The Coterie Theatre recognizes that our theater is on the occupied land of the Osage Nation, as well as the Kansa and Missouria tribes who have nurtured and shepherded this land both past and present. We ask you to join us in acknowledging the many tribal groups from our area, including the Osage, Kaw (Kansa), Missouria, Shawnee (Loyal, Absentee, Eastern ), and Wandat (Wyandotte) tribes. While we continue working toward a greater understanding of our relationship with this land and its people, we encourage you to learn more about your own local indigenous communities through our educational resources.

Why Land Acknowledgement? (Video) >>

Scroll below to learn more about books to read, videos to watch, websites to explore, places to visit, and more! 

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Books to read…

An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People by Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz, adapted by Jean Mendoza and Debbie Reese
  • Non-fiction, recommended for Grades 7 and up
  • Explore the colonization and settlement of Indigenous lands and expansion of the United States at the expense of Indigenous people through a narrative centered on the story, experiences, and perspectives of Indigenous peoples.
  • Companion resources for teachers: Teaching Ideas and Invitations
Nations of the Plains by Bobbie Kalman  
  • Non-fiction, recommended for 4th grade and up
  • The plains region is a vast landscape that was home to many native nations. For hundreds of years, these peoples followed the giant, wandering herds of buffalo upon which they were dependent for food, clothing, tools, and shelter. Clear, informative text, beautiful illustrations, and maps, help describe all aspects of the life of native nations who called the plains their home.  
Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer, Monique Gray Smith, Nicole Neidhardt (Illustrator)
  • Non-fiction, recommended for Grades 6 and up
  • Adapted for young adults by Monique Gray Smith, this new edition reinforces how wider ecological understanding stems from listening to the earth’s oldest teachers: the plants around us. With informative sidebars, reflection questions, and art from illustrator Nicole Neidhardt, Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults brings Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the lessons of plant life to a new generation. 
Chickadee by Louise Erdrich 
  • Historic fiction chapter book, recommended for Grades 4 and up
  • In 1999, Louise Erdrich introduced Omakayas, the seven-year-old Ojibwe girl at the heart of Birchbark House. Set in the mid-1800s in Lake Superior, Birchbark House chronicles the lives of Omakayas and her family through a time when American Indians, their lives, lifestyles, and homelands were increasingly under threat by white settlers and soldiers. Birchbark House was a finalist for the National Book Award for a gripping story that, unlike Little House on the Prairie, did not demonize “other.” 
Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley  
  • Young Adult thriller, recommended for Grades 7 and up
  • Angeline Boulley’s debut novel, Firekeeper’s Daughter, is a groundbreaking YA thriller about a Native teen who must root out the corruption in her community. An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller! A Reese Witherspoon x Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick! A Printz Medal AND Morris Award Winner! 
Walking on Earth & Touching the Sky by S.D. Nelson
  • Poetry Collection, recommended for Grade 3 and up
  • Written by Lakota students in the fifth through eighth grades at Red Cloud Indian School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, this unique selection of poetry is truly one of a kind. The historic school was founded in 1888 at the request of Chief Red Cloud of the Oglala Lakota. Booklist says “This is an important collection that offers opportunities for insight into a culture that has too often been either ignored or misunderstood.” The poems are evocative and Nelson’s illustrations vibrant and vivid. 
Jingle Dancer by Cynthia Leitich Smith   
  • Picture book, recommended for Pre-K and up
  • Jenna, a contemporary Muscogee (Creek) girl in Oklahoma, wants to honor a family tradition by jingle dancing at the next powwow. But where will she find enough jingles for her dress? 
This Land by Ashley Fairbanks   
  • Picture book, recommended for Pre-K and up
  • This Land teaches readers that American land, from our backyards to our schools to Disney World, are the traditional homelands of many Indigenous nations. This Land will spark curiosity and encourage readers to explore the history of the places they live and the people who have lived there throughout time and today.
I Am Osage: How Clarence Tinker Became the First Native American Major General by Kim Rogers   
  • Picture book, recommended for Pre-K and up
  • This nonfiction picture book follows the life of Clarence Tinker, a member of the Osage Nation. As a child, he was taken from his family and community, then sent to a boarding school. This was an unfortunate and common fate for Native children during this time, and it prevented them from speaking their language or celebrating their customs. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Clarence worked hard and became a high-ranking officer in the U.S. Army. Throughout his life and despite his early childhood circumstances, Clarence was a hero who never forgot—and always treasured—his Osage heritage. 
On Powwow Day by Traci Sorell   
  • Board Book, recommended for Pre-K and up
  • It’s powwow day, and there’s so much to see and do! This adaptation of award-winning author and Cherokee citizen Traci Sorell’s uplifting picture book On Powwow Day invites readers to count and find colors in Choctaw illustrator Madelyn Goodnight’s gorgeous art. From family drums to fancy shawls and moccasins to jingle cones, On Powwow Day celebrates the unique sights and warm family atmosphere of a powwow for the littlest readers. 

