K-12 Educator's Workshop: Rethinking Columbus

With Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day on October 9th, this time of year provides the opportunity both to reconsider not only how and what we teach about Christopher Columbus, but also more generally how conquest, colonization and the continued struggles of indigenous peoples are taught in the classroom. This free professional development workshop for K-12 educators will offer background information and curriculum that encourage teachers and students to think more deeply about Columbus' encounter with the Americas from multiple points of view.

The first portion of the workshop will be led by Dr. Leola Tsinnajinnie-Paquin, an Assistant Professor in the UNM Department of Native American Studies. Dr. Tsinnajinnie-Paquin will begin the evening by discussing indigenous knowledge and education and addressing historical and local perspectives of what Columbus' arrival entailed for New Mexico. The second half of the evening will offer the time to discuss curriculum strategies and resources for bringing this conversation into the classroom.

Dr. Tsinnajinnie-Paquin is Filipino and Diné from the Torreon Chapter of The Navajo Nation where she grew up. She earned degrees in Sociology and American Indian Studies from the University of Arizona. Her Ph.D. is from the College of Education at the University of New Mexico where she concentrated in Educational Thought and Sociocultural Studies. She has taught at UNM-Gallup, IAIA, and SIPI. In 2015, she returned to UNM as an Assistant Professor in Native American Studies. In this capacity, she also serves as an Advisor to the Native American Studies Indigenous Research Group. She is on the UNM Diversity Council Curriculum Subcommittee and the UNM Native American Faculty Council. Outside of UNM she serves on the American Indian Studies Association Council and as a co-coordinator for the AIS division of the Western Social Science Association. Beyond academia, her service includes sitting on the Boards of the NM American Civil Liberties Union and the Torreon Community Alliance as the Board Vice-President.

Please note that REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS FREE EVENT. We ask that you PLEASE ONLY REGISTER if you are confident you will attend the workshop. All educators are welcome, including pre-service and in-service teachers, administrators, and educational aides.