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Middle School Curriculum

Washington State History - 7th Grade
Unit 1A: Territory and Treaty Making: The Point No Point Treaty
Unit 1B: The Walla Walla Treaty Council of 1855
Unit 2: New Technologies and Industries: Hanford Nuclear Reservation's Effects on Indian Country
Unit 3: Contemporary Washington State – The Boldt Decision: 40 Years Later (Boldt I & II)
U.S. History - 8th Grade
Unit 1: Fighting for Independence and Framing the Constitution: Revolution and Constitution in Indian Country
Unit 2: Slavery, Expansion, and Removal: Jackson, Marshall, and Indian Removal
Unit 3: Civil War and Reconstruction: Indian Treaties: Goals and Effects
Unit 4: Development and Struggles in the West: The Dawes Act
Ancient Civilization History and World History Tool
Essential Questions
- How does the physical geography affect Northwest Tribes' culture, economy, and where they choose to settle and trade?
- What is the legal status of the Tribes who negotiated or who did not enter into United States treaties?
- What were the political, economic, and cultural forces that led to the treaties?
- What are the ways in which Tribes respond to the threats and outside pressure to extinguish their cultures and independence?
- What do local Tribes do to meet the challenges of reservation life; and, as sovereign nations, do to meet the economic and cultural needs of their Tribal communities?
Middle School Outcomes
By the time Washington State students leave middle school, they will:
- that according to the US Constitution, treaties are "the supreme law of the land" consequently treaty rights supersede most state laws;
- that Tribal sovereignty has cultural, political, and economic bases;
- that Tribes are subject to federal law and taxes, as well as some state regulations;
- that Tribal sovereignty is ever-evolving and therefore levels of sovereignty and status vary from Tribe to Tribe; and
- that there were and are frequent and continued threats to Tribal sovereignty that are mostly addressed through the courts.
Alignment with Washington State Learning Standards*
- Social Studies Standards
- English Language Arts Standards
- Science and Learning Standards
- Environmental and Sustainability Education Standards
- Social Emotional Learning Standards
*Refer to unit overview page for standards alignment of specific Since Time Immemorial lessons.
Except where otherwise noted, "Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State" by Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in partnership with the Federally Recognized Tribes in Washington State is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. All logos are property of their respective owners.