Parsons, E. C. (1929). Ritual parallels in Pueblo and Plains cultures, with a special reference to the Pawnee. American Anthropologist, 31(4), 642–654. https://doi.org/10.1525/aa.1929.31.4.02a00050
Robbins, W. J. (n.d.). Some aspects of Pueblo Indian religion. The Harvard Theological Review, 34(1), 25–47. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1508196
Zavada, M. S. (1990). A Mexican curandera in Arizona. CALS Publications Archive. University of Arizona.
STEM Connection: Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Environmental Science & Health
This collection of sources reveals how Indigenous ways of knowing represent rich, place-based STEM systems often overlooked by Western curricula. Educators can use this material to guide students in exploring intersections between traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), environmental stewardship, and resilience through health practices.
Environmental Science & Sustainability: Indigenous teachings related to the Four Directions, land use, and communal farming (e.g., the “beef issue” in Nebraska Studies) offer profound insights into resource management, drought adaptation, and inter-species balance. Students can explore how seasonal calendars, ceremonies, and land stewardship reflect systems thinking and ecological modeling. Contrast Indigenous resource cycles with Western economic approaches to land, asking students to consider whose methods were more sustainable—and why.
Health & Trauma Science: The boarding school era’s legacy includes physical, emotional, and generational trauma. Educators can lead discussions on the biological impacts of sustained trauma, loss of language, and cultural disruption—introducing neuroscience, public health, and epigenetics. Pairing this with healing practices like smudging, storytelling, and curanderismo (folk healing), students can compare holistic approaches to modern medical practices, fostering cultural competence in future health professionals.
Mathematics & Astronomy: Indigenous timekeeping systems (e.g., “Indian Time” and Seneca concepts of cyclical time) encourage investigation into alternative systems of measurement, lunar and solar calendars, and observational astronomy. Students might build traditional timekeeping models or analyze the mathematical logic embedded in ritual cycles, star maps, or seasonal migration routes.
Engineering & Architecture: Pueblo dwellings and ceremonial sites (like kivas) reveal structural ingenuity that reflects thermal efficiency, solar alignment, and communal design. Students can design models of traditional dwellings and evaluate their environmental performance using modern tools.
This unit empowers teachers to show that Indigenous knowledge is not just cultural—it’s scientific, resilient, and essential to an honest understanding of America’s past and future.