Tribal Regalia and Graduation 

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: 9-12th Grades

Suggested Amount of Time: 30 minutes

Curriculum Themes

• History
• Cultural Strengths
• Law/Government
• Relationship to Place

Learning Goals

• Students will demonstrate an understanding of cultural awareness, including historical and modern contexts that shape/influence California Native American Tribes.

• Students will actively participate in class discussions, articulating their understanding of how language shapes perceptions of Native peoples and communities. 

• Students will reflect on the impact of terminology on identity, sovereignty, and self-representation.

• Students will analyze the social, political, and cultural structures within American Indian communities, understanding that terms like "tribal" and "nation" are connected to real governance systems that vary across different groups and regions.

Lesson Overview