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KnowledgeBases > The American Indian Education KnowledgeBase > Element 2 > Activity 2 > Task 2: Be Aware of the Need for Cultural Group Identity

Guideline: Each student brings to the classroom a personal identity based on his or her family's native origins and cultural characteristics.  These factors could impact the student's performance in the classroom and interactions with others.  Educators should be aware of American Indian students' potential need for group identity and its impact on students' learning.
References Cultural Identity of Students: What Teachers Should Know

This article authored by Lisa A. Jones, an Associate Professor of Multicultural Education at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, offers insights on the need for teachers to be aware of their students' cultural identities.

References Identity, Schooling, and Success _EXTERNAL_LINK
A perspective written by Dr. Jon Reyhner of Northern Arizona University, that appeared in the NABE News, March/April 2002. In this column, he offers thoughts on the importance of helping students build a strong positive identity as well as developing their academic knowledge and skills.
References Native American Indian Genealogy _EXTERNAL_LINK

This link to Access Genealogyis provides such Native American records as tribal histories, final rolls, census, and an extensive collection of online books.

Presentations Knowing Who You Are _EXTERNAL_LINK

In "this 24-minute video 23 individuals (youth in care, foster care alumni, child welfare professionals, birth families, and resource families) share their perspectives about why race and ethnicity matter and the importance of integrating racial and ethnic identity into child welfare practice." While its focus is on the foster care system, the issues, perceptions and emotions explored are relevant to native American children and teens being aware of their identity. This program was developed by Casey Family Programs, "a Seattle-based national operating foundation that has served children, youth, and families in the child welfare system since 1966."

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