Native American Heritage Month Around French International

November is Native American Heritage Month in the United States, and we recognize and honor the diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of Native American communities. At French International, the month was acknowledged and incorporated into lessons and presentations. The Native American Heritage Month committee also put together a padlet of resources for teachers and parents to dive deeper into the month.

The Middle School has an IB Learner Profile Trait assembly each month. They used November’s assembly to discuss the trait of “balance” and tie it into Native American culture. The assembly began with a land acknowledgment followed by two poems read by eighth graders. Students who demonstrated balance were also recognized. Middle School teachers also made bookmarks and announced a photo contest where students submit their best photo embodying balance.

Elsewhere in the school, preschoolers learned about fry bread and its connection to Native American culture. They read a book about fry bread, how it smells, how it’s made, and what it symbolizes. Fry bread became a part of Native American culture when the US government provided rations of flour, lard, and sugar. To make the most of the resources, cooks created a flat bread that could be fried in oil. After reading the book, the preschool classes made their own fry bread, connecting it to the book they read.

Many of the resources and events of the month were made possible by the Native American Heritage Month committee. The Native American Heritage Month committee is one of ten committees formed to recognize, honor, and celebrate different cultures at French International. The plan for Heritage Month celebrations was created by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee and is part of the strategic plan pillar of People.