Unit 5 the Child: a Cultural Being

UNIT 5 THE CHILD: A CULTURAL BEING

GENERALIZATION: Cultural identity is a product of self-knowledge and participation in family, community and tribal activities at all levels.

PURPOSE: To engage children in activities that enhance their personal, family and tribal knowledge, i.e., traditional American Indian arts and crafts, music, dance, language, history, oral traditions, foods, and ceremonies and celebrations. Due to the intertribal nature of this curriculum various tribal cultures can be contrasted and compared.

LEARNING GOAL: Upon completion of this unit children will have a greater knowledge of who they are as human being, girl/boy, family member, community member, and tribal member.

TOPIC LIST: Powwow, native crafts and arts, dance, music, stories, legends, history, participation in cultural activities, ceremonies, nature celebrations, traditional clothing, comparative study between tribes, shapes, smell, taste, traditional foods, natural foods, and medicines.

Sample Lesson Development ______

CONCEPT: Learn about who you are. Master what is taught you. Believe in yourself.

PRESENTATION: Cultural identity is very important to most Indian people native to North America. It is gained through knowledge of self (physical, emotional, social, and mental) and knowledge of the history and customs of one’s own family. Inner strength is gained when a person is in touch with both. This unit is designed to pull together for children the elements of their cultural identity presented in the previous units. A comparative study should be done on a variety of tribes. Topics to be reviewed: their ceremonies, traditional clothing, legends, foods, history, dance, art, and music.

A Little Boy’s Big Moment, this unit story is a contemporary story about a young boy and cultural experience. It is a story from the Far West Region from Montana Blackfeet. Encourage expression of cultural identity and heritage and discuss children’s experiences. Play powwow music as an introduction before telling story. Have a powwow in class after telling the story. Dress up in whatever clothing and accessories as are available.

UNIT 5 LEGEND THE CHILD: A CULTURAL BEING

A LITTLE BOY’S BIG MOMENT

A Little Boy’s Big Moment is a story about a small Blackfeet Indian boy’s first dance. It is traditional with our Blackfeet Indian people to have a giveaway ceremony to honor someone for something special. When a child or person makes their first public appearance as a dancer, this ceremony is done to hone that person. The person will then be recognized as a dancer in our Blackfeet Indian society. This ceremony is still carried out to a great degree among the traditional Blackfeet Indian people.

One cold winter evening Young Rabbit’s father was sitting by the wood stove. He was singing a fast, grass dance song.

The little boy thought, “This song makes me want to dance.”

Young Rabbit began slowly tapping his foot to the beat of the drum. He then got up and began to dance very fast. At the end of the song the father said to his son, “Young Rabbit, do you like to dance?”

“Yes, Father, it makes me feel good,” said Young Rabbit. “Teach me how to do fancy steps.”

“Young Rabbit,” said his father, “at the big dance this year we will have a giveaway in honor of the first time you dance at a celebration.

We will give away some fine presents, some blankets, Indian craft, and some fine horses.”

The son listened to his father and felt very proud of this honor. How grown up he felt!

Young Rabbit’s mother and father began making a good, fancy dance outfit. Just the right colored feathers were chosen. A fine porcupine headdress was made. Bells were strung on rawhide.

After several months of work, Young Rabbit tried on his outfit. He felt great pride. “I feel like a great Blackfeet brave,” he said.

Many evenings Young Rabbit danced his new steps. His mother bought many blankets. She made some star quilts and put them away for the big dance. His father broke many horses for the giveaway.

Young Rabbit became more excited as each day passed. Finally the big day came!

Everyone was ready to move to the Indian Day campgrounds.

At the campgrounds, the teepee was pitched among the other teepees in a big circle. Everyone was happy to be together again after a long, cold winter.

After 2 days had passed, it was time for Young Rabbit’s big moment.

Young Rabbit’s mother and father brought all the blankets, moccasins and beadwork to the ring. Young Rabbit stood proudly beside them.

Each drum sounded loud and clear as the drummers sang the grass dance songs.

What nice Indian costumes the dancers had!

The bells tinkled happily and the feathers swayed as the dancers moved. The people laughed and joked. They were very happy.

Suddenly the announcer said, “The family of Young Rabbit will now have an honor dance. This will be the first time Young Rabbit will dance at a big celebration.”

