Big Ideas
What does “decolonization” mean to Tuck & Yang?
It means giving Indigenous land back, not just using nice words
True or False? Most school curriculums center Native people’s voices
False. They often ignore or distort Indigenous histories
True or False? Childhood innocence is the same for all kids
False, it mostly protects white settler children
What are “settler moves to innocence”?
Ways settlers try to avoid guilt without giving up power or land
What do both articles say about truth in classrooms?
It’s often hidden or changed to make history seem better than it was
True or False? Tuck & Yang say any kind of justice counts as decolonization.
False. It has to involve land and sovereignty
In the Templeton & Cheruvu article, what holiday did Sachin question at school?
Columbus Day
What does it mean to be a “settler reader”?
A child imagined by the curriculum. Usually white, innocent, and protected from the truth
True or False? Saying “my great-grandma was Native” makes someone decolonial
False, that’s a move to innocence, not justice
Who do both articles say curriculum is written for?
White settler children. They’re imagined as the audience
What is “settler colonialism”?
It’s when settlers come to stay, take land, and try to replace Indigenous people
What do the authors say happens when schools “sanitize” history?
Kids learn only the happy parts, not the truth about violence or theft
What’s the problem with teaching Thanksgiving as a happy feast?
It hides the history of Native harm and makes colonizers seem kind
What’s wrong with casually saying “let’s decolonize our classroom”?
It’s empty talk if we don’t center land, truth, and Indigenous voices
Why is teaching “nice” versions of colonization harmful?
It keeps kids from understanding injustice and stops change
What makes settler colonialism different from regular colonialism?
The settlers never leave. They build homes and erase Native people
What does “American exceptionalism” mean in school lessons?
Teaching that America is always great and right, even when it caused harm
What does Templeton & Cheruvu say about using the word “innocence”?
It stops us from teaching kids about real issues like colonization and racism
What’s an example of playing Indian in U.S. culture?
Wearing fake headdresses at school or festivals
How can teachers resist settler narratives?
By using honest stories, teaching from Indigenous sources, and questioning standard lessons
Why do Tuck & Yang say decolonization is not a metaphor?
Because using it loosely hides the real demand: returning land and power
Why is scripted curriculum a problem, according to Templeton & Cheruvu?
It often repeats colonial myths and doesn't tell the full story
What group of children often face microaggressions and bias in school?
Indigenous children. They’re rarely seen as innocent or believed
Why do settlers often use “feel-good” language instead of real change?
It makes them feel less guilty while keeping things the same
Why is this work important, even if it feels uncomfortable?
Because real justice requires truth, land back, and facing hard histories