Original Patriots: US Assimilationist Policy and California’s Indigenous Peoples (Part 1)

This lesson explores the history of forced assimilation of Native Americans, with a focus on Indian Boarding Schools as a key instrument of this policy. Students will gain an understanding of how these schools were used to suppress Native cultures and identities. This foundational lesson sets the stage for the next two lessons, which will explore Native American experiences in the US military and the themes of trauma and healing within Native communities.The teacher must understand that despite our tragic history, Native communities continue to find hope, look to the future, and lead the way in repairing our relationships to local ecosystems. The teacher must be prepared to actively engage in conversations about resistance and resilience throughout this lesson. Essential Questions: How did the US government abuse its power to acquire Indigenous lands during colonization? What were some of the policies of “forced assimilation” in the US? What were Indian Boarding schools and why were they created? What was it like to attend an Indian boarding school in the late 19th and early 20th centuries? Activities: Guided notes paired with the video resource. Think-Pair-Share discussions. Whole group discussion. Answering reading comprehension questions. KWL chart Writing a reflection paragraph in response to given prompts or a topic of their choosing. (Extension option: essay).