Many Indigenous people in Montana and around the country will celebrate Indigenous People’s Day on October 14. The second Monday in October is designated as a federal and state holiday, traditionally known as Columbus Day. Montana celebrates Native American Heritage Day on the fourth and last Friday(s) in September.
OPI’s Indian Education for All (IEFA) Unit offers many great classroom resources to aid our teachers in fulfilling Montana’s constitutional promise of honoring the uniqueness of our 12 federally recognized Tribal Nations. The IEFA Unit is always available to answer your questions and help you implement creative Indian Education activities in your classrooms.
Contact an Indian Education Specialist here.
Christopher J. Morigeau, Director of Indian Education for All
Join us for an engaging book study of "Thunderous," a powerful narrative that explores themes of resilience, identity, and community. This immersive experience will not only delve into the story's rich characters and settings but also examine its cultural significance. Participants will gain insights into how literature can reflect diverse perspectives and foster empathy. Together, we will develop lesson plans that emphasize cultural responsiveness, ensuring that all voices are heard and celebrated in our classrooms. Let's inspire our students to connect with the world through the lens of "Thunderous." Look out for "Thunderous" Book Study sign-ups on the IEFA website and at MFPE.
FWP and AmeriCorps will be doing Fall Fest at Wayfarers Park in Big Fork, MT on Saturday October 12th from 10am to 2pm. Julie Jeffers from OPI, IEFA division will be teaching Native Games.
We will have an IEFA booth in the exhibit hall so be sure to stop by and pick up some IEFA materials and visit with IEFA staff!
IEFA Specialists Jennifer Stadum and Julie Jeffers will be presenting on:
Land-based Education and IEFA Integration:
Land-based learning provides multiple avenues for culturally responsive, respectful, and meaningful ways to implement Indian Education for All across all curricular areas. Begin with the playground at school and develop observational skills throughout the seasons while teaching about tribal seasonal rounds in Montana beginning in kindergarten and work up to service projects, possibly helping restore creek beds on a reservation with tribal natural resource departments in high school. Land-based learning can be implemented alongside Indian Education for All in science, ELA, social studies, art, health enhancement, math, family and consumer science, music, and more. Join us for a highly interactive workshop that will model inquiry-based learning, provide demonstrations of cross-curricular opportunities, and collaborative work time so participants can leave with realistic, actionable tasks to integrate into their teaching situations.
IEFA Specialist Mike Jetty will have two presentations:
Indian Education for All resources for Music:
This session will highlight authentic resources for teaching about contemporary and traditional American Indian songs. Several new IEFA videos have been produced that feature singers from different tribes sharing songs and the meanings behind them. There are thousands of different songs from tribes across America and this session will provide a few tribal specific examples from MT. These resources support Essential Understanding 3 - Cultural Traditions.
Indian Education for All Resources for ELA and Social Studies:
This workshop will provide attendees with ideas, resources, and strategies for integrating Indian Education for All in your instruction. This presentation will provide examples of effective instructional materials and methods with a particular focus on IEFA implementation for ELA and Social Studies. In addition, background knowledge about the Essential Understandings Regarding Montana Indians will also be shared. Indian Education for All is a collaborative journey so come ready to share what is working in your classroom.
- No registration required
- Earn 1 professional development renewal unit
- 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month
IEFA Energize Webinars
1st Tuesday of each month
Join OPI's IEFA staff on the 1st Tuesday of every month to hear important announcements; dive into model lessons; learn about new resources, play games, earn prizes, and more!
IEFA Across the Content
3rd Tuesday of each month
Indian Education for All implementation strategies provided by K-12 educators both on and off-reservation. Content areas covered: ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, Health Enhancement, FCCS, CTE, Music, and Art. These webinars are recorded and available to watch on our IEFA YouTube channel, too!
YouTube Channel
Are you looking for engaging and informative resources to improve your IEFA background knowledge and improve your teaching? Check out our YouTube Channel for engaging IEFA content and a wealth of classroom materials to deepen understanding and enhance your teaching.
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If you have any questions, please reach out to one of the IEFA team members. Contact information can be found here.
The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.
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