SUMMARY
November is Native American Heritage Month, a celebration of the traditions and languages of Indigenous communities in the United States. For our “Hidden Histories” series, we look at the story of Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte, the first Native American to earn a medical degree.
For a transcript of this story, click here.
News wrap alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
WARM UP QUESTIONS:
- Who is Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte, and what is her background?
- When was Dr. Picotte born?
- Which university did Dr. Picotte attend?
- Where did Dr. Picotte attend medical school?
- What was groundbreaking about Dr. Picotte's career?
FOCUS QUESTIONS
Why did Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte choose to return to the Omaha reservation? What do you think drove her desire to give back to the community where she was raised?
Media literacy: How can news outlets bring more attention to groups of people that much of society has forgotten or ignored?
Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What story would you want to find out more about? Where would you go to learn more?
FOR MORE
What students can do: Did you know November is Native American Heritage Month? See the following video on what justice means for one Native American family. You can find a lesson on the story here.
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