Learn about Native American heritage with PBS resources for all ages

November 12, 2024 Tawny Morrison Leave a Comment

Native American Heritage Month celebrates the diverse cultures, contributions and histories of Native American and Alaska Native nations. It’s a great opportunity to add titles by Native authors to your “to be read” list or learn more about the nations whose tribal lands are closest to you.

From little learners to grown-ups, get started with these picks from PBS Wisconsin Education.

Meet Electa Quinney

Learn about Mohican educator and mentor Electa Quinney in PBS Wisconsin Education’s Wisconsin Biographies collection. Developed for grades 3-6, the videos, historical images and digital books in the collection are engaging and insightful for all ages.

Quinney’s story connects her commitment to education and her community to the history of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians, who were forced to leave their homelands in the east many years before she was born.

After you check out Quinney’s story, learn about other community leaders like Walter Bresette and Chief Oshkosh.

Find your next read from Wisconsin First Nations

The Wisconsin First Nations website provides accurate and authentic resources for infusing American Indian studies in the classroom, and there’s a wealth of information for anyone looking to expand their knowledge.

Browse the Wisconsin First Nations booklists, conveniently organized by age, to find titles by and about Native nations and people. Every title description includes page length and the Native nation or nations the book connects to. There’s something for everyone from picture books and poetry to memoirs and novels!

Learn about your tribal neighbors

There are countless books, videos, museums and more for learning about the Native nations throughout the United States. Not sure where to begin? Start local! Use the Wisconsin First Nations maps to see which Native nations and whose tribal lands are closest to you. Then, search the Wisconsin First Nations resources page by nation to find places to visit, videos and more.

The whole family can learn together! The Design a Poster to Honor the Indigenous Lands You Live On activity from PBS KIDS for Parents is a great place to start. Read books, visit a local museum or watch educational videos together. Then, have your child create a simple poster or drawing to share what they learned and honor their Native neighbors.

Play and learn with Molly of Denali

The PBS KIDS series Molly of Denali shares about Alaska Native culture and values through the adventures of Molly and her friends Tooey and Trini. The trio solve problems and approach challenges with help from informational texts like maps, recipes and websites.

PBS KIDS for Parents has activities, printables, articles and more to help children and families take learning with Molly to the next level! Capture the tradition of trading by playing a bartering game or try a recipe for Molly’s favorite muffins. For learning on the go, download the free Molly of Denali app filled with educational games. Bonus: the app is always ad free!

Looking for more? Watch Tribal Histories on PBS Wisconsin. The series features tribal storytellers sharing the culture and oral traditions that have shaped their communities across generations. It presents the histories of all 11 federally recognized American Indian tribes and bands located in Wisconsin, plus one tribe that is seeking to regain its federal status.

PBS Kids Family Native American Tribal Histories American Indians Wisconsin Biographies Wisconsin First Nations Electa Quinney