UC San Diego

In Native American communities, the idea of “school” often has negative connotations because of the overt and covert use, by current and past school systems, of forced assimilation practices intended to eradicate Native American cultures. Native Americans, historically and currently, have experienced longstanding micro-aggressions and attempts by the United States government and religious groups to exterminate their culture and their own people. From the very beginning of formal education, Native children were forcibly removed from their homes and taken to boarding schools where the intent was not only to separate the children from their families, but also to separate them from their entire cultures. This attempt of forced assimilation, under the guise of education included emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, thus forming a traumatic foundation of Native American experiences in the United States education system. Fast forward to present times: Native American students continue to navigate an education system which is based on Eurocentric ideologies that creates racially charged environments at schools daily. In spite of these conditions, Native American students are expected to achieve at the same level of success as those who do not share the same negative experiences. While research has documented these experiences in middle school, high school, and higher education, it is important to expand that focus to the foundation of the educational journey, starting with early childhood education. Delving deeper into the experiences of Native American people, this study will provide insight into the occurrences of micro-aggressions and racism that start at the very beginning of the educational journey.Keywords: Native American, Native American Education, Indian Education, Indigenous, Indigenous Education, Early Childhood, Early Childhood Education, Racism, Microaggression