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Come Walk in My Moccasins Newsletter
November 2016
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In this issue:
Children's Books: Dance Baby Dance, Caribou Song, Dancing with Cranes
Medicine Wheel Storytelling: Expressive Stories
Children's Songs: The Cornbread Song, It is Friday! The Bear is Here
Children Change Makers: Children at Kawenna'on:we
Traditional Arts: Soap Stone Carving
Recipes: Cornbread
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Did you know these facts about wild edibles and traditional foods?
Pine can be both nourishing and medicinal. Simmer a bowl of water and add some pine needles to make tea. Indigenous peoples used to grind up pine needles to cure scurvy.
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Dance Baby Dance
For infants and toddlers
Dance Baby Dance by Andrea Spalding is a lovely first book for babies. It is full of fun poetry accompanied by colourful and diverse photographs of babies.
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Caribou Song
For preschoolers
Caribou Song by Thompson Highway is a beautiful and magical story of two brothers who live with their parents in the far north. As a family they follow the caribou which is an important part of their survival. In this story, the boys play music to call the caribou and what happens next is more than they expected! The story is written in Cree and English. (review from Goodreads)
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Dancing with Cranes
For school-age children
Dancing with Cranes is a lovely picture book about a young girl named Chi, by Okanagan writer Jeannette Armstrong. Chi’s momma is soon to have a baby, but Chi is having a hard time being happy about it. Chi misses her grandma, who has passed away and doesn’t want a new brother or sister. Chi’s parents ease the pain of losing Temma by helping Chi understand life and death as a part of nature. Chi soon finds herself feeling comforted, knowing Temma will always be a part of her and looking forward to the new baby who will be part of their lives. This book is part of the Caring for Me series developed by the Penticton Indian Band Health Department as part of their First Nations Head Start Program.
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Storytelling through the Medicine Wheel
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Oral storytelling is integral to indigenous cultures. Often people associate legends with oral stories. Yet, as Mohawk knowledge keeper Sarah Dunkley explains, the types of storytelling and the purposes of stories are varied and incredibly significant to First Peoples' identity, sense of well-being, connection to others and to Creation.
Oral storytelling can be understood using the seven directions of the Medicine Wheel (Centre, Above, Below, East, South, West, and North). In this month's newsletter Sarah discusses how Medicine Wheel teachings of the west direction can be revealed through expressive stories.
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Grade 2 student Jesiah teaches us three songs he enjoys singing at Kawenna'on:we Mohawk Immersion in this 30 second video:- The Cornbread Song
- It's Friday!
- The Bear is Coming
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Young Change Makers Teachers and children at Kawenna'on:we Primary Immersion in Tyendinaga share their insights and ideas about how young children bring Indigenous knowledge, language and thinking to this and future generations. Through learning their Mohawk language at school they connect more fully with themselves, their community and to nature. Hear the voices of both teachers and children in this 5 minute video. |
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Soap Stone Carving
How is a chunk of stone turned into beautiful soapstone carvings?
Artist Dave Zachary, also known as 'The Man of Stone', is an Aboriginal artist from Manitoba. His art has been sold to private and collections and galleries across Canada, United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Zachary shows us how and what he uses to create Dancing Polar Bear from black Manitoba soapstone. (10 minute video)
See more of Zachary's soapstone art.
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| Mohawk Cornbread
Gordie Soaring Hawk shares his family recipe for corn bread, a recipe he learned from his grandmother and great uncle at Six Nations, Grand River. |
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Ohén:ton Karihwatéhkwen Teachings |
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Thunders and Four Winds
The Rotinonhsyón:ni teachings continue by acknowledging and showing gratefulness to the elements in creation that do not have human form. We acknowledge and give thanks to the Thunder beings who are referred to as the grandfathers. They come from the west where the sun sets. They rumble and bring the rain that renews life on the earth. Their loud voices bring medicines and protection. We also acknowledge and show gratefulness to the four winds. They come from the four directions and bring us strength. We hear their voices in the moving air as they refresh us and purify the air we breathe. They help to bring the change of seasons. We are grateful that they are still carrying on their responsibilities as intended by the Creator.
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Click to view a short lesson in Mohawk by Candace Maracle. (1:30 minute video)
This is the tenth lesson in speaking the "Words Before All Else". In this video Candace teaches us to give thanks for the Four Directions.
Candace is a graduate of the Shatiwennakará:tats Adult Language Program.
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Indigenous Language Resources
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Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na provides Mohawk language and culture programming at the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory (the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte).
Programs include: Totáhne (At Grandma's House) for preschool children, Kawenna'ón:we Primary Immersion (K-4) and Shatiwennakará:tats, a program for Adults
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Canoe Kids
Canoe Kids is a family book for readers of all ages. These full-colour books explore indigenous cultures through authentic indigenous voices.
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Sources for Aboriginal books:
Aboriginal Book Lending:
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| Family Fun Day Kaweena'on:we Primary Immersion, Tyendinaga Saturday November 12
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| | | | Aboriginal Family Literacy Circle Partners:
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Copyright 2016 Aboriginal Family Literacy Circle
465 Advance Avenue, Napanee, Canada | |
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