The Ten Grandmothers Project Online Activity

Marking Scheme

Name: ______Period: ______S1.4 /5 S2.2 /5

The Ten Grandmothers Project Online Activity Total: /10 http://www.abheritage.ca/eldersvoices/database/ten_grandmothers.php

S1.4 Analyze the role of Elders and oral tradition in keeping spiritual knowledge alive S2.2 Analyze the way in which oral traditions instruct a child about his/her connections to Mi’kmaq culture and society

The Ten Grandmothers Project helps us understand the values of Aboriginal women that inform their behavior, color their lives and direct their choices. Ten grandmothers from different aboriginal communities in Southern Alberta and Montana were interviewed. They were asked to share the advice they were taught as traditional women by their traditional mothers, about how to raise healthy, happy and respectful children and how to build a strong family unit. They were also asked for advice on how to bring Aboriginal cultural values back into the center of family life.

The Aboriginal community is still very traditional in the sense that it respects and relies on Elders. These ten beautiful ladies each have similar backgrounds; they were raised in highly respected traditional families or held sacred objects. The knowledge they provide us has guided Aboriginal people for thousands of years and is still valid wisdom that can be applied to help us deal more effectively with the stresses and strains of modern life.

Once you have entered the site, on the right hand side you will see a quick link drop down menu with the names of 10 different grandmothers that were interviewed for the Ten Grandmothers Project. Select each one and read their interview excerpts. Locate their names on the corresponding chart and describe each of the grandmothers’ experiences and what teachings they are passing along to future generations to aboriginals.

Annie Bare Shin Bone Elsie Crowshoe Elsie Jimmy John

Grace Daniels Mae Tallow Susan Strangling Wolf Emma Fish Margaret Bad Boy Molly Bull Shoe

Josephine Crowshoe

After reading the interview excerpts do you think that the grandmother’s wisdom can be applied to help us deal more effectively with the stresses and strains of modern life? Fully support your answer.

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