How Do We Know How Native Americans Lived Before Their History Was Written in Books?

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This inquiry explores how we learn about the early peoples of the northern Great Plains through archaeology and oral history. This topic is introduced through the investigation of the compelling question “How do we know how Native Americans lived before their history was written in books?” The importance of understanding the history of early peoples in this context is twofold: (1) students should be able to understand the field of archaeology and the academic study of early people and (2) students will benefit from understanding how modern tribes have used oral histories to maintain hundreds of years of history of their people, connecting them to early people who left few written records.

The terms “Native Americans” and “Native peoples” are used in this inquiry. The terms “American Indians” and “Indians” are used in much of the scholarly literature. In this inquiry, precise tribal names will be used when they are known.

This inquiry is expected to take three class periods; however, teachers are encouraged to adapt the inquiry to meet the needs and interests of their students and the amount of time they have available.

Inquiry Design Model (IDM) Blueprint™
Compelling Question
How do we know how Native Americans lived before their history was written in books?
Standards and Practices
ND.6_12.4.1 Identify the Native American groups in North Dakota before European contact and describe their culture.
Staging the Question
What is archaeology and what do archeologists do?
Supporting Question 1
Supporting Question 2
Supporting Question 3
What do we know about early people on the northern Great Plains?
How do we know what we know (archaeology, oral history, exploration)?
How do the modern tribes in North Dakota find connections to the early peoples of the northern Great Plains?
Formative Performance Task
Formative Performance Task
Formative Performance Task
Write a summary or outline of the early peoples who lived in what is now North Dakota.
Create a graphic organizer to show how archeologists and elders work to tell the stories of ancient people who did not leave written texts of their lives.
Create a poster that depicts how Native American people honor cultural traditions today.
Featured Sources
Featured Sources
Featured Sources
  • Native American Map Set
  • Traces: Early Peoples of North Dakota
  • Additional library and resources
Summative Performance Task
Argument
How do archaeology and oral histories work together to present a more fully developed picture of early peoples on the northern Great Plains? Is there more conflict or harmony between the two approaches? Construct an argument that addresses the compelling question using specific claims and relevant evidence from historical sources while acknowledging competing views. Create a poster and present your argument to your class with evidence to support your claims.
Extension
Invite a Native American elder or tribal community representative or archeologist to speak to your class either in-person or virtually.
Taking Informed Action

Understand: Identify tribes who consider the land where your community is part of their traditional homelands.

Assess: Determine what has happened to those people—who are they and where do they live now? Are there ways in which your community can support or recognize them today?

Act: Using the poster and additional research you conducted, create a short documentary film. Present the documentary to your community during a history fair.