The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing but the Truth...in Native American History Curricula

• In Event: 43.008 - "When Alternative Facts Are Birthed in a Colonial Womb": Native American and Indigenous Uncementing Settler Histories

Abstract

Arizona passed Arizona Revised Statue (ARS) 15-341 and ARS 15-710 in 2004 requiring Native American history in all K-12 classrooms. The original intent was to instruct on Native American government, sovereignty, culture, and history (School curriculum; Native American culture, 2004). This paper investigates the beliefs of school personnel and Natives on the content that should be included in Native American history curriculum. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with policymakers, districts personnel, and Native parents. Findings indicated that while the non-Native educators reported instruction should include “both sides” of Native history but with an emphasis on positive history rather than negative, the Native participants believed that the “truth” should be taught. These truths were what the non-Native participants called negative history

Author

• Cynthia Benally, University of Utah