Here are some resources for those of you who are interested in teaching students Traditional Storytelling. Around the world the Oral Tradition has been carried down from generation to generation. In these tellings and traditional languages there are learnings about culture, values, ethics, etc. Here are resources to help you with a starting point to incorporate these into your students well rounded education. #ecmp455 #traditional story telling #reconciliation through Indigenous Education #oral tradition
Eleven Recommended
Storytelling Resources from edX "Reconciliation through Indigenous Education" MOOC Participants
From the website:
“Circle of Stories uses documentary film, photography, artwork and music to
honor and explore Native American storytelling.”
http://www.pbs.org/circleofstories/index.html
From the website: “
http://firstnationspedagogy.ca/storytelling.html
From the
website:
“The
hummingbird parable, with origins in the Quechuan people of South America, has
become a talisman for environmentalists and activists who are committed to
making meaningful change in the world. In this inspiring story, the determined
hummingbird does everything she can to put out a raging fire that threatens her
forest home. The hummingbird - symbol of wisdom and courage - demonstrates that
doing something is better than doing nothing at all.
The parable
is embraced by two of the world's most influential leaders: Wangari Maathai,
the Nobel Peace Prize winner from Kenya who launched the Green Belt Movement,
and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who has spoken widely about his commitment to
preserving the environment. This courageous little book features artwork by
internationally-renowned artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas. His distinct and
lively Haida Manga style engages perfectly with this inspirational story that
encourages every individual to act on behalf of the world's limited and
precious resources.”
http://mny.ca/en/flight-of-the-hummingbird.html
Circle of Stories
First
Nations Pedagogy
This site is the
culmination of a project funded by BC Campus that allowed two education
experts, Sylvia Currie and June Kaminski, representing Nicola Valley Institute
of Technology and Kwantlen Polytechnic University to create an online resource
that builds on research, consultation, and community-based activities. This
site provides best practices and support for online learning initiatives that
are intended for aboriginal students, elders, educators, curriculum developers,
and educational leaders.”
Flight of
the Hummingbird
Four
Directions Teachings
From the
website:
“The goal for the
project was to create an engaging site where people could experience Indigenous
knowledge and philosophy and where educators could incorporate the site into
their curriculum. FourDirectionsTeachings.com honors oral traditions by
creating an environment where visitors are encouraged to listen with intent as
each elder/ traditional teacher shares a teaching from their perspective on the
richness and value of cultural traditions from their nation.”
http://www.fourdirectionsteachings.com/
From the
website:
I’m Not
the Indian You Had in Mind
“I’m Not the Indian You Had in Mind challenges the
stereotypical portrayal First Nations peoples in the media. This spoken word
short offers an insight of how First Nations people today are changing old
ideas and empowering themselves in the greater community.
The actors, in business suits, jeans, and typical urban attire
are juxtaposed against the loincloth-wearing, tomahawk wielding Natives of
yesterday’s spaghetti westerns.
Through the use of stock footage, language, and common artifacts
like a cigar store Indian, the viewer is encouraged to examine the profound
role that these one- dimensional media representations have played in shaping
their perspectives of an entire group of people. The man living next door, the
woman working in the next cubicle, or the stoic wood carving in front of the
cigar store – which Indian did you have in mind?”
http://www.nsi-canada.ca/2012/03/im-not-the-indian-you-had-in-mind/
In Our Own Words (K-3)
From the website:
“This resource has been developed in response to desire on the part of teachers
for more guidance and information on how to incorporate First Peoples materials
into their instruction and assessment practices. Educators and communities have
long recognized a need for increased information and support in the use of
culturally appropriate and meaningful First Peoples content, materials, and
teaching methods.”
http://tinyurl.com/owjcvck
From the website:
Math
Catcher: Mathematics through Aboriginal Storytelling
“The
Math Catcher Outreach program aims to promote mathematics and scholarship in
general by encouraging elementary and high school students to recognize how
math is used in everyday life and how it forms the basis for many of our daily
decisions and life-long choices. The storytelling, pictures, models, and
hands-on activities encourage young people to enjoy math and help dispel myths
that math is boring and abstract.
