School as Sanctuary

For far too many students, Thanksgiving stories and celebrations serve as their first introduction to the histories and cultures of American Indians. The resources in this edition of The Moment offer the opportunity to teach a more accurate story about the origins of Thanksgiving.
Today is Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a holiday still observed as Columbus Day in many states. On this day—and year-round—we hope you’ll commit to teaching the truth about Indigenous history and the experiences of Indigenous peoples. These resources can help.
Get ready to observe the anniversary of the integration of Central High School and to teach about the Little Rock Nine. These resources can help you contextualize these historic events, connect past to present and celebrate the power of young people to change history.
Juneteenth—celebrated across the country on June 19—marks an important milestone in the struggle for freedom. But the lessons of this holiday can and should be taught year-round. Use these resources to learn more about Juneteenth, get ideas for sharing it with students and contextualize it within American history.
Teach students an accurate and more complete history of Native and Indigenous peoples in celebration of Native American Heritage Month—and all year long! Including information from experts at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, these LFJ resources can help.
Indigenous Peoples Day—still observed as Columbus Day in most states—is just a few days away. Use it as an opportunity to set the record straight about Native history and the experiences of Native people today. This edition of The Moment features resources to help you do it.