A presentation of contemporary research on Native representation, colonial values, and messaging in Native education through the lens of nineteenth and early twentieth century American reader primers and a family history. Dr. William Makoyiisaaminaa, Visiting Assistant Professor at Western Washington University, is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation located on the Blackfeet Reservation adjacent to Glacier National Park. Professor Sylvia Tag serves as Children's and Young Adult Librarian at Western Washington University. Shared examples focus on the lack of representation and negative stereotyping dominant in early primers. Sylvia and Will have gathered evidence by physical, page-by-page research beginning with primers published in 1803, documenting examples and context. This research discloses how education materials reinforced the doctrine of manifest destiny and Western expansion, Christian morals and values, derogatory images and illustrations, and the erasure of Natives. The lack of contributions by Natives and selective appropriations by editors created a warped representation of Natives, contradicting Native world views and subsequently harming Native children who encountered these primers in classroom settings. Will shares stories about his family through a narrative of history and education among the Blackfeet Nation including the impact of colonialism on education within his own family. The exploration includes a look at primary documents from the residential boarding school era. The research evidence and family stories come together in a reflection of Native education practices that prevail today.

Authors:
William Makoyiisaaminaa, Western Washington University, United States
Sylvia Tag, Western Washington University, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. William Makoyiisaaminaa is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation and current a Visiting Assistant Professor at Western Washington University in the Education Leadership program. Will is an advocate for Native education and sovereignty

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-makoyiisaaminaa/

Connect on ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/William-Makoyiisaaminaa

See this presentation on the full schedule – Monday Schedule

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