Teaching Native American History and Culture

Renée Gokey, a citizen of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, serves as the Teacher Services Coordinator at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, where she plays a pivotal role in developing and implementing educational initiatives that promote accurate representation of Native American histories and cultures. Through her leadership in the Native Knowledge 360° National Education Initiative, she creates innovative classroom resources and establishes strategic partnerships to enhance the accessibility of quality teaching materials about Indigenous peoples. Her work spans developing hands-on learning experiences, such as the traditional Native games workshops, and creating comprehensive educational resources that integrate Native perspectives into K-12 curricula. As both an educator and tribal citizen, she combines her professional expertise with personal cultural knowledge to advocate for social justice in education and the preservation of tribal knowledge systems. Her contributions include developing teacher workshops, creating curriculum materials, and facilitating educational programs that help educators incorporate more complete narratives about Native American histories, cultures, and contemporary lives into their teaching practices

Edwin Schupman, a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma, serves as the manager of Native Knowledge 360° (NK360°) at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, where he leads a transformative national initiative to improve education about Native Americans. His three-decade career in American Indian education began in 1988 at ORBIS Associates, where he developed culture-based curricula and conducted nationwide teacher training. Before joining NMAI in 2004, he contributed significantly to Native education at the Bureau of Indian Education, co-authoring a culture-based health curriculum and establishing a national teacher training program. Under his leadership, NK360° has revolutionized how Native American history and culture are taught in American classrooms by providing comprehensive educational resources, developing teacher training programs, and building partnerships with Native communities and educational institutions. His work addresses the limitations of traditional textbook narratives by incorporating Native perspectives and voices, creating resources like the "Native Words, Native Warriors" digital platform about Code Talkers, and establishing essential understandings about American Indians that challenge conventional educational approaches

Colleen Call Smith serves as an Education Specialist in the Materials Development division at the National Museum of the American Indian's Office of Education, where she brings extensive experience in inquiry-based social studies instruction to the development of Native Knowledge 360° resources. Her academic background includes a master's degree in secondary education from the University of Kentucky, complemented by years of practical teaching experience in middle and high school social studies across Kentucky, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. In her role at NMAI, she collaborates with various museum departments, Native communities, and education specialists to research, develop, write, and produce comprehensive online educational resources that enhance the teaching of Native American history and culture. Her work focuses on creating materials that integrate Native perspectives and voices into classroom instruction, supporting the museum's mission to provide more accurate and inclusive educational content about Native Americans through the Native Knowledge 360° initiative.

Johanna Gorelick is a seasoned education leader at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), where she has served since 1989. Currently the Assistant Director for Education, she oversees strategic planning, program development, and staff management for the museum's educational initiatives. Gorelick holds a B.A. in Art History from Vassar College and a Ph.D. in Anthropology from The Graduate Center, City University of New York. Throughout her career at NMAI, she has made significant contributions to Native American education programs, including managing major projects like Native New York and developing resources for educators. Her expertise spans curriculum development, professional training, and fostering connections between the museum and educational institutions. Gorelick has also contributed to publications and secured numerous grants to support NMAI's educational mission. Her leadership has been instrumental in creating programs that provide Native perspectives and enhance public understanding of Indigenous cultures and histories.