TRADITIONAL EDUCATION

Wednesday

February 2, 2011

“ The ones that matter most are the children.

They are the true human beings.”

( LAKOTA)

Tradition Education

WHAT IS IT?

• it is a system based on principles of respect, humility, sharing, caring, healing, generosity, cooperation patience, humour, and a willingness to help others.

                    

• two aspects of it set it apart from present system: involvement of elders and the method of teaching.

 

• story-telling was a very important component of education, second to observation.

• Stories were simple yet complex.

(Grant 1996)

• the development of the whole person was emphasized through teachings of storytelling.

• tricksters of learning

• learning was for living-for survival

• was largely an informal process that provided the young with specific skills, attitudes, and knowledge they needed to function in everyday life within the context of the spiritual world view.

• “ a natural process occurring during everyday activities… ensuring cultural continuity and survival of the mental, spiritual, emotional and physical well-being of the cultural unit and of it’s environment” (Armstrong 1987) ( Kirkness 1992)

Skills Used as

Everyday Life / Academic Areas

RABBIT SNARING

• The purpose of rabbit snaring is to provide food. It is one of the first places where children can contribute to the provision of wild meat. There are different ways to set snares. Snares can be set on horizontal sticks, on the sides of small trees or, the most humane way, on a sapling spring so that the animal is pulled into the air. These skills have been passed from generation to generation

• The most effective plants to lure rabbits to a snare are jack pine branches and poplar twigs. Rabbits will be most abundant in stands of jack pine. Children who are setting snares look for these areas - research skill

 • Once in this area the child must

observe rabbit trails and choose places where several tails meet. Children must do some practical planning.

When a snare is actually set, a child must focus many skills on his/her goal. The snare must be the proper length. It must be set properly in order to catch the rabbit - mathematical and reasoning skills are needed and the child must read the trails.

Academic Areas with the Extension of Curriculum

• MATHEMATICS: measurement, averaging catch, counting, measuring time and distance, estimating wire needed and cost.

• LANGUAGE: journal writing, researching, creative stories

• SCIENCE: study of vegetation, soil, animal habitat, study of anatomy, seasonal changes of animals and habitat, weather

• HEALTH:nutrition, chemistry of proper cooking of wild game

• SOCIAL STUDIES: environmental studies, map reading and marking, traditional use of rabbit fur, legends and stories

• PHYSICAL EDUCATION: bush walking, co-ordination and fine motor skills

(Kirkness 1992)

Reading AssignmentWikispace

For Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Article: Our Peoples’Education; Cut the Shackles; Cut the Crap; Cut the Mustard. Kirkness 1998

Saturday’s CLASS ASSIGNMENT

Wikispace - Make up a teaching legend or a story - No more then 2 pages (legend/story) - You will share them next class and

explain how you would fit it into the Academic Areas with the curriculum.