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FWISD Observes Native American Heritage Month
The Fort Worth Independent School District is observing Native American Heritage Month this November.
Throughout the month, the District and its schools are sharing social media posts that celebrate Native American heroes and inform families of books about the indigenous peoples’ experience available for checkout at their campus libraries. On Tuesday, November 10, the FWISD Board of Education will recognize the District’s Native American students and employees during its 5:30 p.m. virtual meeting.
The District’s American Indian Program has also prepared read along materials and videos for parents, school staff and native families to explore throughout the month.
At 6 p.m. Wednesday, November 11, Elizabeth Gravelle, the FWISD American Indian Education Program liaison, will present “Racism and the Native American Experience” during the District’s “Racial Equity Summit III—Changing the Narrative,” a weeklong event offers District students, staff, parents and community members thought-provoking discussions on race and equity. A recording of the presentation will air at 6 p.m. November 11 on the FWISD Division of Equity and Excellence Facebook page.
President George H.W. Bush approved a joint resolution in 1990 designating November as National American Indian Heritage Month, now known as Native American Heritage Month. The observance celebrates the culture, tradition, history and significant contribution of America’s Native people. There are 574 federally recognized Indian Nations in the United States. For additional resources about Native American Heritage Month, visit https://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/.
As of 2019, more than 360 identified Native American students in the Fort Worth ISD represented more than 57 different tribes. The District’s American Indian Education Program offers academic support and cultural education to FWISD students who identify or who are of Native American descent. The program is awarded federal funding from the office of Indian Education to offer services to students under provisions of the Indian Education Formula Grant Program.
For more details about the FWISD American Indian Education Program, contact Ms. Gravelle at 817-814-2879 or visit the program’s website, https://www.fwisd.org/Page/25688.
The following are resources for elementary and secondary-aged students:
Books for Elementary Students
- We are Grateful by Traci Sorelle
- Totem Tale: A tale from Alaska by Deb Vanasse
- Thunder Boy by Sherman Alexie
- Sky Sisters by Jan Bourdeau Waboose
- Fry Bread- A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard
- Bow wow Pow wow by Brenda Child
Resources for Secondary Students
https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360
https://education.skype.com/pg/smithsonian-s-national-museum-of-the-american-indian
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