Overview
Trail of Truth: Muwekma Ohlone Fight for Federal Recognition
Author:
Maggie Peters (Yurok/Karuk) NASMC Learning Specialist Humboldt County Office of Education
Bernadette Quiroz (Muwekma Ohlone) Muwekma Ohlone Tribe Language Revitalization Chairwoman
Muwekma Ohlone Tribe of the San Francisco Bay Area:
Charlene Nijmeh, Chairwoman
Matthew Ricchiazzi, Tribal Assistant
Joseph Torres, Tribal Ceremonial Leader and Activist
Grades: 9-12
Suggested Amount of Time: Four class periods of minimum of 55 minutes
Curriculum Themes
- History
- Cultural Strengths
- Law/Government
- Relationship to Place
- Cross Curricular Integration
Learning Goals
Learn about the Muwekma Ohlone People and their History
Define federal recognition in the context of Native American tribes.
Understand the process and significance of federal recognition for Native American tribes.
Learn about the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe's struggle for federal recognition.
Understand the importance of activism, using the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe's Trail of Truth march as a case study.
Uplift the voices of Indigenous peoples by creating space to listen to Muwekma Ohlone Chairwoman, Charlene Nijmeh.
Understand Indigenous perspectives about history.
Empathize with the experiences of others.
Understand the importance of activism, using the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe's Trail of Truth march as a case study.
Lesson Overview
This multi-lesson series explores the struggle for federal recognition by the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, an Indigenous people from the San Francisco Bay Area, whose fight for recognition has been shaped by a history of genocide, displacement, and systemic erasure. The Muwekma Ohlone's ancestral lands span the regions of what are now Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, an area rich in natural resources where they lived sustainably through fishing, hunting, and gathering. However, the Ohlone people faced devastating consequences starting with Spanish colonization in the late 18th century. Forced into the missions, they endured the violence of cultural genocide, including the destruction of their traditional ways of life, land dispossession, and the suppression of their spiritual practices. After California’s statehood, the Ohlone people continued to face systematic displacement, land theft, and the erasure of their identity, leading to a loss of recognition and official acknowledgment.
The genocide, forced labor, and the relentless policies of assimilation contributed to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe's struggle to gain federal recognition. Despite their survival and continuity as a people, they have faced challenges in proving their existence due to the lack of historical documentation, a consequence of deliberate efforts to erase Indigenous communities. This lesson will examine the importance of federal recognition, which grants tribes access to resources, sovereignty, and legal protections.
The lesson also highlights the Trail of Truth, a powerful act of resilience, unity, and advocacy undertaken by Muwekma Ohlone in 2024. This 90-day journey, from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., aimed to bring national attention to their fight for recognition. Through rich media, including short videos and photos from the march, students will witness the emotional and symbolic journey of the Muwekma Ohlone people. These visual materials capture moments of resilience and determination, connecting students to the personal and collective struggles of the tribe as they continue to seek justice and visibility. This lesson underscores the impact of genocide and historical erasure on the Muwekma Ohlone and the tribe's ongoing fight to restore their rightful place in history.
Teacher Background
Teaching emotionally difficult historical topics, such as the genocide and violence associated with the colonization of California and the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe’s struggle for federal recognition, requires a thoughtful and sensitive approach to create a safe, supportive learning environment. These topics can evoke strong emotional responses, particularly for students who may be encountering them for the first time or who may identify with the communities impacted. It is important to foster compassion, understanding, and a sense of responsibility among students while being mindful of their emotional well-being.
To begin, it’s crucial to prepare students emotionally for the lesson by setting clear expectations. Let students know that the content will address challenging and difficult history, and encourage them to approach it with an open heart and mind. Acknowledge that it is natural to feel upset or uncomfortable and reassure them that these emotions are valid. Create a space where students feel safe to process and express their feelings..
Establishing ground rules for discussion is another important step. Encourage respectful dialogue and active listening, and emphasize the importance of sensitivity when discussing injustices, trauma and violence. Students should feel comfortable asking questions and sharing their thoughts, knowing that the classroom is a space for learning and empathy. Establish norms around how to discuss emotionally charged topics, such as avoiding personal attacks, and remind students that minimizing the experiences of Indigenous peoples will not be tolerated.
Teachers should also be mindful of potential triggers, especially for students who may have personal or cultural connections to the histories being discussed. Providing options for students to step out of the room or take a break during particularly difficult moments can help ensure that students feel in control of their emotional responses. Encouraging reflection, either through journaling or small group discussions, allows students to process the material in a way that respects their emotional boundaries while deepening their understanding of the historical context.
In addition, it’s essential to center Indigenous voices in the lesson. This lesson integrates materials created by and for the Muwekma Ohlone to teach about their history, experiences, and struggles. This not only ensures an accurate and respectful portrayal of the Ohlone people’s history but also empowers students by showing the resilience and agency of Indigenous communities. It also helps shift the narrative from one dominated by colonial perspectives to one that highlights the perspectives of the communities most affected.
Ultimately, the goal of this lesson is to foster compassion and allyship. Emphasizing that learning about historical injustices is a step toward understanding and supporting Indigenous communities today will help students feel that their engagement in this topic has real-world relevance. Encourage them to think about ways they can be allies for Indigenous peoples, whether by advocating for Indigenous rights, supporting land back campaigns or learning more about ongoing struggles for recognition and justice. This approach helps students not only understand the history of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe but also become compassionate allies who are better equipped to stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities.
Interactive Slides
About the Interactive Slides
A key component of this curriculum includes interactive slides and a lesson script/facilitation support. These materials are designed to support ease of implementation and help guide lesson delivery.
The interactive slides are animated to gradually reveal content and may include links to videos and audio playback buttons for Tribal language integration, songs, or slide facilitation.
In addition to the downloadable lesson and student handouts, this lesson comprised of Four class periods of minimum of 55 minutes, includes interactive slides and lesson script/ facilitation support.
Slides: Trail of Truth: Muwekma Ohlone Fight for Federal Recognition
Lesson Script/ Facilitation Support
*To ensure full accessibility, we recommend making a copy of the instructional material(s).
Instructions:
To use the slides effectively:
- Project the slides in "Slideshow Mode" to activate animations. Written content will appear with each click.
- Set speaker volume before beginning the lesson to ensure all students can hear audio content.
- Play audio by clicking the audio playback icons one at a time. There may be a brief pause while the audio loads.
- Hovering over an audio playback icon will reveal a playback bar that allows you to play, pause, adjust speed, or fast-forward the audio.
- Note: You do not need to use the playback bar unless you wish to adjust playback. Simply clicking the icon will play the audio.