Indigenous American child

🌱 Cultural Knowledge & Identity

1. Know your tribal affiliation and lineage.
   
   

2. Understand the history of your tribe/nation.
   
   

3. Know the original territory of your people.
   
   

4. Learn the stories and legends passed down by your ancestors.
   
   

5. Learn traditional songs, dances, or ceremonies.
   
   

6. Understand the meaning of your tribal name or family name.
   
   

7. Respect elders and their wisdom.
   
   

8. Know how your people traditionally lived — foods, governance, kinship, etc.
   
   

9. Understand the importance of land, water, and stewardship.
   
   

10. Be proud of your Indigenous identity, even in the face of stereotypes.
    
    

🗣️ Language, Storytelling, & Communication

11. Learn and use your native language, even if only basic phrases.
    
    

12. Know how to introduce yourself traditionally.
    
    

13. Practice oral storytelling and listening skills.
    
    

14. Learn tribal protocols around speaking, praying, or greeting others.
    
    

15. Know the difference between cultural sharing and cultural appropriation.
    
    

16. Learn to respectfully correct misrepresentations of your culture.
    
    

17. Understand the power of your voice in preserving tradition.
    
    

18. Share stories with younger relatives.
    
    

19. Practice public speaking and presenting with cultural pride.
    
    

20. Journal your personal story as part of a larger tribal narrative.
    
    

🛡️ Survivance, History, & Decolonization

21. Understand the effects of colonization on your community.
    
    

22. Know about the Indian Removal Act, boarding schools, and treaties.
    
    

23. Learn about tribal sovereignty and how it protects your rights.
    
    

24. Understand what decolonization means — and your role in it.
    
    

25. Study the resistance leaders in your history (e.g., Sitting Bull, Wilma Mankiller).
    
    

26. Know how your tribe was affected by U.S. federal policies.
    
    

27. Recognize stereotypes in media and know how to challenge them.
    
    

28. Visit your reservation or homeland, if possible.
    
    

29. Honor and support Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) awareness.
    
    

30. Know how to reclaim your narrative in school, work, and media.
    
    

🌾 Spirituality, Values, & Community

31. Participate in traditional ceremonies or seasonal celebrations.
    
    

32. Know your clan or family group’s spiritual responsibilities.
    
    

33. Learn to pray or give thanks in your traditional way.
    
    

34. Understand the sacredness of the land and all living things.
    
    

35. Know the traditional values your people uphold (e.g., humility, reciprocity).
    
    

36. Help care for your community — cooking, tending fires, cleaning, etc.
    
    

37. Attend cultural events like powwows, feasts, or smoke dances.
    
    

38. Learn about traditional gender roles and Two-Spirit identity.
    
    

39. Understand balance — physical, spiritual, mental, emotional.
    
    

40. Practice gratitude as a daily habit.
    
    

🔍 Critical Thinking & Resilience

41. Question mainstream history books and seek Indigenous perspectives.
    
    

42. Know how to find and verify accurate historical sources.
    
    

43. Resist internalized oppression or shame about your heritage.
    
    

44. Build resilience through your ancestors' stories of survival.
    
    

45. Learn to recognize systemic inequality — and how to navigate it.
    
    

46. Develop confidence in settings where you're the only Indigenous person.
    
    

47. Know how to respond to cultural ignorance without losing your dignity.
    
    

48. Stand tall even when your identity is questioned or misunderstood.
    
    

49. Seek mentors who support your cultural and personal growth.
    
    

50. Believe that your presence is resistance, and your success is healing.
    
    

📚 Education & Academic Power

51. Know how to advocate for yourself in school settings.
    
    

52. Seek Indigenous scholarships, programs, and mentorships.
    
    

53. Learn about Native student organizations.
    
    

54. Study Indigenous authors, poets, scientists, and activists.
    
    

55. Know how to study and manage academic pressure.
    
    

56. Learn to write essays, speak in public, and lead group projects.
    
    

57. Understand your tribe’s stance on education and its importance.
    
    

58. Explore tribal colleges and universities.
    
    

59. Attend workshops, conferences, or summer programs for Native youth.
    
    

60. Balance education with cultural grounding — they are not mutually exclusive.
    
    

💸 Financial & Life Literacy

61. Create and follow a personal budget.
    
    

62. Know how to open and manage a bank account.
    
    

63. Understand how credit works and how to protect it.
    
    

64. Explore career options inside and outside of tribal communities.
    
    

65. Learn about tribal economies, gaming, natural resource management, etc.
    
    

66. Understand taxes and how tribal land or income might be affected.
    
    

67. Apply for jobs or internships confidently.
    
    

68. Learn about tribal per capita payments or trust funds (if applicable).
    
    

69. Value financial independence and giving back to your community.
    
    

70. Think long-term: savings, debt, investing — for yourself and your people.
    
    

🧰 Practical Life & Survival Skills

71. Cook basic meals and preserve traditional foods (drying, smoking, etc.).
    
    

72. Hunt, fish, or gather — if culturally relevant to your tribe.
    
    

73. Know how to take care of your physical health.
    
    

74. Learn first aid and how to respond in emergencies.
    
    

75. Manage your own space: cleaning, laundry, organization.
    
    

76. Drive or navigate transportation independently.
    
    

77. Understand how to access healthcare or tribal health services.
    
    

78. Practice self-care and mental wellness.
    
    

79. Learn to write a resume and professional emails.
    
    

80. Know how to navigate systems (housing, IDs, school, banks).
    
    

🫶 Relationships, Boundaries, & Personal Power

81. Respect yourself and others in romantic or platonic relationships.
    
    

82. Know about consent, healthy touch, and body autonomy.
    
    

83. Learn about healthy vs. toxic relationships.
    
    

84. Know how to say “no” and honor your boundaries.
    
    

85. Advocate for yourself in medical, school, or legal settings.
    
    

86. Understand addiction and mental health challenges in Native communities.
    
    

87. Build trust slowly, with awareness and self-respect.
    
    

88. Be aware of intergenerational trauma — and your power to heal.
    
    

89. Seek support if you’re struggling — from elders, family, or therapists.
    
    

90. Know your sacredness: your body, mind, and spirit are worthy of love.
    
    

🔥 Leadership, Legacy, & Vision

91. Lead with humility and a sense of responsibility to your people.
    
    

92. Know your tribal council or leadership structure.
    
    

93. Practice community leadership — even in small roles.
    
    

94. Mentor younger children in your family or community.
    
    

95. Be a bridge between generations — hold both tradition and innovation.
    
    

96. Protect land, water, and culture — now and for the next seven generations.
    
    

97. Know that education is not just personal, but communal power.
    
    

98. Dream big — and make those dreams a path for others to follow.
    
    

99. Know that being Indigenous is not just identity — it’s a responsibility.
    
    

100. Carry the fire: keep your culture alive, your spirit strong, and your heart open.