Native American Heritage Month

This month, BCE celebrates Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich histories, diverse cultures, and important contributions of Native peoples. Here in Boulder Creek, we recognize that our community sits on the traditional lands of the Ohlone and Yokut people, now represented by the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, who have cared for this region for countless generations. We invite families to join in by reading books by Native authors, exploring tribal history in our area, or discussing the importance of caring for the land as Indigenous communities have done for centuries.

In the BCE Library, Ms. Callahan is working hard to ensure that Native American stories are written by Native American authors, celebrating the vibrant cultures of today rather than treating them solely as "history."

New to our non-fiction collection is a series on specific Native Tribes, all authored by Indigenous peoples, including the Seneca, Inuit, Cherokee, Lakota, Navajo, and Ojibwe.

Also highlighted this month are Native-authored storybooks such as We Are Still Here! by Traci Sorrell, the Caldecott Medal-winning Chooch Helped by Andrea L. Rogers, We All Play by Julie Flett, and the powerful Stolen Words by Melanie Florence.

Our 4th & 5th Grade Multicultural Club will learn about Native American heritage in the kid's favorite way--through stories and food! We will read a Native American telling of Thanksgiving, Keepunumuk or harvest time. Our club will enjoy "Three Sisters Soup" and learn a new story in which Weeâchumun—along with her companion plants the "Three Sisters" (corn, beans, and squash)—and local animals send dreams to the Wampanoag people, asking them to help the struggling, hungry newcomers.

Families are an important part of our Multicultural Club! If your family is interested in visiting the club or sharing elements of your home culture, we would love it! Please contact pdodge@slvusd.org to arrange a time!

Our November Bear Buzz student-led newscast will give a special shout out to Native American Heritage Month, including a BCE land acknowledgment.

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we want to take a moment to thank and honor the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, the original caretakers of this land. They have lived here for thousands of years, caring for the redwoods, rivers, and animals. We are grateful to learn, play, and grow on their traditional land.

Literature

Our classes are learning about Native American histories, cultures, and voices through read-alouds and discussions. Students are exploring biographies, stories, and picture books by Native authors such as Traci Sorell, Kevin Noble Maillard, Sherman Alexie, Dawn Quigley, and Emily Bowen Cohen, among others.Teachers also use recommended book lists from trusted Native and social justice organizations to highlight authentic and diverse perspectives, helping students appreciate both the past and present contributions of Native peoples.

Social Studies

Classes are learning about the Ohlone people and their culture before the Mission period in California, focusing on their traditions, stories, and deep connection to the land. Some students will visit the Santa Cruz Mission, where students will learn more about the Ohlone lifestyle both before and after the Mission era.

BCE students are exploring the rich cultural traditions, art, and history of Indigenous peoples through hands-on classroom projects. Our TK and kindergarten students are learning about Chumash cave paintings, while third graders are studying the Ohlone people and practicing basket weaving.

Second graders are creating Ojo de Dios (“God’s Eyes”), and third graders are making bead mandalas inspired by Huichol art traditions. Fourth graders are also learning about the diverse tribes of the Western Plains through hide painting. These projects provide meaningful opportunities for students to learn about Indigenous cultures, traditions, and artistic expression.

The Amah Mutsum Tribal Band website contains a wealth of information about the tribe's history, language and culture. This includes present day news and events relating to this local tribal band.

The project centers around the Amah Mutsun tribes and their rich history with the land prior to the mission in Santa Cruz, and the brutality they faced at the Santa Cruz Mission.

The Santa Cruz Public Library is a great place to read, listen, and watch materials on Native and Indigenous Authors, History, and Culture. Their website contains lists of adult, young adult and children's fiction and non-fiction books relating to Native American Heritage. Visitors can also watch movies from the Kanopy Native American History Month Collection free with their library card.

The park features the only building left of the 12th California Mission, Misión la Exaltacion de la Santa Cruz, founded by the Franciscans in 1791. Exhibits inside tell the story of the mission through the lens of the experience of the Ohlone and Yokuts people.