Description

Teaching California Native history requires more than adding a lesson about the missions or celebrating Native American Heritage Month. It requires a shift in perspective. In this presentation, educator and curriculum specialist Dr. Jackie Cope introduces participants to the Seven Essential Understandings of California Native History and Culture, a framework that helps educators move beyond stereotypes and historical misconceptions toward accurate, respectful, and culturally responsive instruction.

Explore each of the Seven Essential Understandings through practical classroom examples, current educational research, and authentic Indigenous perspectives. Rather than viewing these understandings as seven separate topics, attendees will discover how they serve as a lens for teaching all aspects of California Native history and contemporary Native life.