Voices of the Native Northwest Coast
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Provided by: American Museum of Natural History|Published on: October 27, 2022
Videos
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Synopsis
- This video includes first-person history and stories from Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest.
- Students will learn about the history, culture, and practices of these Indigenous Americans, as well as the systemic racism, hurtful laws, bad-faith practices, and harm they have experienced.
- The Native Americans interviewed also discuss their connection to the land, their appreciation for nature, and their unwasteful ways of living.

Subjects: Civics, History
Authors: American Museum of Natural History
Region: North America, USA - Northeast, USA - West, United States
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This video is incredibly educational and features the first-person perspective of Pacific Northwest Indigenous people.
- Students will get to see tribal customs, hear how laws impacted people, and learn about how this culture carries on today.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should have prior knowledge of the history of colonization in North America.
Differentiation
- Cross-curricular connections can be made in science classes discussing sustainability practices, especially sustainable fishing, or in health classes discussing how different cultures live healthy lives.
- Before watching this video, have students share what they know about Native Pacific Northwest tribal culture, the interactions between governments and tribes, or any other ideas about the topic. After viewing, use these ideas and what was learned in the video to have a class conversation.
This 12-minute video spotlights how the forests, marine resources, cultural heritage, and lands of the native people of the Pacific Northwest coast were decimated, and how their cultural norms and values were criminalized by Western governments. Over time, they have fought this systemic racism and brought back their cultural heritage. They have also been able to instill their cultural values and norms to the younger generations, as these values were important drivers for natural resources management and conservation. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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About the Partner Provider

American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world’s preeminent scientific and cultural institutions. Since its founding in 1869, the Museum has advanced its global mission to discover, interpret, and disseminate information about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe through a wide-ranging program of scientific research, education, and exhibition.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →

