Unit 1 Project: Indigenous Land Acknowledgement

Introduction

Welcome to your first unit project! In this assignment, you will explore the rich and diverse histories of Indigenous peoples in North America before European colonization, focusing specifically on the tribe(s) native to your own region.

You'll be guided by thoughtful research questions to help you uncover:

• Which tribe(s) originally lived in your area
• Their traditional lands, languages, culture, and values
• Their experiences with colonization
• And how these communities are living, thriving, and preserving their cultures today

Once your research is complete, you’ll choose a creative project format that helps you express and share what you’ve learned—this could be a mini-report, an original artwork, a podcast, a land acknowledgment, or even an interactive map!

Part 1: Research

Which indigenous communities lived where you do?

Put your address into the Native Land Digital Map to determine which tribe(s) you will be researching. If there is overlap, you can choose one or research more than one!

Research Tools 

Once you’ve identified the tribe(s) you will be researching, use the following links as a starting point.

• Search to see if your tribe(s) has its own website. If so, start there!
• National Museum of the American Indian
• “Tribal Nations and the United States” (NCAI Report)
• As you explore more resources online, keep your research to verifiable sources like reliable media, academic materials (.edu) and official museum sites. 

Potential Research Questions

1. Which Indigenous tribe(s) originally lived in your area?
   1. What are the tribe's original and current names?
      
      
2. What were/are the traditional lands and territories of this tribe?
   
   
3. What language(s) did they speak? Are these languages still spoken today?
   
   
4. What were key aspects of their traditional culture and society?
   1. Consider: housing, food, ceremonies, art, government, values, etc.
      
      
5. What was their experience with colonization or European/American settlement?
   
   
6. Does the tribe still exist today?
   1. If yes: Where are they located? What is their population? What are they doing today to preserve their culture?
      
      
7. Are there any tribal events, centers, or museums near you?
   
   
8. What did you find most surprising or inspiring in your research?

Part 2: Choose Your Project

Creative Projects

• Digital Infographic
  Summarize key facts, tribe names, locations, language, and cultural highlights using Canva, Piktochart, or Google Slides.
  
  
• Art Inspired by Tradition
  Create artwork inspired by the traditional art styles of the tribe (beadwork, basket designs, petroglyphs, etc.), with a short artist’s statement explaining the meaning and origin.

Writing Projects

• Mini Research Report
  A 1–2 page paper answering the guiding questions with proper citations.
  
  
• Journal Entry from the Past
  Write a historical fiction journal entry from the perspective of a young person in the tribe, showing daily life or a significant moment in history.
  
  
• Poem or Letter
  Compose a poem or open letter honoring the Indigenous people of the region or reflecting on what was learned during the research.

Multimedia Projects

• Podcast or Voice Recording
  Record a short podcast episode summarizing the research findings and personal reflections.
  
  
• Video or Slideshow Presentation
  Use tools like Google Slides, iMovie, or Adobe Spark to create a short documentary-style video or narrated slideshow.
  
  
• Interactive Map
  Use Google My Maps or ArcGIS StoryMaps to create a custom map with photos, facts, and historical events tied to tribal locations.

Community Engagement Projects

• Tribal Spotlight Webpage
  Design a webpage or blog post educating others about the tribe(s), including links to current tribal websites or resources.
  
  
• Email a Local Cultural Center or Museum
  Reach out with a respectful question or comment based on your research and include the response in your project.