Social Studies Education that Respects and Affirms Indigenous Peoples and Nations

Social Studies Education that Respects and Affirms Indigenous Peoples and Nations

The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) has approved the position statement Toward Responsibility: Social Studies Education that Respects and Affirms Indigenous Peoples and Nations. The statement affirms the long-term NCSS commitment and responsibility to support social studies education that recognizes and integrates meaningful in-depth perspectives and analyses of Indigenous Peoples and Nations. NCSS will continue to provide additional resources and professional development opportunities that convey that Indigenous Peoples, Nations, and histories are foundational to the story of America and to social studies. It will also build relationships with and open spaces for Indigenous educators, scholars, and communities to share their experiences and expertise with the organization and its members.

NCSS President Terry Cherry said: “Understanding and accepting our past and educating for a multicultural, democratic, and globally connected world is central to what we do as social studies/science educators. I am very pleased that the NCSS Board of Directors has approved this position statement.”

“NCSS looks forward to continuing its efforts to provide authentic educational resources on teaching and learning about Indigenous Peoples and Nations, and to foster opportunities and partnerships to engage and inspire all educators to prepare students to be successful in our complex social, cultural, economic and political world,” said Dr. Lawrence M. Paska, NCSS Executive Director.

The position statement contains the following principles to guide social studies education:

  1. Commit to responsible representations.
  2. Teach current events and movements.
  3. Teach tribal governance and sovereignty as civics education.
  4. Challenge Eurocentrism.
  5. Affirm Indigenous Knowledges.
  6. Learn from long standing Indigenous advocacy for curriculum reform.
  7. Foster relationships and engage in meaningful consultation.

To read the complete position statement and the context for its recommendations visit:  https://www.socialstudies.org/positions/indigenous-peoples-and-nations