Hello,
Welcome to Victor School's second book club for the school year 2009-2010. This blog was designed to help build background, bring ideas together and to help bring IEFA alive for educators.
4/16- Friday we will meet at Vicki's about 11:30 for potluck lunch and book club meeting. We will be there for about 2hours.
In between now and then we need to blog three times. Please post on the first one about what you hope to get out of this club, what your curious about, and why you joined this one. The second and third , please share ah's, and new information you find interesting or hard. Also please speak comment on others comments too! This book club is being monitored by OPI.
I really appreciate all you joining!
Kim
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I hope to strengthen my understanding and appreciation of Native Americans, especially those in and near Montana, so I may better implement the teaching of Indian history and culture to my students. I am curious about the uniqueness each tribe has and how that translates into their history and spirituality. I am also looking forward to bringing back to my classroom and integrating some of the many rich resources this book club will explore.
ReplyDeleteI joined this book club because I have participated in the others and am pleased with the background knowledge they have given me. I want to learn as much as I can so that I know the knowledge I am passing on to my students is authentic and respectful. I hope to get some ideas for lessons that I can take back to the classroom and share with my students as well. I am curious about the roles women play in the tribe. I have already learned some about this in the other book clubs and am intrigued. The book club is also a good way to share varying viewpoints amongst readers and to build camaraderie.
ReplyDeleteThere are two reasons I joined this book club. Reading is a passion for me, and I am enjoying learning about Montana Native Americans. I have listened to a few selections on the CD and am anxious to talk about them and go into detail about the poems and selections. Doing any kind of activity with reading helps in understanding it.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Pennsylvania and learned about the tribes of the East Coast but learned very little about Montana Indians. I was comfortable integrating Indian Education in my student teaching in Pennsylvania bu the lack of knowledge of Montana Indians and the concern of sharing the wrong information has hampered the integration of Indian Ed into my classroom instruction. I hope this background knowledge will increase my confidence and skill in teaching about Montana Indians.
ReplyDeleteI hope to learn more about what my colleagues know about Montana tribal peoples both historically and presently. I hope to have a better understanding of what the educators at my school need for his or her classroom to help in the integration of IEFA. I hope to learn more about the Salish women’s' role in cultural traditions. It would be great to be able show students in my classroom that women played and still play a strong role in culture.
ReplyDeleteIn my classroom social studies curriculum students study ancient cultures. Students have made the connection that women of ancient times did not usually play strong roles in the culture, with some exceptions. It would be neat in our unit on the Salish to show that some cultures did respect women and that they played a power role.
My aha moment of today, is realizing that women were also healers, or medicine people. I have always heard about medicine men, but never about women playing this role. This issue is mentioned in the study guide, but just brushed upon. I get the sense of power while reading what Jennifer Greene wrote in her piece, but would like to know more about this important role that women played.
ReplyDeleteTracy, I read your post and wonder which tribes are in the area you are from. What sorts of lessons did you do with the kids you student taught? Could you use any of those lessons to create lessons that focus on Montana tribes? Did the women have such strong roles in those tribes? I think it will be interesting to compare and contrast. Maybe your past lessons with the tribes in Pennsylvania will give us some ideas...
ReplyDeleteDori- the main focus was on the Lenni Lenape. They were the most prominent local tribe and some on the Nanticoke. With second graders we did some things with the alphabet of things the American Indians gave to the Americas. An activity on maple syrup and how the Indians used and how settlers and then farmers today harvest it. In a practicum with 5th graders I did a trial of Columbus. There was another on the "three sisters" and some activities out of Keepers of the Earth. I have used some of the activities from Keepers of the Earth here. One problem that I realize looking back is that all of the lessons were based on Indians in history and not any contemporary issues. I am sure that Native Americans are less "real" to kids on the East Coast because of the distance from any reservations. I don't remember anything focusing on the role of women specifically and not any showing them as strong role models.
ReplyDeleteI joined the book club out of a desire to read and be able to share more. I really enjoyed our first book club this year, and helped lead a book club at my former school, using selections from Lies My Teacher Taught Me. The whole process was enjoyable, and being able to discuss the selections as we went along helped immensely. I am really enjoying the readings and have listened through the Cd completely once, and gone back several times to listen to some specific selections. An a-ha moment for me was reading the quote from Paula Gunn that opens the study guide, which has so influenced my teaching over the years, about the importance of storytelling. History is all about telling people's stories, and I've found that kids connect so much better if they can relate to specific people, rather than vague generalizations of "people."
ReplyDeleteI have listened to the CD a couple of times and get more out of it each time. What I have enjoyed listening to is the strength of the Indian women's words. However, you could take almost any woman from any culture and they would have the same thoughts and strengths. Family is most important to them and they would do anything to protect them. That, certainly, has been my "aha" moment.
ReplyDelete"Ancient songs are in the pine cones waiting for fire to open them" (P.23) was an “aha” moment for me and made me realize how well these women understood the science of pine cones and their connections with the Earth that produced them. On Easter Sunday, I listened too and read excerpts from Heart of the Bitterroot, Voices of Salish & Pend d'Oreille Women many times over. I was reminded of my Roman Catholic upbringing and the stories I was told. The stark differences and similarities between these stories and those from this excerpt made me think of what has transpired on Earth throughout recent time. The Native American battles between tribes then, and past and current battles between different religions and peoples on a global scale throughout history seemed familiar, yet different. Are these Native Tribes still battling in some ways?
