy of books and other materials, as well as curated lists of vetted resources related to American Indian Studies, First Nations Studies, Indigenous Studies, or Native American Studies.

For a more comprehensive list of resources, please visit the DPI American Indian Studies Program Bibliography Series section. Additionally, here is information on A Tiered Purchasing Plan for Supporting Wisconsin Act 31 in Your Classroom or Library, designed to help educators and librarians identify and acquire materials that support the implementation of Wisconsin Act 31.