Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

In what ways might government land fees, government-enforced assimilation through institutions such as schools, industrial development such as the logging industry, and religion such as Christianity serve as tools of genocide concerning Indigenous people?

Teaching Suggestion: It might help students to display a three-column chart and label the columns as follows: Indigenous Way of Life, US Government (entries should be taken from the question), and Effects on Indigenous Way of Life. Students can then suggest entries for the first and third columns. If needed, allow students to conduct brief research on Indigenous history ahead of the discussion.

• The History and Culture of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa provides historical information for students who need to become more familiar with the Chippewa.
• “Turtle Mountain History” is addressed in this 4.5-minute news segment that features an interview with Turtle Mountain Chippewa elders about their tribe’s history.

Short Activity

Using a web diagram, write a title for a family story told and retold at family gatherings. Then, visit with or reach out to family members individually, asking them to tell you the story.