ReplyDeleteSpending a good part of the 1980’s to 1990’s in Northern Arizona, I was blessed to observe some of the interactions between the Hopi & Navajo Nations. Their battles over land (legal) and what seemed to me, to be, which gender led their people into the future is intriguing. These local stories of Native Women reinforce that desire of mine to delve deeper into this area.
I chose to join this book club because I greatly enjoy reading,learning about our Montana history and cultures, and the social aspect of a book club. I was also intrigued with the book selection, especially since it will focus on Native American women. It will be interesting to discover and experience the role, spirituality, and history of the Salish women.
ReplyDeleteI am also eager to expand my knowledge and understandings of the various Indian tribes and Nations in Montana. I lived in the Great Falls area for many years, and I have some basic knowledge of the Blackfeet culture, but would like to learn more about the native people in this area.
Nathan,
ReplyDeleteThe quote you chose to use to begin your blog post was one that caught my eye too. The Salish women real did have a strong scientific understanding of the pinecone and her surrounding environment. A great book that focuses on women and their knowledge of plants, used as healing methods is Walking in the Sacred Manner. This book focuses on plains tribes individually. I have a great interest in fire science due to my background in Wildland fire. I have used OPI's interactive CD, Fire on the Land, with my students in the sixth grade and seventh grade the last 2 years. The poem you quoted would go wonderfully. You should check out the CD, it is in the library. You could use it with older students for your science class.
This book club has been a meaningful experience. My “ah ha” moment for the selection was the fact that Salish women were not prohibited to go to war. I know many tribes did allow for this, but was not aware that our neighbors had a history of women in battle. This was a great moment. It is one more item I can add to show my students that, yes women did have a present in war. I can use a real historic figure from the America’s that was like a woman we learn about in our medieval unit (Joan d’Arc). This information will be a great addition to our unit. I hope that everyone will be able to use something from this book club to bring into the classroom!
ReplyDeleteHi, Everyone! I'm jumping in, too. I enjoyed reading through the material and have listened to the CD almost three times. It is really beautiful. So strange to grow up in Missoula and camp every summer at Flathead Lake and not have heard one thing about these stories. (I'm here for you if you want me to recite the Gilligan's Island Theme, sadly. Heard that story quite a bit)! I guess I get to learn as I teach, and that is why I am doing as many IEFA offerings as I can.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the discussion yesterday (and the food). It was interesting to see the different quotes chosen for the one page response paper. I focused on the ones about children. I agree with Kim--Native American women being warriors. You don't hear much about that. Tracy and I talked about playing the CD at one of our Delta Kappa Gamma meetings. More people need to be aware of these selections and history. Can't wait for the next book club to start.
ReplyDeletePosting another comment! I keep losing them on my iPod touch. (It's like I'm trying to text with my toes--no nuance with fat fingertips). I should have Pretty Flower's self-assurance. I know my family loves me, but technology can illicit fear. When I see girls who I know are good scholars act stupid for a boy, it must be based in fear. "How do I negotiate this strange new thing?" Hopefully we learn from our mistakes. Maybe I can complete this post. (My other posts were extremely insightful, by the way)! I admire that Pretty Flower's bravery and strength is from a loving upbringing. She knows the source of her strength and will not compromise.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Pretty Flower, isn't it elegant when she appeals to her abductor's empathic capability? It reminds me of a dramatic contemporary painting I saw in Chicago a few years ago. There were these two large gold Chinese calligraphy characters juxtaposed on a rich black and red background. They looked like two beasts sizing each other up. I asked the owner the title of the piece and he replied "Genius Recognizes Genius". I'd say Pretty Flower had that sort of warrior's skill combined with true conviction.
ReplyDeleteI have truly enjoyed reading these stories and listening to the CD. I found the stories to be very empowering as they talked about strength, pride, and motherhood. I was especially impressed by the story of Kwilqs. I was not aware that native women could and were warrior as well as nurturers. I found her devotion to her people to be very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI also truly enjoyed the story of Pretty Flower. For many years, I thought that stories that began with the abduction of a member belonging to a neighboring tribe would ultimately end up with a violent end. However, in this beautiful story, the strength of self, family, and spirit for all involved in the story guided them towards a peaceful outcome. I was impressed with Pretty Flower's courage and strength as she appealed to Little Dog to return her to her family. It was especially powerful that Pretty Flower's father later offers thanks and forgiveness to Little Dog for returning his daughter. If only we saw this type of humanity more often.
ReplyDeleteI think we were all moved by these stories of strength, compassion and love. Vicki and Dori- we were similarly struck by the story of a mother's sacrifice for her children and understand that is the same throughout cultures and societies. Jen- I see your connection with Pretty Flower and agree with your statement regarding her skill and conviction and I would add understanding of her captor. Tina- I think you summed her story well, we always her the dramatic versions of abductions and I am sure that is not always how history worked. thanks to all for sharing their insights on these powerful stories and I am sure we will all find good use for this material in our classrooms or to enlighten ourselves.
ReplyDeleteOne of "Aha" moments cams from the story of Kwilqs, A Warrior. I was very impressed by her strength from within herself. The quote,"People may not remember the look of my face, but I
ReplyDeletewant you women to bravely accept your own strength and never fear being smart and beautiful.”, made me remember some middle school girls I had in class a few years ago. These particular young ladies were very intelligent, yet they were not performing up to their abilities. After many conversations, one girl finally told me that it was more important to be pretty than smart amongst their friends. She was afraid of being excluded or rejected by her peers. Perhaps Kwilqs' story could have helped them to understand that it is possible for girls and women to be both beautiful and intelligent.
Anyways, perhaps this story could lead well into discussions or lessons on character, self confidence, or even self enpowerment.