The history and effect of boarding schools throughout the US and Canada has left many indigenous communities torn apart. Participants will read a letter written in 1906 by a U.S. Indian Agent for a father who is imploring that his son not be forced to cut his hair before attending boarding school in South Dakota.

Afterwards, participants will have the opportunity to talk in small groups (break-out rooms) about how this letter affected them.

Instructor will share personal accounts and stories of how culturally significant long hair was/is to Indigenous males and will give another example of how teachers can discuss this difficult history with students by reading the children’s story, Thunder’s Hair, by Jessie Taken-Alive Rencountre.

Instructor will share many resources (videos, Facebook posts, articles) showing Indigenous males and how important their long hair is.

The teacher emphasis is on acknowledging this history, not trying to make it better. As a result of listening closely as students share about their own lives, experiences and cultural beliefs, a teacher can create a more authentic bond with his/her tribal students and, if continued, students from all cultures will benefit in this focused interaction.

Cost: One hour presentation $350.
One-and-a-half-hour presentation: $500.