FIRST VOICES
EDUCATOR RESOURCES
Welcome to First Voices Educator Resources! These resources are provided for all educators who wish to integrate First Voices Indigenous digital stories into engaging lessons for students in grades 8 through 12 and college.
They're designed for a wide range of learning environments: schools, homeschooling, after-school programs, summer programs, community centers, colleges, and universities.
First Voices began as a Montana-based project, but our resources are designed for teachers and educators in Montana and beyond.
All lessons are endorsed by Montana’s Indian Education for All program and linked to the Essential Understandings Regarding Montana Indians.
RESOURCES BY TRIBE / LANGUAGE
Tsitsistas / Suhtai (N. Cheyenne) Resources
TSITSISTAS/SUHTAI
(N. CHEYENNE)
TWO NORTHERN CHEYENNE STORIES
In this lesson, students watch two Northern Cheyenne digital stories and then create their own story.
The Big Dipper (Tsèhésenèstsestotse) tells the story of the children who became the constellation. The Great Race conveys how humans challenged the buffalo to a race.
Grade level: High school (can be adapted for other grades)
Duration: 2 class periods of approx. 60 minutes
Subject(s): Social Studies; History; ELA (can be adapted for other subjects also)
THE GREAT RACE
The Great Race is the students’ interpretation of the ancient Northern Cheyenne story told through art, narrative, and choreography.
Premiered at Yellowstone Art Museum, the filming was accompanied by a panel discussion with students and artists, reinforcing the deep need for intertribal collaboration.
TSITSISTAS/SUHTAI (N. CHEYENNE)
Nakóda (Assiniboine) Stories
NAKÓDA (ASSINIBOINE)
BAHÁ IPÁ OWÁNIJA
("They Perished at the Rock Point")
They Perished at the Rock Point (Nakóda) is a true story about resilience in the face of a deadly epidemic. This resonates with younger generations in the contemporary context of the Covid-19 emergency. The story concerns the last smallpox epidemic that ravaged the upper Missouri River tribes from 1836-1840.
The Assiniboine, who were eventually placed on the Fort Peck Reservation along with the Sioux, tell of how their people ran from the disease and the struggle of their families and relatives. This story is ultimately one of survival and resilience, and demonstrates the need to preserve—and learn from—nearly forgotten Native histories.
Apsáalooke (Crow) Stories
OLD MAN COYOTE
Henry Real Bird, the poet laureate of Monana and a highly respected knowledge-keeper of the Apsáalooke (Crow) tribe tells an ancient story about the creation of the world.
Henry also provides some fascinating information about Apsáalooke artifacts including tobacco pipes. [Placeholder text]
APSÁALOOKE (CROW)
RESOURCES BY THEME
Creation Stories
TSITSISTAS/SUHTAI
(N. CHEYENNE)
TWO NORTHERN CHEYENNE STORIES
In this lesson we present videos of two creation stories from the Tsitsisttas/Suhtai tribe (Northern Cheyenne).
The stories relate how the Big Dipper (Great Bear) was formed (Tsèhésenèstsestotse) and how humans gained dominion over the animals through trickery (The Great Race).
Grade level: High school (can be adapted for other grades)
Duration: 2 class periods of approx. 60 minutes
Find out more using the "at-a-glance" button below, or jump directly to the resources if you're ready to go!
OLD MAN COYOTE
Henry Real Bird, the poet laureate of Monana and a highly respected knowledge-keeper of the Apsáalooke (Crow) tribe tells an ancient story about the creation of the world.
Henry also provides some fascinating information about Apsáalooke artifacts including tobacco pipes. [Placeholder text]
APSÁALOOKE (CROW)
Resilience Stories
RESLIENCE
BAHÁ IPÁ OWÁNIJA
("They Perished at the Rock Point")
They Perished at the Rock Point (Nakóda) is a true story about resilience in the face of a deadly epidemic. This resonates with younger generations in the contemporary context of the Covid-19 emergency. The story concerns the last smallpox epidemic that ravaged the upper Missouri River tribes from 1836-1840.
The Assiniboine, who were eventually placed on the Fort Peck Reservation along with the Sioux, tell of how their people ran from the disease and the struggle of their families and relatives. This story is ultimately one of survival and resilience, and demonstrates the need to preserve—and learn from—nearly forgotten Native histories.