​David J. O’Connor finds personal reflection and storytelling essential to learning about Wisconsin’s First Nations

As the American Indian Studies Consultant at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, David J. O’Connor connects with educators to provide support for their understanding of the histories, cultures, and tribal sovereignty of Indigenous peoples, communities, and nations of Wisconsin. 

For questions about this information or for support on teaching First Nations/American Indian Studies, contact David O'Connor (608) 267-2283

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Check out these resources and materials for teaching and learning around First Nations Studies. 
 
DPI American Indian Studies Program
The first resource is the hyperlink to the DPI American Indian Studies Program website, which has the following information available:  
Additionally, other resources shared and/or referenced is available on the Lesson Planning Resources | Maps | and Teaching and Learning subsection on the DPI American Indian Studies Program website. These materials and resources have been selected to illustrate ways in which teachers and others can include, integrate, and/or infuse American Indian Studies content into your instruction and practice. The information from each of these resources can be woven into a school or district’s curriculum through a balanced, comprehensive and aligned framework adaptable to local circumstances. Here is a list of some of the resources and materials shared and referenced:
 
Wisconsin First Nations Education
The Wisconsin First Nations Education website is meant to support administrators, teachers, librarians, and many others in exploring a rich collection of educational videos, professional development resources and materials, lesson plan for all grades, and learning tools for your classroom and libraries, specifically reference the Resources section on the website. This website is to help school districts or libraries integrate information on Wisconsin’s American Indian nations and tribal communities into their curriculum.
 
Furthermore, teacher professional learning resources are also provided, including a Frequently Asked Questions section for answering hard-to-ask questions you may have when teaching about Native cultures, and exemplar videos featuring Wisconsin teachers modeling how to incorporate American Indian Studies into students’ everyday learning.
 
Wisconsin First Nations Exemplar Profile: David O'Connor | PBS Wisconsin Education 
PBS Wisconsin Education released a new Wisconsin First Nations focused digital video exemplar titled, Wisconsin First Nations Exemplar Profile: David O’Connor this past February 2020. “The video is part of PBS Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education, and Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s Wisconsin First Nations collection of authentic and accurate Pre K-12 educational and educator-focused professional development resources. The digital exemplar series features stories from Wisconsin educators who excel at teaching American Indian Studies and want to help other educators do the same.” [PBS Wisconsin]
 
This exemplar profile and other resources are available at WisconsinFirstNations.org. To read the DPI-ConnectEd story (PBS Wisconsin Publishes Video on DPI American Indian Studies Consultant) with more information, visit here.
 
To watch the video, please click visit the following links:  
Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS)
The information from each of these resources can be woven into a classroom, school and/or district’s curriculum through a balanced, comprehensive, and aligned framework adaptable to local circumstances.  
Here is a list of other resources and materials available from the WHS Press:  
The University of Wisconsin Press additionally has resources and materials for American Indian Studies. The following books are available from the UW Press:  
Like WHS Press, the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) Press offers numerous resources and materials to support Native American Studies. The following information from each of the resources and materials listed below can be woven into a classroom, school and/or district’s curriculum through a balanced, comprehensive, and aligned framework adaptable to local circumstances.  
In addition, here are some other resources:  
The online resources that were shared and/or referenced during our time together include the following information and hyperlinks:  
 
PBS Wisconsin Education The Ways:                    
PBS Wisconsin Education Wisconsin Biographies:    
PBS Wisconsin Tribal Histories  documentaries, which currently includes the following videos:  
News and Media Sources
The following links are to media resources, television, and radio that covers news and entertainment for and about American Indian nations and tribal communities across Wisconsin, the United States, and Canada.  
Podcasts  
Links to Other Instructional or Related Resources
An important consideration when looking for good literature and written resources is to determine the historical and cultural accuracy of the materials and resources. The following links are to online guidance documents on how to determine the accuracy of books and other resources as well as to lists of vetted materials regarding American Indian Studies content.  
Native Knowledge 360°
Native Knowledge 360° (NK360°) from the National Museum of American Indian (NMAI) provides educators and students with new perspectives on Native American history and cultures. NK360° provides educational materials and teacher training that incorporate Native narratives, more comprehensive histories, and accurate information to enlighten and inform teaching and learning about Native America. Furthermore, NK360° challenges common assumptions about Native peoples—their cultures, their roles in United States and world history, and their contributions to the arts, sciences, and literature. NK360° also offers a view that includes not only the past but also the richness and vibrancy of Native peoples and cultures today. The following information in available on the website:  
Lessons of Our Land
Lessons of Our Land teaches the Native American story of this land from historical to modern times. The developed the curriculum provides students with broader insight and understanding of land, cultures, inherent rights and tribal sovereignty. The larger goal of the initiative is to have people identify with the land they live on and be better prepared to solve the difficult issues that impact communities on or near reservations today. Although Lessons of Our Land positions Native American tribal issues and values at the forefront, the curriculum emphasizes the fundamental relationship between land and people in general, not just Native Americans. The following information in available on the website:  
Furthermore, each of these suggested resources listed above are intended for individuals of all ages and in all communities to make the connection between the knowledge, skills, and ways of learning about each of the American Indian nations, tribal communities, and people in Wisconsin and United States. In addition, here is a hyperlink to a document titled A Tiered Purchasing Plan for Supporting Wisconsin Act 31 in your Classroom or Library.
  
Please let me know if you need anything further on my end (as indicated earlier additional resources and materials are listed on the DPI American Indian Studies Program and Wisconsin First Nation Education websites). Take care and miigwech (Ojibwe meaning thank you) for all you do!
 
Regards,
 
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David J. O'Connor, M.S.
Education Consultant, American Indian Studies Program
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
125 South Webster Street | P.O. Box 7841
Madison, WI 53703-7841
Telephone: (608) 267-2283 or (800) 441-4563 | Fax: (608) 266-1965
Email: [email protected]  | Web Page: dpi.wi.gov/amind
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