Week Three Reflections: Treaty Law and Tribal Sovereignty

This week's resources were very informative and reflective.

Although intense, I appreciated Dan Decker's video on Treaty Law and Tribal Sovereignty. He addresses issues concerning the establishment of reservations and also clarified points dealing with sovereignty. His explanation of this topic made me realize that to be fair is not to be necessarily equal. The information presented in the video would be beyond my kindergartners but was useful to me. It gave me a different point of reference in which to view the issues confronting today's tribes. Basically, it is not that the government owes the tribes anything but that by rights the tribes are entitled to certain things because of  their sovereign status, treaties and their existence in America before there was an America.
  

I must applaud Jule Cajune and her efforts to spread the word of the Native American heritage and culture that has been so long ignored by the general population. She is doing it in such a way that I am sure the information will reach a large and diverse audience.

Tammy Elser's Interactive Lesson Structure walk-through was a nice break-down on how to address the Common Core through a study of treaty law. Although it is above my students, I can still apply the principles to my incorporation of I.E.F.A. with the standards. Also, her EduVid on Authentic Literacy is one every teacher no matter how many years they have been in the classroom should view. She is very approachable and clear in the way she outlines how a literacy lesson should be conducted. Her structure for interactive lessons for films is also one I use a watered down version of. I will keep in mind her visual of the Instructional Sandwich, much like the Compliment Sandwich I use with the students and parents, as I frame my lessons.