I hope you are all enjoying the first book. it has so much to offer to educators. Here are this weeks posts:
1. Strive For Five- please list ah ha's, questions, comments, agreements, arguments, etc.
2. A favorite quote and how you could bring that quote alive in your classroom.
3. How could you use this book as a resource for lessons in your classroom?
What lessons could you develop from the information gained from this resource.
4. How has this book help you see thanksgiving from a different perspective?
Please post by Sunday.
Thanks,
Kim
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Kim,
ReplyDeleteI think I am in this site for the assignments? Hope you can read this. Sue
Answer to Question1 1.
ReplyDelete1. For the first Thanksgiving how were the white man perceived as thieves of Native Peoples land and seed corn?
2.Do the Native People actually honor the White Peoples tradition of Thanksgiving?
3. Should we actually teach Thanksgiving in the traditional sense or will it make Children of Native People feel bad, v.s teaching it more as a Harvest Festival for all to enjoy the benefits of the land?
4. Does this book show any Bias towards the White Man's Culture when the material is presented, as I am not familiar with all the publications that the historical information is presented from?
5.Was the Vocabulary page placed in the book to be used in conjunction to be used in the classroom? Is it a way to give tribute to the Wampanoag Language?
Answer to question 1 in my mind was answered later on while reading the passage from the Companions and Corn Borers when it explained how The Pilgrims in Mourt's journal explains how they sole corn from the sand.
Answer to Question 2
ReplyDeletePartial Quote from page 39 Thanksgiving: A Native Perspective
("I am not so simple, as not to know it is better
to eat good meat , lie well, and sleep guietly with my women and children; to laugh and be merry with the English; and being their friend,..... )
---WAHUNSONACOCK, Powhatan Confederacy
Answer Question 3
ReplyDeleteI could use information from this book to change the way in which I approach teaching the concept of the Holiday of Thanksgiving rather to a Harvest Festival approach because Native Peoples give thanks throughout the year.
I would use the Vocabulary from 21-26 to help my class understand some of the family structure of the Wampanoag and how corn was a sacred gift given to the White Man.
Lesson- could be done to compare and contrast the culture and society roles between the children in the classroom and how they think about Thanksgiving relate to Native Peoples Culture.
Answer to Question 4
ReplyDeleteThis book has given me insights into historical information now previously known about the Holiday of Thanksgiving. I now have a different perspective that I will use while teaching this in my classroom.
One ah ha moment I had was reading through the suppressed speech of Frank James that was to have been delivered at a celebration of civilization 350 years later by the Pilgrims’ descendants. He mentions…”We were conquered, we became the American Prisoners of War in many cases, and wards of the United States Government, until only recently”. I see a bit of truth in this statement and it saddens me to think of it in this manner, but I was encouraged by the ending and the prospects it holds for many Native Americans, that they may be entering a time where they regain their pride in the fact that they are a unique people and that is nothing to ashamed of. This comment was also told to me by a presenter at Chief Plenty Coupe State Park during a field trip this past summer. For some reason, it stuck with me and gave me hope that many are regaining their pride in who they are.
ReplyDeleteThe theme of waste and only taking what you needed was a great reminder to me of my role in society. The Natives used resources wisely, remembering not to waste anything, while the pilgrims seemed bent on wanting everything and wasting much. American society today, in general, seems to amplify waste through our interactions with our environment and this was a good reminder to me. Another ah ha in this was that Grandmother Woodchuck was a wise elder and thank goodness Gluskabi listened to her, so we have those resources now. I also liked the reminder that many Native children are not usually taught with the word “don’t”. In My Wetu, Teaching our Children, there were many lessons teachers could employ to help teach children by letting them make their own choices. The last sentence, referring to books and wise speakers, is a good reminder for all.
Another ah ha I hadn’t come across was the first thing the Pilgrims took (stole) from the New World (Nauset) was corn. The Nauset Indians retreated to the woods and saw Pilgrims from the Mayflower land and take the corn and other “pretty things”. In Student Activity “Indians and Pilgrims: A Simulation-Story”, pages 61-62, an analogy activity is presented for elementary children. I thought this activity was a compelling way to get across the points presented in Companions and Corn Borers from pages 31 to 35.
“Many Native American groups regard Thanksgiving as a Day of Mourning and observe it with fasting and vigils. For them, it is a symbol of Europeans’ first foothold on the North American continent and the demise of the Native way of life”. This statement from page 53 could be a great lead-in to a discussion among my high school students as they plan for the holiday. A well handled discussion at this time could peak students interest into others’ points of view and how empathy is a highly regarded habit of mind we wish to awaken in all our students.
This book definitely helps me see Thanksgiving from a Native perspective. I admit, thinking back to my elementary days, I remember participating in classroom activities that reinforced the traditional Anglo centric image of Thanksgiving. It is important teachers challenge some of the misconceptions about Native Americans and the way they are presented to students in their study of the history of this county.
There were many passages in this reading that startled and awakened my thoughts of the Native American perspective to Thanksgiving. I was never exposed to these viewpoints before. Incorporating them into my existing understanding has given me a broader context to share with my students and family.
This book was a real eye-opener for me. I knew corn was important to the Native Americans, but I hadn't realized how much. Like everything in nature, the Native Americans cherished it, gave thanks for it, did not waste it, and tried to teach the white people the advantages of taking care of the earth. I certainly agree with Nathan when he said the Native Americans were not wasteful while the white people were. The most shocking item I read about was the massacre of 700 men, women, and children and how the governor declared the First Thanksgiving because of that. I'm probably like many others who would like to cling to the standard story of the First Thanksgiving. I really enjoyed all the primary sources in this book. I have seen many of those "This Is Insulting" pictures and, have to admit, that seeing them before I started learning more, I didn't think anything was wrong. Some of them, such as the cute bears as Pilgrims and Indians, don't bother me as much as others. I actually have a Pilgrim and an Indian on my library counter as decorations. Things such as this do not bother me. Both are part of our Thanksgivng stories.
ReplyDeleteOne of the best quotes in the book was when talking about "Ten Little Indians". The author said "How does "Ten Little Anglos," "Ten Little Negroes," "Ten Little Polacks," or "Ten Little Orientals" sound?" This is so true. There are some traditions that need to be abolished.
As a lesson plan, I would read some of the primary sources to middle or high school students, discuss them, and have the students write a response to them. They have had more years of traditional Thanksgiving stories then younger students so it would be interesting to get their thoughts. The authors do a good job of creating lessons to replace other, familiar lessons.
I must admit it is hard to change my ideas of the Thanksgiving celebration. I would still emphasize the positive cooperation between the Pilgrims and Indians. Reading this book has definitely given me a broader understanding. I am really enjoying all the new material that is out there.
Great comments, Nathan! Laying waste to precious resources is a current event, and we all have a role to play. Like Vicki, I was appalled by the massacre of 700. Challenging sterotypes is our job as educators. The printed pages exerpting the Thanksgiving stories from different authors was an interesting tool to sample what children are being taught. Much of what is quoted lacks integrity.
ReplyDeleteI read the Gluskabi and Corn Spirit stories with my 8-year-old. She loved them and absorbed the lessons readily. (Thank you)! She also enjoyed the "In My Wetu" material.
The "Companions and Corn Borers" work was much appreciated as I hadn't quite read an analysis like it, although I sort of knew the overarching theme of our blog unit, as I had already read 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving, when I noticed it's splashy photos in the library last year.
I appreciate this plainspoken quote by teacher, Chuck Larson. "Thanksgiving has truth and integrity far above and beyond what we and our forebears have made of it". Thanksgiving mythology is misguided and buries some terrible truths about the white participants. What children are concurrently absorbing, however, is what they know in their own experience--friendship, family and celebration--things to be cherished which have lasting meaning and personal importance. I also appreciate Larson's look at the splinter-group Puritans. My very distant relative, John Howland, was an indentured servant on the Mayflower. I try to imagine his story with each new perspective I read. (To read my family geneology, you'd never believe we had a European history prior to landing in Patuxet. It's probably pretty checkered--more Stranger than Saint).
I would use the powerful initial poems in my classroom which set the tone--"As I walk this road" and "Water Thanks". And I'd likely use the Gluskabi and Corn Spirit stories to continue the theme. I would like to know more about Gluskabi. He seems like a hammerhead. At any rate, I like teaching about the concept of being grateful and counting our blessings. I would have the students create an art object which symbolizes and emphasizes the things they cherish. I will confess to adding to the "turkey worship" with a ceramic turkey gravy boat made by 1st graders for their thanksgiving table. I have heard many happy stories about how these are set on the table every year as part of family celebrations and it makes me pleased for the kids that they are able to contribute something. The Native perspective material about other food items initially served would be useful, here. (Ravalli County kids definitely know what a wild turkey looks like). I can gently break down some stereotypes while emphasizing friendship, family and celebration. I explained to my daughter about the appropriation of the corn and about how the three days of feasting was also likely a tense time of negotiation. It saddened her quite a lot... then she saw the corn bread recipe in our reading and wanted to make it. Getting real about the Thanksgiving facts definitely needs to be spiraled up. The series about "This is Insulting" was striking and is a great tool for all ages, however. This book is fairly rich with nuts and bolts. 0
Trying this again, as my last one got lost in the ether. I really enjoyed the material in ...a Native Perspective. Several ah-ha moments included the simple realization about counting games and how they place Native americans alongside monkeys and inanimate objects like pumpkins.
ReplyDeleteSeveral ideas for lessons leaped out at me, such as drawing connections with the origins of foods native to the different continents. I do a lot with the Triangular trade and slavery as well as looking at where foods originated in the world prior to 1492. This would be a great lesson when looking at a typical Thanksgiving feast.
I've also done a lot with the journals of William Bradford and talking about "the Starving Time." Looking at the early settlements and how many failed, as well as the real contributions of Native American peoples in New England is a great look at the true history of the times. The book gave a lot of greta resources and ideas for expanding this look.
"In my Wetu was a great read and I can see so many ways to connect this with the study of Ancient Civilizations we are doing right now, great parallels there with Family structure, gender roles, and especially with social rules and norms.
This also could be agreta parallel to use alongside the Montana Tribes and How They Got Their Names video from OPI, using the name "eninoug" to compare with a number of the tribes here who also use some form of "The People" as their name.
I really liked "The Story" for a way to get kids to identify with how Native peoples may have felt when the Europenas arrived here.
The resources in the back of the book are also great for looking at some old advertisements and slogans, cards, brands, etc. that use Native amercians in such a broad, generic way, and generally insult and degrade them as a people. Never being specific to atribe, dress, style of home, and referring to Native amercians as if they are one single, homogeneous group, with nothing that makes them distinct. Some ofthem were downright disgusting in their blatant depiction of "Indians" as less capable and inferior, savage...
The poem "Foreign Children", my guess would be from the 1950's, was simply atrocious, and so common in it's Ethno-centric, WASP/American idea of perfection.
There's so much to think about here, and I look forward to chatting some more with people as we continue with these resources. Thanks!!!
John
Thanksgiving: A Native Perspective
ReplyDeleteI not only enjoyed reading this book. I found it not only informative, but thought provoking as well.
One of my “ah-ha” moments in this book was in the section titled “Teaching Our Children.” As a teacher and a mother of four, I have often found it interesting to learn how other cultures raise their children. While reading this section, I soon came to realize that there were several similarities and differences between how I raised my children and how the Wampanoag people raised their children.
1. I found it especially interesting that Wampanoag children are raised without the word “don’t.” It is intriguing how they offer children a choice, along with advice and place the responsibility of their action within the child’s own power. It seems that by building an understanding of an experience gives more meaning to the child as well as an opportunity to learn respect.
2. Another item that I found interesting came from the section titled, “Wampanoag Curative Practices. A couple of years ago, my allergies became unbearable and my doctor suggested that I try some homeopathic or natural remedies. So, I began to read about these types of treatments and discovered that a great many of these cures have roots in the Native American culture.
3. My next ah-ha moment came from the section titled, “Beyond “Ten Little Indians” and Turkeys.
As I read this section, I could place myself in some of those Thanksgiving plays when I was a child in elementary school. Although I believed I was celebrating history and a unity between the Pilgrims and Indians, I would soon develop questions as to why the two groups did not live in harmony forever. Even throughout my education, the answers never seemed clear, but I was being taught history by the teachers that I so respected. Therefore, I believed it was accurate. It wasn’t until I became a teacher myself that I considered that there may be another side to the story. The following quote is one that really put the different perspectives into light about Thanksgiving for me. “Many Native American groups regard Thanksgiving as a Day of Mourning and observe it with fasting and vigils. For them, it is a symbol of the European’s first foothold on the North American continent and the demise of the Native way of life.”
