Unpacking American Indian Heritage Month
Wed. Oct. 28, 2026 | 6:00–7:00 pm (followed by Q&A)
A free virtual discussion for K-12 educators
American Indian Heritage Month each November offers a powerful chance for educators to highlight the rich cultures, histories, and ongoing contributions of American Indian communities in North Carolina. In preparation, K–12 educators are invited to join DNCR’s NC American Indian Heritage Commission to deepen essential understandings of contemporary American Indian tribes across the state while dispelling common misconceptions and stereotypes.
Participants will explore practical ideas, vetted resources, and culturally grounded approaches that support meaningful integration of Native people, stories, and perspectives into classroom instruction, during November and throughout the entire school year.
Educators in attendance can request a .1 CEU form after the event.
Don’t miss this opportunity to strengthen your practice and ensure your students learn accurate, relevant, and inspiring North Carolina Native narratives all year long.
Registration
Please register at the link above by Oct. 28 at Noon to attend; a zoom link will be provided via e-mail several days before the event.
Questions?
Contact education.outreach@dncr.nc.gov
Presenter
Stephen Bell serves as Associate Director of the North Carolina American Indian Heritage Commission within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR.) In this role, he supports statewide initiatives and partnerships that preserve, interpret, and celebrate American Indian history, arts, customs, and culture. Bell has more than a decade of experience serving students, educators, and communities, having begun his career as a middle school science teacher and later serving as a school social worker and American Indian Education Coordinator for Guilford County Schools. Bell is a citizen of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. He was named the National Indian Education Association’s National Educator of the Year in 2023 and received the Native American 40 Under 40 Award in 2025.
Learn more about the NC American Indian Heritage Commission at aihc.nc.gov.
Visit DNCR’s page featuring our K-12 education resources at dncr.k12.nc.gov.