Name: Claudia A. Fox Tree, M.Ed.

Cell Phone Number: 781-258-6317

E-mail Address: cfoxtree@gmail.org

Nation: Arawak

 

 

Most Recent Topic:  TEACHING ABOUT NATIVE AMERICANS:  STRATEGIES FOR AVOIDING MISCONCEPTIONS, STEREOTYPES

 

A three-day 12-hour workshop designed to give educators perspective on creating classroom environments that incorporate an understanding and respect for Native Americans. Ideas and materials presented may be used in the K-12 setting, some with adaptations. Wider mainstream cultural inaccuracies and media images about Native Americans will also be addressed.  This interactive workshop about Native Americans explores issues broader than curriculum. While most teachers (and students) do not identify as Native American, many educators, social workers, and counselors include, or are trying to include, Native American experiences.  How does one know what is inaccurate or even offensive?  What is the role of culture, race, and community in the Native American identity?  What is it like to live as a Native American in today’s United States?  What can a nonNative person do to support Native Americans?  These questions and more will be addressed.  Activities are designed to meet the need for accurate information related to Native Americans while learning strategies that can be used in the classroom.  The participant can walk away with not only an awareness of issues when teaching about Native Americans, but also new insight into who they are as a person and how to be an ally to Native People whose history and culture has been made invisible.

 

Other Topics/Subjects:

Taino/Arawak culture and contact with Columbus

Native American Multiracial Identity

Myths & Stereotypes: Thanksgiving, Columbus, Bering Strait, mascots, media, etc.

Multicultural curriculum development and transformation

Vocabulary and concepts related to ethnicity, race, culture, and oppression

Oppression and related power dynamics

Culture and culturally relevant teaching

 

Will Speak At:

K-12 schools, colleges, seminars, Civic Organizations, Teacher Training, etc.

 

Flexible Format and Fees**:

Within Massachusetts*

                One-hour – an interactive presentation with PowerPoint and hand drumming (~$250)

                Three-hour “half day” – a workshop ($600)

                Six-hour “full day” ($1100)

* Outside of Massachusetts or more than 90 minutes away (starts with an additional $1000)

** Some workshops may be done in collaboration with a teaching partner, and include an additional fee.

 

Travel:

Generally, will travel anywhere in Greater Boston area. Could be flexible throughout New England and Cape Cod depending on timing.  In 2004, was invited to Germany for one week to speak about Native American culture at several United States Army bases. Am willing to travel abroad with sufficient notice, depending of time of year.

 

Past Workshop Titles:

Using Simulation Activities to Understand Culture and Power

Analyzing Textbooks to Support Multicultural, Culturally Relevant, and Anti-Racist Classrooms

Multiracial and Multiethnic Identity of Native Americans – Statistics, Culture, and Language

Transforming Classroom Lessons to Create Multicultural, Anti-Racist and Culturally Relevant Classrooms

Race, Culture, and Achievement: What Strategies Make the Connection?

The Impact of Silence; The Power of Mirrors – Discussing Discrimination and Social Justice

Using Literature in the Multicultural Classroom to Understand Social Justice Issues

Strategies for Examining and Addressing the Academic Achievement Gap

We CAN learn from each other! Peer Visits - A Model

Being An Ally Across Systems of Oppression

Middle School Student Retreat – Discussing Discrimination and Social Justice

 

Selected Presentations (2000-2007):

In the Fall of 2007, Claudia spoke at the following colleges and universities: Boston College, (Massachusetts), Colgate University (New York) and Bates College (Maine).

 

In the Fall of 2006, Claudia guest lectured for various classes (psychology, education, social work) and also spoke to student organizations at the following colleges and universities: The University of Massachusetts (Boston), Boston University, Middlesex Community College, Framingham State College, Quinsigamond College, and Boston College.