More books by and about Indigenous Peoples >>

More books by Indigenous and First Nations Creators for Teen Readers >>

Videos to watch…

The Word Indigenous by CBC Kids News
  • Indigenous people are the first people to live in a place. In Canada, Indigenous people belong to a number of different communities or nations. CBC Kids News’s Sid and Ruby explain the word “Indigenous.”
Why Land Matters to Native Americans by CrashCourse
  • What do we mean when we say that Native Americans have a strong connection to the land? In this episode of Crash Course Native American History, we’ll explore how Native peoples’ long, deep history on their homelands informs their culture, languages, and identity to this day.
Native People of the Great Plains by Lesson Boosters
  • Native Peoples of the Great Plains brings the daily lives and cultures of America’s Native Peoples to life for students through reenactments recorded at Native American living history museums and villages. The programs demonstrate how the Native Americans used the natural resources available to them to form and build communities in every part of the continent. Live action video gathered at Native American Village and reenactments will assist students in learning about the history, culture, and legacy of the first People of the Plains, including the Blackfeet, Crow, Lakota, and Comanche. They will learn about the importance of the buffalo and how it affected every aspect of their lives including the shelters they built, the food they ate, and the clothes they wore.

Websites to explore…

Native Land Digital
  • This interactive map is a living document, informed by the contributions of Indigenous communities, Indigenous knowledge holders, and their stories. It does not claim to represent official or legal boundaries. We encourage you to connect directly with the Indigenous nations to learn more about their territories and histories. This is an honouring of Indigenous resilience past, present, and future.
Invasion of America by eHistory
  • The interactive map shows every treaty and executive order between 1776 and 1887, concluding with a map of present-day Native American reservations. 
Encyclopedic Pages for Kids:
Frequently Asked Questions About Native Americans by National Museum of the American Indian 
  • Check out the answers to some of the questions that educators frequently ask about Native Americans.
Interactive Games for Kids:

Places to visit…

Kansas City Indian Center
  •  Our mission is to promote the social, educational, and economic advancement of the American Indian community by preserving and celebrating traditional and cultural values.
Cahokia Mounds
  • The Cahokia Mounds State Historic site  is near East St. Louis, where a Native American city thrived in the 11th and 12th. centuries.  The Site was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1965, and designated a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site in 1982, for its significance in the pre-Contact history of North America. 
Haskell Greenhouse
  • Indigenous land stewards at Haskell Indian Nations University focused on conservation, preservation, and restoration of Mother Earth for past, present, and future generations (funded by the USDA Tribal College Equity Grant). 
Baker University Wetlands & Discovery Center
  • Visit the Baker University Wetlands and Discovery Center! Outside, explore 11 miles of hiking and biking trails before coming in to the Discovery Center to learn about our history, the values of wetlands, and meet some native Animal Ambassadors. 

Additional Educators’ Resources:

NK360° Educational Resources
Missouri Indigenous Nations Research Guide
  • You can find:  Native American journals, new & recommended books , film recommendations, and Native American in art 
Native American Literature in Your Classroom
  • To help educators and parents choose high-quality materials, NMAI, in consultation with Dr. Debbie Reese (Nambé Pueblo), developed a rubric that outlines five criteria groups (Authority, Accurate Representation, Tribal Specificity, Language, and Contemporary Life) to consider when selecting texts. The goal of this rubric is to promote deeper and more critical thinking about Native American literature.  
More about Land Acknowledgement: