Storytelling has always been a part of life for Lanny Pinola of Petaluma. The children at the Kataujaq Day-Care Centre in Rankin Inlet lit a special candle this past week. This story imagines a parallel universe in which Native Americans have conquered and settled Europe. Part of the point is that Native Americans would not have done to Europeans what Europeans actually did to them. With another school year upon classroom teachers comes the reality and challenge of educating a multicultural society.
Teaching multiculturally requires examining sensitive issues and topics.
Accordingly, teachers should not ignore the issues of Indian mascots in schools. Instead, they should become one of those teachable moments in which issues are confronted and discussed. Its closest sister within the Algonquian family is Cree. There is no native or standard Blackfoot orthography although D.G. Frantz has developed one in order to write the Blackfoot Dictionary. Canku Ota is a free Newsletter celebrating Native America, its traditions and accomplishments .