National Museum of the American Indian | Smithsonian
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Native Knowledge 360° Education Initiative
Transforming teaching and learning
about Native Americans
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workshops and programs.
In the Spotlight
Learn about the 1857 Treaty with the Pawnee and visit the website Nation to Nation: Treaties Between the United States and American Indian Nations to explore treaties from the colonial period through the 19th century.
Webpage featuring an illustration of a structure made of earth with smoke coming out of a chimney
Digital Lesson
The Pawnee Treaties of 1833 and 1857: Why Do Some Treaties Fail?
Native perspectives and other sources help students and teachers understand the difficult choices and consequences the Pawnee Nation faced when it entered into treaty negotiations with the United States. Grades 9–12
People rowing boats on a large body of water with mountains in the background
Teaching Poster (PDF)
Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw People: Ways of Living, Ways of Giving
The Ways of Living, Ways of Giving teaching poster examines the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw people’s relationship with the forests and water life along the North Pacific Coast, as well as the rich tradition of the potlatch. Grades 6–8
Webpage featuring a view of water from a mountain
Digital Lesson
Pacific Northwest History and Cultures: Why Do the Foods We Eat Matter?
Discover through community perspectives and other sources how Native nations of the Pacific Northwest protect and sustain their homelands, waterways, and vital food sources, such as the salmon. Grades 9–12
Featured Teacher Programs
collage featuing portraits of a man and a woman, text, a sketch of two figures, a woven bag, and a basket
California Native American Survival and Resilience During the Mission Period: A Source Investigation
July 22 & 23, 2025
Online

Learn about Native people during California’s Spanish mission period to analyze the question, How did Native Americans of California resist and persist in the face of extreme adversity?

Program Details

Explore NK360° Educational Resources
collage featuing baskets, interior of a church, sketch of two figures, man with a bow
California Native American Survival and Resilience During the Mission Period: 4th Grade Edition
collage featuring a basket, writing, a photograph of a woman, a photograph of a man, an illustration of a figure, and a woven bag with shells
California Native American Survival and Resilience During the Mission Period: Middle & High School Edition
illustration featuring panels with figures engaging in life activities
The “First Thanksgiving”: How Can We Tell a Better Story?
illustration of an adult and kids in silhouette watching a screen
What’s the Story with National Stories?
collage of photographs and articles
The Impact of the Gold Rush on Native Americans of California
photograph of the Pamunky River
Life Along the River: The Pamunkey Indian Tribe of Virginia
illustration of silhouetted figures
Lenape (Delaware) Homeland
illustrations of figures on a map
Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Lands and the American Revolution
photograph of a basket filled with cranberries
Cranberry Day: Traditional Harvest Festivals
Search the museum’s collection
Bring impactful, Native-centered primary source materials into your classroom through the museum’s Collections Search.
Educators participating in teacher workshops
Professional Development
Explore workshops designed to equip teachers with critical concepts and engaging pedagogy to support a transformation in teaching and learning about Native Americans.
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Group Timed Entry
Student groups interested in timed entry to the imagiNATIONS Activity Center may make a reservation.
Frequently Asked Questions about Native Americans
What is the correct terminology: American Indian, Indian, Native American, Indigenous, or Native?
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