Wisconsin Act 31 Compliance: Reflecting on Two Decades of American Indian Content in the Classroom

Abstract

Wisconsin Act 31 was established to address American Indians and diverse human relations, in general, within K-12 schools as a response to treaty rights issues and racism in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Act requires that all public schools and pre-service education programs provide students with basic information regarding tribal sovereignty, treaties, and cultures of the eleven federally recognized Native nations within Wisconsin. However, teachers continue to struggle to learn and incorporate relevant content into their classrooms that extends beyond stereotypes, misconceptions, and generalized history. Over the last two decades, Native nations, educators, and allies throughout the state have created curricular materials and recommendations to provide a proper understanding of American Indian peoples' history, culture, and complexities within contemporary society. Through a combined effort, from K-12 through higher education programs, there is more awareness of the importance of Wisconsin Act 31 but the state continues to struggle with implementation.