NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?
SUMMARY
Native American and Indigenous people say the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to health and education programs for their communities are a continuation of the federal government’s historical failure to deliver on what it promised in land and peace agreements. John Yang speaks with Edgar Villanueva, founder and CEO of the Decolonizing Wealth Project and Liberated Capital, for more.
View the transcript of the story.
News 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 the founder and CEO of the Decolonizing Wealth project?
- What are the programs/services that would be affected as a result of the new budget cuts?
- Where is it a reality that families have to drive 100 miles for a doctor check-up?
- When are cuts to the already underfunded community happening?
- How does the Trump Administration policy tweak challenge trust in the law?
FOCUS QUESTIONS
What would your version of fairness look like if you were in charge of making decisions involving budget cuts to an already underserved community?
Media literacy: What other perspectives do you think would help you understand the history of the relationship between the federal government and Native American tribal lands?
WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO
- Look into your local indigenous communities and research how your school is creating space for them in terms of education partnerships
- Support indigenous-centered organizations doing work in the Native reservations
- Write to officials and share your thoughts on why the same level of equity should be extended to the Native communities.
Written by Kevin Roodnauth, PBS News Hour Classroom's intern and senior at Amherst College, and News Hour's Vic Pasquantonio.
Fill out this form to share your thoughts on Classroom’s resources.