Another
key component of the program is to introduce these concepts to Aboriginal
students through the use of First Nations imagery and storytelling. The Program
has produced animated films in several First Nations languages (Blackfoot,
Cree, Squamish, Heiltsuk, Nisga’a, Sliammon, Halq’em ́eylem, Hul’q’umi’num’,
and Huu-ay- aht) as well as bilingual picture books in Blackfoot/English,
Cree/English, Squamish/English, Nisga’a/English, and Sliammon/English.
The
Program is based on the belief that it is crucial that we engage Aboriginal
students in mathematics and science at the early age. ”
http://mathcatcher.irmacs.sfu.ca/
Our Voices: Omushkego
Oral History Project
From the website:
“In Aboriginal culture, teachings are passed from generation to
generation in a rich tradition of storytelling. Join the University of
Winnipeg's Centre for Rupert's Land Studies as they welcome Louis Bird,
Aboriginal scholar and storyteller.
As part of the Omushkego
Oral History Project, Bird will share - in Cree and in English - a sampling of
the stories of the Omushkegowak or "Swampy Cree" people of the Hudson
and James Bay Lowlands of northern Manitoba and Ontario.
Bird is from Peawanuck
Ontario and has shared his stories with audiences throughout Canada, the United
States, and Europe. In addition to performing traditional Cree legends, mystery
stories, and oral history, Bird has devoted three decades to documenting Cree
oral traditions. He began making audiotape recordings of the stories told by
his elders in 1965. Today, his collection comprises more than 340 hours of
material - the largest extant collection of such recordings.”
www.ourvoices.ca
From the website:
“Raven Tales is series of half-hour, (24min.) CGI-animated television programs,
targeted at school-age children and their families that introduce Aboriginal
folklore in a humorous and entertaining way. They tell the stories of the many
adventures of Raven, the most powerful deity of Aboriginal mythology. Each
episode features an original interpretation of a popular tale from the folklore
of our First Peoples.”
http://www.newmachinestudios.com/productions/raventales
Raven
Tales
Rebel
Music Native America: Lesson Plan
From the
website:
“Rebel Music: Native
America is one episode of a six-part documentary film series that explores the
lives of young people who are using their art and music to ignite social and
political change around the world. Rebel Music: Native America highlights
Native American musicians who are using their art to inspire and transform
their communities and the places they travel. This powerful story from South
Dakota, Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada, and New York City depicts the
lives of four characters: Frank Waln, a Lakota hip-hop artist who is fighting
to save the environment, Inez Jasper a Skowkale musician who is bringing
awareness to missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada, and Nataanii
Means and
Mike Cliff (aka Witko), Oglala Sioux from Pine Ridge Reservation in South
Dakota who are encouraging youth to find strength and inspiration through music
amidst high suicide rates in their community. These musicians demand positive
change for their communities, harnessing the power of music to elevate their
voices and escalate awareness. They understand that the future of their
communities is at risk and are fighting in hopes of a more promising
existence..”
http://legacy.wlu.ca/documents/59892/RebelED_NativeAmerica_LessonPlan.pdf
From the website:
“The Seven Sacred Teachings is a message of traditional values and hope for the
future. The Teachings are universal to most First Nation peoples. These
Teachings are aboriginal communities from coast to coast. They are a link that
ties First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities together.
David Bouchard is Canada’s
most renowned and awarded Métis author. Dr. Joseph Martin has spent his life
coming to understand the Sacred Teachings. Métis Kristy Cameron took a year
out of her life to interpret the Teachings through her art. Swampfox has
created seven flutes out of seven different woods, each in the key that is
consistent with a particular Teaching. This master flute maker then dreamed
seven songs to accompany this telling.”
http://www.davidbouchard.com/mtw/sacred.htm
Thanks to all the students and instructors who motivated and inspired me during this class. I am definitely making changes in my professional life and consequently in my personal life. There is no better message I can send to these "soon to be" educators in the classrooms then: Balance your life in all areas if you lose balance in one area all other areas suffer. Do a good job as teacher but remember that you can't live to work. You are being watched by others as a role model and a good, healthy, balanced life is one that we want our students and children to see and copy. 
