The history and “effects” of boarding schools throughout the US and Canada has left many indigenous communities torn apart. Relating this history to current literature, the presenter will introduce the contemporary young adult book, Firekeeper’s Daughter (2021) by Angelina Boulley. Participants will read two short quotes from the book and discuss in small groups (break-out rooms) about how this reading affected them. Following these discussions, presenter will show-case how the topic of being bi-racial as an example of a theme a teacher could use in a classroom. The personal stories from both Indigenous/White and Puerto Rican/White people that reiterate the difficulty of being bi-racial and the value of being able to discuss it will be shared. Presenter will introduce several other possible themes that a teacher could explore after reading this book: cultural values, respect for elders, language revitalization, and the importance of high school sports. Throughout the workshop, participants will refer to an extensive resource guide and discuss how they could use these resources in a classroom. All students can relate to the potential themes here and teachers have the opportunity to build deeper connections with students of many different cultures and backgrounds.

Presentation can be virtual or live
Cost:
One hour presentation $350
One and a half hour presentation: $500