Adriana Guzman

Students discuss the land where they live, and the Indigenous peoples who once lived there. Then they get to know each other by reflecting on four aspects of their lives, using Native American teachings on the Medicine Wheel. 

Through guiding questions and inquiry, students collectively gain an understanding of a new monument, the artwork, the artist’s intentions, and some of the history influencing the work. The activity encourages students to honor the women who came before us and those who continue to take action toward a more just society.

Students work in small groups to create a collaborative piece of art as a response to photographs from the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6. 

This lesson allows students to deepen their understanding of an aspect of Indigenous peoples' relationship with the earth. Students engage with two short films about peoples’ resistance to the privatization and loss of access to clean drinking water.