Lewis and Clark

When possible, I try to teach American history stories from a non-dominant perspective. I don’t say that Lewis and Clark discovered anything. Explored, maybe, but not discovered.

Introduction

I start by introducing students to the podcast All My Relations. It’s hosted by indigenous female scholars and discusses a variety of issues related to modern and historical native peoples. I focus on Ep #4: Can a DNA test make me Native American? Because it dives into the meaning of native identities and how white Americans like to claim indigenous roots.  

Video

Then I show the video “The True Story of Sacajawea” that was produced by Ted Ed. Students really pick up on things they have never heard about her story, like the role of her family and her leadership. I also point out that the expedition included York, an enslaved laborer who was forced to go with them.

Primary Source 

Show students photos of “peace medals”. These were medals adorned with presidents and presented to Native peoples by Lewis and Clark throughout their expedition. They were meant to symbolize cooperation. Obviously, they did not.

Article Discussion

Students read the article “Discovering Lewis and Clark” on Learning for Justice. We have a detailed discussion about the diverse perspectives about the story and the long-term consequences of the expedition. "It was two men -- two men who encountered at least 48 different tribes," adds educator Judy BlueHorse of Portland, Ore. "And yet it's always a story about these two men." 

Closing

We end with a reflection on the question, “How does POV change our perspective of historical events?”