 

Teachers College, Columbia University, New York:  Winter Roundtable:  22^nd Annual Roundtable on Cultural Psychology and Education - What You Didn’t Know You Needed to Know About Native Americans (Before Teaching About them)

 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/New England District: Concord, MA:  Native American/Alaskan Native Employment Program Event

 

Massachusetts Dept. of Health; Boston, MA:  Native American Heritage Month: Native American Cultural Implications in Mainstream Healthcare

 

Boston University; Boston, MA:  Howard Thurman Center: Looking at Multiracial and Multiethnic Identity of Native Americans

 

Lower/Outer Community Coalition, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Health, and Rhode Island Geriatric Education Center:  Mashpee, MA: Wuneeshkeeht – Good Medicine:  Learning From Each Other Respect, Harmony & Healing: Turning Tables, Experiencing Cultural Incongruities.

 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology:  Cambridge, MA: Boston Asian Students Intercollegiate Conference (BASIC): Panel - People of United Color in Boston

 

University of Massachusetts; Boston, MA Native American Student Association (NASA): Panel - Native American Women in Leadership Roles

 

Boston College; Chestnut Hill, MA:  Institute for the Study and Promotion of Race and Culture, Third Annual Diversity Challenge - presentation with Tricia O’Reilly, EMI & Claypit Elementary - Including Ethnicity in the Racial Identity Dialogue   

 

University of Hartford; Hartford, CT:  National Association of Multicultural Educators (NAME): 8th Annual CT Conference on Multicultural Education - presentation with Elli Stern, EMI - Difficult Discussions: Teaching Identity, Power, and Privilege in The Classroom   

 

Teachers College, Columbia University, New York:  Winter Roundtable:  20^th Annual Roundtable on Cultural Psychology and Education  - Turning Tables: Experiencing Cultural Incongruities

 

Background:

I am a multiracial Native American. My mother is German and my father is Arawak. Although I spent the first five years of my life in Germany and speak German, I have primarily grown up and been educated in the United States of America. I’m on the board for the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness (MCNAA) and I’m the Massachusetts liaison for the United Confederation of Taíno People (UCTP), headquartered in New York.

 

I’ve been a diversity educator for 20 years with experience in the K-12 setting and in teaching professional development courses and workshops. I studied anthropology and psychology at the University of Massachusetts in Boston. I received Elementary (gr. 1-6) and Moderate Special Education (gr. 5-12) certifications from Fitchburg State College. I completed my Masters Degree in Educational Research at Northeastern University in Boston where I focused on Native American identity development. I have presented at numerous conferences/seminars/workshops in Massachusetts, across New England, in Germany, and in the land of my indigenous ancestors of the Caribbean. I have spoken to all ages from preschool to adult and am currently a middle school teacher.

 

Publications:

Fox Tree, C. (2006, in press)  “Aren’t They All Dead?  Passive Racism against Native Americans.”  In R. Coates (Ed.), Covert Racism (pp. ). California: Roxbury Press.

 

Suyemoto, K. & Fox Tree, C. (2006, June)  “Building Bridges Across Differences to Meet Social Action Goals: Being and Creating Allies Among People of Color.” American journal of community psychology special issue. (vol. 37.  no. 3-4).  pp. 237-246.

 

Fox Tree - McGrath, C. & Van Putten, Hank (Spring/Summer, 2001)  "Including All Voices:  The Need to Expand." The Activist.  pp. 9-11.

 

Fox Tree - McGrath, C.  (2000)  "Letter to My Children’s Teacher." Presented at The Third Annual Indigenous Women’s Conference: The Voice of Mother Earth on May 7, 2000.  Long Island, New York.  Published (Summer, 2000) in Turtle Talk Newsletter:  A Quarterly Publication of Mass. Center for Native American Awareness.  pp. 3-4.

 

Fox Tree - McGrath, C.  (Winter/Spring, 1998)  "Multicultural Anti-Racist Perspective in Science:  More than Scientists of Color." The Activist. (vol. 3.).  pp. 6-7.

 

Websites:

http://arawak-design.blogspot.com/

Jewelry – I design and craft "millefiori" technique clay beads that I incorporate into jewelry and accessories.  My art is available at the many Pow Wows I attend in Massachusetts.

 

http://nativeamericanresources.blogspot.com/

A blog where I share information and update resources long after the courses I teach have ended. I address a broad range of Native American issues, with a focus on the Arawak (my nation) and Massachusetts (where I live).