4. My next ah-ha moment is from the section titled, “Thanksgiving: A New Perspective. Was the first Thanksgiving a true celebratory feast between cooperating people or simply pot luck? I find it interesting consider the idea that what might have simply been a shared meal has become a national holiday, regardless of the truth. However, I do find comfort in the idea of celebrating a harvest and being thankful for what the season has brought us.
5. I think a valuable lesson can be learned from the poem title, “Water Thanks.” I found this to contain a very powerful message in a very simple form. I guess I came away from with the idea of being thankful for all we have even the little things that we take for granted. After all, it is easy for us to take water for granted, yet it gives us so many of the elements in life that we need. Therefore, it is important to offer thanks to the water and the Earth, where the water flows from.
This poem would be an excellent choice for a poetry lesson with my reading groups. I would like to teach the poem and some background to students and have them reflect upon the meaning of the poem. Finally, I would have them write a poem of thanks.
I have really enjoyed reading all of your responses from last week. They were all very thoughtful. I am really excited to see all of your minds continue to open and expand through these book clubs and all the fieldtrips you have taken. This is an area I have spent time studying, yet every time I read a new resource I pick up even more knowledge that surprises me.
ReplyDeleteStrive for 5:
It was very hard to focus on just five. I felt this book had much to offer an educator who might not have background knowledge of the Wampanoag people and the impact that each unique tribe in the Americas has played in America’s birth and life. The Wampanoag were a part of an even bigger society than this book offered. I really like the Teaching of our Children section on pg 27. I love to see examples of other cultures views on education and how important it is. I will share this example with my students.
Another Ah ha I had was from the selection Companions and Corn Borers on 31-35. It was wonderful see text that could be shard with students concerning American Indian involvement in the design of our government. I found this quote from England interesting:
“The darling passion of the American is liberty and that in its fullest extent, nor is it the original native only to whom this passion is confined; our colonists sent thither seem to have imbibed the same principles.”
I am always amazed at the lack of emphasis there is in American history classes on this extremely important historical information. History is made through the eyes of the beholder. As educators teaching perspective is so important. Perspective shows the big picture of historical events. People do not always hear the real story of how something came to be. This can be seen with the T.A.R.P Legislature that was passed two years ago. Fifty percent of people who were interviewed recently stated that Obama passed the legislation, when in fact Bush passed it before he left office. It goes to show how easily history can be twisted within a short period of time (2 years), image how it can be changed over 300 years. Information is not always spread in an accurate way, and it can hurt people.
Thanksgiving, the development of our American government and much more reflect how information is conveyed through one set of people’s perspectives and the real, full history does not get shared. It becomes very one-sided.
Favorite quote:
I could not find just one quote, but I did find a poem that should be passed on to my students.
as we live
we learn
we take in years of knowledge
passed down
to make us survive
as people
to build our heritage
to make us last
never to be forgotten
Maryann Barros (Sgkewegas)
This poem really hit home for me, because as an educator we share our knowledge to students and he or she shares his or her knowledge with us each and everyday.
How could you use this book as a resource for lessons in your classroom?
There are so many different avenues that one could take with resource. I would use this resource as a perspectives unit on the holiday. I would share the resources in the back of the book and have students create honor posters, ads, etc. to show a new perspective of the holiday that would created a positive image of American Indians. It would be nice to see imagery that is accurate within the school and community. The American Indian that is usually displayed is not one of a historical or contemporary Wampanoag. I would love to see my students see the holiday we celebrate to day only has a few truths behind it. I do believe that it is important for all cultures to have a ceremonial celebration to give thanks for that each has.
How has this book help you see Thanksgiving from a different perspective?
ReplyDeleteHaving the knowledge and different perspective of the historical event has really opened my eyes. I feel for the Wampanoag people for the truth and historical perspective that has not be shared with the youth of today nor the American people. It saddens me that education continues to convey this historical inaccuracy with students. I do believe that the movement has begun to change these teaching practices. We as educators can make history come alive for students through teaching perspective and tolerance. It would be nice to agree that this holiday is meant to celebrate harvest and things we are thankful for and not what it has so long been presented as. I would love to see the American people no matter who you are come together and unite with the things we have in common on a day such as Thanksgiving, yet remember those who are not with us.
Nathan your post was so thought out and meaningful. Your thoughts were inspiring and thought provoking! Thanks for sharing.