Outreach Programs

Can’t Make It To The Museum?We’ll Bring Our Programs To You

 

Although nothing helps introduce Eastern Woodland Native American concepts quite like a visit to the Institute for American Indian Studies, if your institution is unable to make the trip, one of our Outreach Programs may be the next best thing! Our Educators bring the experience right to you with authentic and replicated artifacts, traditional clothing and furs and visual materials to help people imagine what it was like to be in the Eastern Woodlands.

For more information on Outreach programs or to book a program, please email [email protected]

Pre-K to Second Grade

A Storied Tradition (Pre-K – 2nd Grades)

Since time immemorial, the oral tradition of storytelling has been used by Indigenous people to pass on the history, culture and life lessons from one generation to the next. One of our two storytellers on staff will bring history to life when they share Traditional Native American stories in the Longhouse fashion. These stories about animals teach valuable life lessons such as how to live in harmony with nature, how to be a good human being, the consequences for bad behavior, and answer questions about how things came to be.

This program is offered as an in-person outreach for a minimum fee of $325 plus mileage, or as a pre-recorded video for $97.00 per class or presentation.

Standard Program Length: 1 1/4 hour

Common Core Standards
Reading Writing Speaking & Listening Language
1, 2, 5, 7 1, 2, 3, 4 1, 4
Connecticut State Standards
History Civics Ecology Geology
k.1, k.2, k.3, k.4; 1.1, 1.4; 2.2 k.3 k.1; 1.3 K.4; 1.4; 2.4, 2.5
Third - Fifth Grade

Quinnetukut: Stories of Survival (3rd – 5th Grades)

n this program students are introduced to the lives of Native Americans in the past. Students will examine depictions of a Native village and describe significant roles within a community. They will discuss how the environment shaped daily life and what natural resources were necessary for survival. Students will also experience how stories were used to teach important lessons, and get to interact with Indigenous cultural items and resources.

This program is offered as an in-person outreach for a minimum fee of $325 plus mileage, or as a live virtual presentation for for $197.00 per class or presentation.

Standard Program Length: 1 1/4 hour

Middle and High School

When Cultures Collide (Middle and High School)

n historical accounts about the colonization of the Americas, most of what is emphasized comes from the colonial perspective and the Indigenous voices have all but been erased. For a complete and accurate view of history, both perspectives need to be better understood. Through analysis of primary resources and Indigenous oral traditions, students will hear about the different ways that the two cultures valued and interacted with the land, leading to drastically different world views.

This program is offered as an in-person outreach for a minimum fee of $325 plus mileage, or as a live virtual presentation for for $197.00 per class or presentation.

Standard Program Length: 1 1/4 hour

 

Common Core Standards
Reading Writing Speaking & Listening Language
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 1, 2, 6, 7, 10 1, 2, 4 1, 4, 5, 6
Connecticut State Standards
Geography Civics Economics History
6.3, 7.3, 6.5, 7.5, 6.6, 7.6, 6.9, 7.9, 8.3
9.5, 10.5, 11.5, 12.5, 9.10, 10.10, 11,10, 12.10, 9.14, 10.14, 11.14, 12.14
8.4, 9.4, 10.4, 11.4, 12.4 6.1, 7.1, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.9
9.1, 10.1, 11.1, 12.1, 9.4, 10.4, 11.4, 12.4, 9.5, 10.5, 11.5, 12.5, 9.7, 10.7, 11.7, 12.7
Ninth - Twelfth Grade

Power of the Eigth Generation (9th – 12th Grades)

Students will explore post-contact history and its impact on public knowledge and Native identity. We aim to initiate meaningful conversations about European-Native American interactions, where students can identify with both points of view after learning about the diversity among Native American communities and resilience in the face of assimilation and colonial control.

This program is offered as an in-person outreach for a minimum fee of $325 plus mileage, or as a live virtual presentation for for $197.00 per class or presentation.

