Topeka Public School students learn about preserving Indigenous heritage

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Topeka Public Schools students got a chance to learn more about the efforts made to preserve Indigenous heritage.

Tara Mitchell, Deputy tribal historic preservation officer with the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, visited the Topeka Center for Advanced Learning & Careers (TCALC) on Friday to share tribal history and traditions with students and raise awareness.

Mitchell said there are often stereotypes surrounding tribes, but sharing their heritage and history can help break those stereotypes.

“You know, when I get into some of the harder history that’s really difficult to talk about, I get a lot of like surprise looks,” Mitchell said. “They never knew some of this history. A lot of them want to know more. Maybe they are native, but they don’t know much about their tribe. I want to try to encourage them to learn more and reach out to, you know, maybe their tribe, who they are, their parents, their grandparents, and, you know, get to know who they are.”

A teaching Mitchell shared with 13 NEWS is to “think seven generations ahead,” which is to think about our future descendants and to ensure that the world is good for our great-great-great-grandkids.

“It’s important because not a lot of people know about our tribe and not a lot of people know about tribal history. It’s not taught in public schools. I think that we do need to start teaching tribal history in public schools to bring awareness to tribal nations’ history and that we’re still here,” Mitchell said. “We’re not, you know, we’re not in the past. We’re still practicing our traditions and, you know, teaching our children.”

Mitchell’s visit was a part of Topeka Public Schools’ Native American Heritage Month celebration.