Haudenosaunee/Lenape Study

The 8-9s explore the geography of New York State before diving into their study of the Indigenous peoples of New York. The 8-9s learn about the traditional cultures and lifestyles of the Haudenosaunee and the Lenape, both long ago and today. Through this study, students work to build an understanding of how the environment shapes culture over time. As the year continues, the 8-9s study how encounters with Europeans in the 1500s and 1600s impacted Indigenous people, including the founding of the Dutch city of New Amsterdam. They discuss the terms “discovery” and “exploration,” which often tell the story of these encounters from only one point of view. The 8-9s also reflect on how these issues continue to affect the Native people of New York today. This hands-on study enables the 8-9s to see the diversity among Native American cultures and to appreciate the significance of living on Indigenous land.