American Indian Awareness & Family Involvement Week, formerly NAFID

American Indian Awareness & Family Involvement Week, formerly called Native American Family Involvement Day (NAFID), will be a week long initiative for 2019 and is scheduled for November 18-22, 2019.  

We invite each MPS school to join us to recognize our American Indian population by intentionally engaging our students, families and community during this week. 

School Event Ideas

• Community speakers & presentations
• Drum groups & dance exhibitions
• Resource Fairs
• Native film screenings
• Share a meal with families
• Invite parents into the classroom
• Storytellers

Activity Ideas

• Check out Minnesota Anishinaabeg game featuring Minnesota Ojibwe language and culture from our department.
• MPS staff can visit the Indian Education Resource Library on Destiny. There are hundreds of great books, DVDs and CDs available to MPS staff to borrow.
• Organize a classroom activity along with a lesson. Examples include: beading workshops, moccasin making, creating tobacco pouches, dreamcatchers, etc.

Other Educational Resources

• Smithsonian Museum Education Website
• Classroom Activities about the Buffalo
• National Museum of the American Indian 
• Phillips Indian Educators Classroom Resources
• More Info about Beadwork

Please contact Christine Wilson at 612.668-0108 for further community resources and ideas to plan your event.

If schools are interested in hosting an event, Indian Education Department is offering matching funds this year, please email us for details at IndianEd@mpls.k12.mn.us