The Office of Public Instruction has established six essential understandings regarding Montana Indians. These understanding are listed below. For background information and lesson plans on these understandings, click on the below link.

Essential Understandings Regarding Montana Indians from OPI

Grade Level Expectations

ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING 1

      There is great diversity among the 12 tribal Nations of Montana in their languages, cultures, histories and governments. Each Nation has a distinct and unique cultural heritage that contributes to modern Montana.

ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING 2

       There is great diversity among individual American Indians as identity is developed, defined and redefined by many entities, organizations and people. There is a continuum of Indian identity ranging from assimilated to traditional and is unique to each individual. There is no generic American Indian.

ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING 3

        The ideologies of Native traditional beliefs and spirituality persist into modern day life as tribal cultures, traditions and languages are still practiced by many American Indian people and are incorporated into how tribes govern and manage their affairs.  Additionally, each tribe has their own oral history beginning with their genesis that is as valid as written histories. These histories pre-date the “discovery” of North America.