Native Story Hour entertains, engages, and inspires children and families through Native traditional stories, contemporary Native children's literature, and songs. My program showcases Native authors, illustrators and publishers and is designed to increase awareness and appreciation of Native American culture and tribal specificity, and to educate Native and non-Native audiences about Indigenous history, contemporary issues,
Native Story Hour is designed to:
- provide an inclusive and safe space for Native American children and families to celebrate our culture and heritage
- provide an inclusive and safe space for non-Native children and families to learn about and enjoy our Native ways of knowing.
- Showcase the diversity among Tribal Nations in the U.S and the First Nations in Canada
- Explore and promote themes of interconnectedness, we are all related, the importance of self-care, care for others and care for non-human beings (animals, plants, rocks, insects, elements, etc.)
- Nurture the love of stories, books, libraries, and songs
- Provide literacy support using culturally respectful materials (vocabulary, oral language, native language, sequencing, etc.)
- Model protocols of respect, patience, gratitude, kindness
- Demonstrate that "we are still here" and we are thriving!
- Disrupt preconceptions and stereotypes about Native Peoples,
- Model ways to expand learning, and access authentic resources
- Have fun, sing, smile, and laugh!