Overview
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The Story of Ishi: Last of His Tribe
Author: This unit was researched, authored, and edited by the California Indian Museum and Cultural Center, California Indian Education for All, and the San Diego County Office of Education. Key writers and researchers of this unit are Cristapher Torres, Greg Hinchliff, Scott Bankert, Debbie Reese, Jean Mendoza and Taylor Melgoza. The unit resources were designed and created from funding through the California Department of Education’s Native American Studies Model Curriculum grant and contract.
Grades: 8th-12th grade
Suggested Amount of Time: 60 minutes
Curriculum Themes
- History
- Cultural Strengths
- Relationship to Place
- Cross Curricular Integration
Learning Goals
Students will be able to explain the significance of Ishi's life in the context of Native American history.
Students will analyze the impact of cultural assimilation policies on Native American communities.
Students will reflect on Ishi's resilience and the effects of his story on the understanding of Native American history.
Lesson Overview
Teacher Background
Essential Understandings of California Indian History and Culture
Essential Understanding 1: Great Diversity Among Tribes (EU1 Video) https://bit.ly/NASMC_EU1
Essential Understanding 2: Diversity Among Identity (EU2 Video) https://bit.ly/NASMC_EU2
Essential Understanding 3: Native Traditional Beliefs (EU3 Video) https://bit.ly/NASMC_EU3
Essential Understanding 4: Policies that Affected Tribes (EU4 Video) https://bit.ly/NASMC_EU4
Essential Understanding 5: Reservations (EU5 Video) https://bit.ly/NASMC_EU5
Essential Understanding 6: History from a California Indian Perspective (EU6 Video) https://bit.ly/NASMC_EU6
Essential Understanding 7: Tribes Have Sovereign Powers (EU7 Video) https://bit.ly/NASMC_EU7s