Teachers push for inclusion of Indigenous history

Indigenous history in the U.S. didn’t start with Columbus’s “discovery” in 1492, nor the arrival of Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock in 1620.

Spectrum News 1 reports that educators are taking part in a national project called “Reclaiming Native Truth,” which aims to teach accurate and culturally sensitive history about the Native people who were in what is now the U.S. before colonization.

A Native teacher, Trish Corcoran of Rochester, New York’s Harley School, told Spectrum News 1 that there are 27 states that don't have any Native American curriculum in their schools, “but those that do, it's pretty narrow.” Corcoran —who is Tonawanda Onondowaga Seneca, Bear Clan— added that most of that curriculum is in the 1800s or earlier. “So that would give you an idea of why 87% of high school students think we're all dead.”

Organizers with "Reclaiming Native Truth" reported that nearly half of Americans say what they learned in school was inaccurate, while 72% believe it’s necessary to improve school curricula on Native American history. Many others weren’t even aware Native people still exist today.

“It's really important for everybody to know more about everyone,” Corcoran told Spectrum 1 News. “It makes us all stronger and better to be in community with one another.”