Introduction
The Native American Studies Model Curriculum (NASMC) is an important educational initiative developed through close collaboration with California Tribes, community leaders, educators, nonprofits, and scholars. It is designed to be culturally responsive and provides a comprehensive framework for teaching Native American Studies (NAS) across all subjects and grade levels. The NASMC provides standards-aligned lessons, units, and resources needed to implement Native American Studies and demonstrates how NAS is a needed part of a California education that can expand and compliment curriculums in every school and classroom. This curriculum is not just a collection of materials, it is a living educational framework that reflects the voices, histories, and contemporary experiences of Native American communities, particularly those Indigenous to California.
"History of Native California"
The updated and revised History of Native California video offers a comprehensive account of California’s Indigenous history and contemporary Native experiences. Originally produced for Cal Poly Humboldt’s Native American Studies Department and the Place Based Learning Communities (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-azcPugmKQ&t=4s), the revised film expands beyond a Northern California focus to include diverse tribal histories, movements, and voices from across the state. Through interviews with Indigenous scholars, the documentary explores critical topics such as the reservation and rancheria systems, federal recognition, the American Indian Movement, NAGPRA, Indian gaming and the Land Back movement. This film is a powerful resource for educators and institutions, supporting professional development and strengthening the integration of Native American Studies into California’s K–12 classrooms. It underscores the importance of culturally responsive teaching and highlights why Indigenous perspectives are essential to a complete and accurate general education. We encourage all visitors and folks wanting to engage with the NASMC resources to watch this video as a guiding resource for implementation of the NASMC in classrooms and schools.
