Learning to Survive

Yurok Wellbeing in High School

Mneesha Gellman

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Paperback

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English

University of Pennsylvania Press
18 November 2025

Indigenous peoples; Educational strategies & policy; Secondary schools; Human rights; Civil rights & citizenship

Traces the experiences of Yurok high school students and educators as they navigate between Native and non-Native spaces

Learning to Survive explores how Native American youth are impacted by formal educational experiences, through the insights of students and teachers working to revitalize the Yurok language. Sharing stories of Native American resilience amidst toxic school and community cultures, Mneesha Gellman examines the consequences of the misrepresentation and suppression of Indigenous culture in secondary education.

Through personal testimonies and interviews from Northern California high schools, Gellman traces the experiences of students as they navigate their own identities between Native and non-Native spaces, and of educators who relate their efforts in providing their students with not just language instruction, but a sense of support and community that goes beyond the classroom. Students and teachers alike detail how they struggle to thrive under systems of white supremacy while protecting and preserving their identity and culture, particularly through the work of language education and language-keeping.

Learning to Survive highlights the profound harm done by perpetuating White supremacy and the importance of investing in culturally sustaining curricula. Youth well-being suffers when students are faced with hostile school environments and when they do not see themselves or their communities truthfully or positively represented in curricula. This book calls on adults--policymakers, teachers, families, and others--to consider what changes we can and should make in our daily work to promote Native American well-being in schools.

By: Mneesha Gellman
Imprint: University of Pennsylvania Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm,
ISBN: 9781512828511
ISBN 10: 1512828513
Pages: 280
Publication Date: 18 November 2025
Audience: Professional and scholarly , College/higher education , Undergraduate , Further / Higher Education
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Mneesha Gellman is Associate Professor of Political Science at Emerson College.

Reviews for Learning to Survive: Yurok Wellbeing in High School

""Mneesha Gellman validates ancient Yurok ways of knowing as well as their extensive revitalization efforts while addressing the need for professionals to listen seriously.""-- ""Kishan Lara-Cooper, California Polytechnic Institute, Humboldt"" ""Learning to Survive should be required reading for everyone interested in Indigenous language reclamation and cultural resilience. I know nothing like it. In turns joyous, painful, thoughtful, and inspiring, Mneesha Gellman's moving book shows how language and culture work led by Indigenous teachers and activists can help heal the wounds of colonization.""-- ""Andrew Garrett, University of California, Berkeley"" ""I have always known that learning our language has made a huge difference in my life and guided me through some of hardest times I've ever experienced. Reading this book helps me understand why. Learning to Survive has given me a new appreciation for the hard work and vision of those who have dedicated their lives to giving the next generation a powerful tool to help bring balance and renewal to our world.""-- ""Frankie Myers, former Vice Chairman, Yurok Tribe""