Standard Program Length: 1 1/4 hour

Common Core Standards
Reading Writing Speaking & Listening Language
4, 6, 7 2, 3 4, 5, 6 3, 4, 6
Connecticut State Standards
History Civics Ecology Geography
9-12.1, 9-12.2, 9-12.3, 9-12.4, 9-12.5, 9-12.6, 9-12.7, 9-12.14 9-12.1, 9-12.3, 9-12.5, 9-12.12, 9-12.13, 9-12.14, 9-12.17 9-12.2, 9-12.4, 9-12.5

Etuaptmumk: Two-Eyed Seeing (9th – 12th Grades)

IAIS educators will help students to examine the world with a blend of Western environmental science and traditional Indigenous teachings in honor of the Mi’kmaw concept of “etuaptmumk”. Students will learn how their relationship with the environment is shaped depending on the world view they were raised in and how that affects the way they see and understand their place in, and responsibility to, the environment. Two-Eyed Seeing can lead to powerful transcultural and collaborative work to leave the world a better place for future generations.

This program is offered as an in-person outreach for a minimum fee of $325 plus mileage, or as a live virtual presentation for for $197.00 per class or presentation

Standard Program Length: 1 1/4 hour

Common Core Standards
Reading Writing Speaking & Listening Language
4, 6, 7 2, 3 4, 5, 6 3, 4, 6
Connecticut State Standards
History Civics Ecology Geography
9-12.1, 9-12.2, 9-12.3, 9-12.4, 9-12.5, 9-12.6, 9-12.7, 9-12.14 9-12.1, 9-12.3, 9-12.5, 9-12.12, 9-12.13, 9-12.14, 9-12.17 9-12.2, 9-12.4, 9-12.5
Adult Education Programs
Quinnetukut: Our Homeland, Our History

Much of what we learn about Connecticut’s past comes from a colonized perspective that has almost entirely left out the voices of Indigenous people who have called this land home for over 12,000 years. How knowledge about the past is preserved and passed down in different cultures affects how history is perceived. In this presentation, led by Education Director Darlene Kascak, Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, participants will get a more complete and accurate view of the history of Connecticut that takes the perspectives of Native people into account.

 

Etuaptmumk: Two-Eyed Seeing in Our Daily Lives

Etuaptmumk is a Mi’kmaw saying that translates to “Two-Eyed Seeing.” This concept refers to learning how to see the strengths of Indigenous knowledge from one eye and the strengths of Western knowledge from the other.  Two-Eyed Seeing can lead to powerful transcultural and collaborative work to leave the world a better place for future generations. Join IAIS Education Director and Traditional Storyteller Darlene Kascak, Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, and IAIS Educator and ecologist Susan Scherf to discuss how people can include this “Two-Eyed Seeing” concept in their daily lives. 

 

Food For Thought: The Thanksgiving Story

What does Thanksgiving mean to you, and how do you celebrate it? Is it a day to spend time with family and friends? Is it a time to eat lots of delicious food? Is it a time to be thankful for the positive things in your life? As you can see, this holiday can mean different things to different people. For Native Americans today, answering the questions above is not so simple. Join an IAIS Educator to discuss the myths and misconceptions surrounding this holiday. From documents written at that time and from Wampanoag oral histories, you will find the history of Thanksgiving is more surprising than you might think.

 

More Than A Number: MMIWG2S

Join Education Director Darlene Kascak, Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, for a virtual discussion about the ongoing efforts to raise awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Children, and 2 Spirits (MMIWG2S), as well as Native initiatives designed to bring attention to this issue. This program will discuss contributing factors to this epidemic and its impact on Native communities. What are the next steps beyond raising awareness? How can you get involved? What are some movements in Indian Country seeking to address this serious issue? 

 

“Tales of a Forgotten Day”; Myth and Memory at Lover’s Leap

This presentation explores the creation of the “Legend of Weantinaug” – a story associated with the falls at Lover’s Leap State Park in New Milford – and how it has shaped our perceptions about Native people and their place within the landscape. Join IAIS Assistant Director and Exhibit Curator Paul Wegner for a discussion on the latest archaeological and historical research at this site, as well as projects underway to uncover the accurate indigenous history of the area known to Algonkian-speaking peoples as Metichewan.

 

A Sweet Tradition: Maple Sugaring in Native American Communities

Did you know that when you pour syrup on your pancakes, you’re biting into a treat with a rich history? Native Americans have been involved in the production of maple syrup and maple sugar for thousands of years. Join an IAIS Staff Member for a sweet presentation in which we share the stories, history, and traditional methods of making this tasty treat, which has enriched the lives of people throughout the world.

In the event of a cancellation, a full two weeks’ notice is required or a $100 cancellation fee will be charged. Cancellations due to school closings, delayed openings or early dismissals will not be charged and we will do everything possible to reschedule the trip for a convenient date.