Lesson Plan - Proud to Play

Watch a Video

Play the video “Sharing Our Histories,” then discuss: Why is participating in the North American Indigenous Games important to these young people?

Preview Words to Know

Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• Indigenous 
• heritage

Set a Purpose for Reading

As students read, have them think about special traditions their own families celebrate.

1. What does the author mean when she writes that “there’s more to the NAIG than just winning medals”? When the author writes that “there’s more to the NAIG than just winning medals,” she means that the NAIG don’t just include athletic competitions. They also include opportunities for the athletes to share their cultures. The author explains that “between events, athletes meet up at the NAIG cultural village. They attend concerts and try foods from other nations.”

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2. Choose one of the athletes quoted in the article. Why were the North American Indigenous Games meaningful to this athlete? Sample response: America Cackowski is a track-and-field athlete who competed in the NAIG this year. To her, the Games are meaningful because they are a chance to meet and connect with people from other Native nations.

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3. What is the purpose of the sidebar, “A Powerful Symbol”? The purpose of the sidebar is to explain that the canoe is an important symbol to many Indigenous groups and to describe the role that canoeing plays in the NAIG.

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FEATURED SKILL: Paired Texts

The Native nations that take part in the NAIG feel a strong connection to the land known as North America. Many have creation stories about how this land formed. Use the skill builder “The Story of Turtle Island” to explore the Oneida tale.

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