Objectives:
Students will:
1. Write a journal entry defining "ceremony," reflecting on the ceremonies
in which they have participated, and drawing comparisons among them.
2. Read and discuss "How
to Love the Arctic Sun? With Ceremony."
3. Work in small groups to research the religion, daily life, ceremonies, and
current existence of a Native American nation.
4. Visually depict their researched Native American nation.
In your groups of three or four
students, each group will focus on a different Native
American nation (suggested nations: Cherokee, Chickasaw,
Choctaw, Great Sioux, Iroquois, Kiowa, Lakota, Makah,
Mohawk, Navajo, Ojibwe, Osage, Seneca, and Wyandot).
Using all available resources, each group investigates
the following aspects of the culture of focus:
--Describe the religion of
this culture. Who or what was worshipped? Where did
worship take place, and what ceremonies occurred
on a regular basis? What religious holidays existed,
and how were these holidays celebrated? What clothing
was worn for different ceremonies, and why? What
special symbols represent this religion?
--Describe aspects of the daily life of the people of this culture. Where did
this culture exist? What did they eat? What did their homes look like? What
did public buildings and other public areas (such as gardens and squares) look
like? What occupations were common? How do these aspects of daily life relate
to the natural resources available?
--Describe the aspects of this culture that still remain today. Where do these
people live now? What aspects of the culture are still practiced today? How
has modern society impacted or modified different aspects of this culture?
Further Questions for Discussion:
--What is a ceremony?
--In what ceremonies do we participate today?
--What roles do ceremonies play in modern society?
--When large groups of "outsiders" (either from the same country or from another
country) move into a territory that is traditionally populated by one group
of people, what results may occur?
--What is the significance of the Inuit sun ceremony, and what symbols exist
in the ceremony?
--What aspects of Inuit culture have changed due to technological and other
modern advancements?
--What aspects of Inuit culture were these people able to preserve?
--What is the significance of the creation of the Nunavut territory?
--What can one learn through studying the ceremonies of other societies?
Other Information on the Web
The Inuit Circumpolar Conference (http://www.inusiaat.com) represents
the Inuit of Russia, the U.S., Canada and Denmark in the international arena
of environmental and social initiatives.
Nunatsiaq News (http://www.nunatsiaq.com) combines
the Nunavut and Nunavik editions of this newspaper online.
Nunavut Online (http://www.arctic.ca/nunavut/nol.html) provides
information about the history, geography, organizations, education, and natural
resources of the Inuit.
Inuit Culture (http://www.arctictravel.com/) includes
information about music, food and family life written from the perspective
of three Inuit writers in different corners of Nunavut.
Inuuqatigiit (http://siksik.learnnet.nt.ca/lnuuqatigiit/1/index.htm) is
a K-12 curriculum from the Inuit perspective.
(Based on NY
Times Daily Lesson Plan.) |
