This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, you and your learners can build cross-curricular connections with relevant cultural stories, like Tehya's Pollution Solution Storybook.
While taking photos along the Elwha River, Tehya and her friend Sam make a scary discovery. There is oil coating the surface of the river—lots of oil. The Elwha River is extremely important to the ecosystem in Washington State, where Tehya lives. The river and the rest of the environment also hold special meaning for Tehya and her family, members of the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe.
Tehya and Sam decide they have to help with the oil spill cleanup. Their neighbor Thomas, an environmental engineer working on the cleanup, teaches them how to pitch in but Tehya still feels like she could do more. Can Tehya’s photos and her knowledge of the river help determine a process for cleaning the river?
Featuring Native land- and -place based science and engineering topics, our digital storybook honors the indigenous connection to the land and their traditional methods of learning, and builds connections between Native and Western STEM.
Once you’ve finished your story and design challenges, draw upon the practice of observation of the natural world that is valued in many Indigenous communities, such as observing animals, plants, and weather patterns over time. These observations are often communicated through oral stories that have been accumulated and built over time and generations.
For even more resources to support your exploration and celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, check out our blog post from 2021 with relevant links, tips, and more.
How are you celebrating this Indigenous Peoples’ Day? Let us know in the comments below!
