Lior Cooper
Pronouns: she/they
Research Mentor(s): Cherry Meyer
Research Mentor School/College/Department: American Culture and Linguistics / LSA
Program: UROPF
Session: Session 2 (10:00am – 10:50am)
Authors: Cherry Meyer, Kylie Rice, Lior Cooper
Abstract
The United States has 574 federally recognized tribes, plus many others who do not have federal recognition. There are at least nine states with existing legislation that mandate the teaching of local tribes’ histories and cultures. We investigate how these laws came to be in each state, including the history of the relationship between tribal and state governments, the relationship between Natives and non-Natives, and the events that led to the passing of the legislation, the laws’ receptions and enforcements, as well as the resulting effects on non-natives perceptions of Natives. One aspect of the project reflects an in-depth look at one state’s enactment of such legislation, based off of the book The Story of Act 31: How Native History Came to Wisconsin Classrooms, while the other aspect of the project broadly surveys these topics in the 8 remaining states that have Native histories and cultures as a part of their official state curriculum (North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon, Hawai’i, Idaho, Minnesota, Oklahoma and New Mexico) based on available written academic and non-academic sources. We find that such legislation is not widespread across the United States and that its reception is mixed. Proponents of the law point to increased knowledge and awareness of local tribes as a benefit, while its detractors say the laws are difficult to enforce and place an undue burden on educators.
