Complete
Table Of Contents
Rethinking Columbus is divided into seven main sections. Click on the section heading to jump directly to that section below. Links lead to the full text of selected articles.
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Introduction
- Introduction: Why Rethink Columbus? — 3
- "We Have No Reason to Celebrate an Invasion" —
4
an interview with Suzan Shown Harjo - Discovering Columbus, Re-reading the Past — 6
by Bill Bigelow - America to Indians: Stay in the 19th Century — 10
by Jan Elliott - Thanking the Birds — 11
by Joseph Bruchac
Elementary School Issues
- Why I Am Not Thankful for Thanksgiving — 12
by Michael Dorris - Indian Children Speak — 14
by Juanita Bell (Poem) - Native Americans: What Not to Teach — 15
by June Sark Heinrich - Columbus in the Elementary Classroom — 16
by Bob Peterson - Helping Children Critique Columbus Books — 19
- Native Land Rights: A Role Play — 21
by Jane Califf - Scalping — 22
- Once Upon a Genocide — 23
by Bill Bigelow - What Do You Mean, You Haven't Read the Wilder Books? —
26
by Doris Seale - Alphabet of Native Contributions — 31
- The Untold Story — 32
by Tina Thomas - And Then I Went To School — 34
by Joe Suina - The Delight Song of Tsoai-Talee — 37
by N. Scott Momaday (Poem)
Secondary School Issues
- Talking Back to Columbus — 38
by Bill Bigelow - Iroquois Contribution to the Constitution — 44
- Loo Wit — 45
by Wendy Rose (Poem) - Bones of Contention — 46
by Tony Hillerman - $3000 Death Song — 47
by Wendy Rose (Poem) - Spokane Museum — 47
by Ramona Wilson (Poem) - Halfbreed Girl in the City School — 48
by Jo Whitehorse Cochran (Poem) - It is Important — 49
by Gail Tremblay (Poem) - Native Women in the Circle of Life — 50
by Paula Gunn Allen - The Sacred Circle — 51
by Black Elk - Ceremony — 52
by Leslie Marmon Silko (Poem) - Myths that Bind Us — 53
by Linda Christensen
Contemporary Struggles
- Struggles Unite Native Peoples — 56
Interview with Chief Tayac - Columbus Day — 59
by Jimmie Durham (Poem) - Indians Fight Modern Conquistadores — 60
by Deborah Menkart - Rigoberta Menchú 61
- James Bay: Cree and Inuit Defend Lands — 62
- Our Land, Our Life — 63
- Indian Singing in 20th Century America — 64
by Gail Tremblay (Poem) - The Earth is a Satellite of the Moon — 65
by Leonel Rugama (Poem) - Textbook Crimes — 66
by CURE - The Danger of "Harmless" School Mascots — 67
Background/Context
- African-Americans: Mourn the Quincentenary — 68
by Bill Fletcher, Jr. - "If I Had Five Minutes To Spend With Students" —
71
an Interview with LaDonna Harris - La Raza: Product of Two Conquests — 72
by Andres Guerrero - Birth of the Mestizo — 73
- Let's Leave Columbus Behind — 74
by Hans Koning - George Washington Speculator in Native Lands — 75
- Maps: Take Europe Off Center Stage — 76
by W. Kaiser - Rethinking Terminology — 77
by Phil Tajitsu Nash and Emilienne Ireland
Historical Documents
- Timeline: Spain, Columbus, Native Americans — 78
- For the Love of Gold — 81
by Christopher Columbus - The Spanish Fight for Justice in the Indies — 82
by Bartolomé de las Casas - Land of the Spotted Eagle — 84
by Luther Standing Bear
Resources, References
- Resource Guide — 85
- Curriculum — 85
- Elementary Books — 86
- Secondary Books — 87
- Original Sources — 87
- Books for Adults — 88
- Audio Visual — 89
- Publications — 89
- Maps, Posters, etc. — 89
- Organizations — 90
- Teaching Guide — 92
- Poets' Biographies — 95
- Action Ideas — 95