Young Rabbit’s heart pounded as his father and mother walked with him to the center of the ring.

Young Rabbit danced proudly as he led the line. His mother and father followed behind him. Many relatives and friends joined in the dance. The drumbeat seemed to say to Young Rabbit,

“How proud we are of you! You are a strong, wonderful Indian boy. Someday you will lead our tribe to great honors.”

Then the drums stopped. Young Rabbits’ father and mother began the giveaway. He thought, “How lucky I am to be Blackfeet Indian! I’m so very proud. And to think my ancestors have roamed this very land!”

When the giveaway was over, the family left the center of the dance ring. They were overjoyed to think that the Great Spirit had helped them obtain enough to give to others in honor of their son. They felt great satisfaction to know this task had been achieved.

Young Rabbit was now recognized as one of the dancers. When the drums began to beat and the dancers started to dance, Young Rabbit joined in.

CENTER WEB: All Tribes UNIT 5

MUSIC, ART, DRAMA CENTER SCIENCE CENTER Make parfleche or Indian pouch. Study objects used in making Learn new dances and songs. Listen dancing clothes. Example: feathers, to powwow music. Show videos of bones, hide, beads, leather wood, dancers. Make beaded jewelry. sinew, metals; old and modern Learn to weave a bracelet. Make a objects. Display powwow posters powwow mural, let children and pictures. Discuss what you see. experience designs and work with any Study different ecology and life and all art media. Make a collage, environments. Make a diorama. dress up in dancing cloths. Have a mini powwow.

ALL TRIBES

COGNITIVE CENTER HOME CENTER Pre-reading of powwow stories. Study Make foods that are served number skills with Indian symbols. at a powwow. Compare Learn new singling and pictographs. foods with 5 senses. Learn Make shelters of different tribes. Study true life skills. Study about language of different tribes. Make herbs and seasonings of comparative study of dances. Name Indian tribes of the past and giving ceremony. Initiation ceremony. today. Study areas with What is it? What is a give-away? Field berries and natural products. trips to museum to view artifacts and art Count with natural things. of different tribes and nations. Example: Corn kernels, small rocks. Study concept of small and big.

LEGEND: A Little Boy’s Big Moment UNIT 5 A CULTURAL BEING

MUSIC/MOVEMENT Group dancing, powwow, class presentations on dancing and singing. Listen to music of different tribes.

SCIENCE/MATH Natural herbs/healing, nature walks, learn about nose. How does it work? SNACK/COOKING Comparative study of native foods, herbal teas. Introduce Medicine Man MANIPULATIVES practices for healing. Practice events for Prepare and eat powwow, beading, A LITTLE BOY’S familiar foods. painting, blocks, and designs. BIG MOMENT SENSORY Smell sense, taste, smell, touch. See new foods of GROUP APPLICATION different tribes. Have contest, field day, let all children compete individually and then as teams. Learn about respect for others. Learn about lifestyles and relationships. What is a clan, ART tribe, nation? Compare styles: Woodland, Coastal, Plains, Southwest, Southeast, etc., beadwork, designs, dance outfits, and accessories. DRAMATIC PLAY Act out story, make puppets for story, act out. Have mini powwow, pretend to get ready for powwow. What do you need to take?

UNIT 5: ACTIVITIES

1) Plan a field day. Choose events in both fine and gross motor areas. Allow children tin class practice time. Then hold the event and reward winner.

2) Teach children to make bead and bone choker for dancing. (Instructions in many books if no staff or parent can help.)

3) Introduce children to 4 natural plants, medicines or foods:

Let children touch, smell and see each in natural form. Prepare as necessary and serve to children.

4) Review ceremonies of 4 tribes, for example:

Ute Bear Dance Sioux Sun Dance Kiowa Gourd Dance Seminole Stomp Dance

Review 4 large gatherings today, i.e., Crow Fair, Rosebud Fair, Denver March Powwow, and Navajo Fair. Talk about how social gatherings differ from traditional and/or religious ceremonies.

5) Discuss giveaways. Agree to have one in class to honor a classmate or all students. Help children make items to give away. Have giveaway.

6) Read books from other cultures. Discuss similarities and differences.