The First Peoples of Ohio and Indiana

The First Peoples of Ohio and Indiana: Native American History Resource Book
(Native American History)

 

This book is a comprehensive resource that includes 250 pages of lessons, worksheets, and handouts designed to help educate about Native American history and culture, created by Jessica Diemer-Eaton of the Woodland Indian Educational Programs. Native History Magazine spotlighted the WIEP in a post about Finding Authentic Native American Lesson Plans.

From their description:

These lessons are meant to compliment current classroom plans while offering students something more than their textbooks can give.

Some Lesson Examples

Turtle Island Eatery: a “menu” and question sheet all about local historic Native foods. Students can explore historic Native dishes under the menu headings “sides, soups, specials, etc.” which, in this format, presents the dishes correctly to students - as a true cultural cuisine.

The Old Northwest Times: a series of “newspaper headlines” that follows Tecumseh and the Shawnee Prophet during their struggle to gain followers, and highlights the daily Native culture and struggle with American influences/politics of the region in the early 1800’s.

Hold a Native American Style Council Debate: an activity that challenges students to follow a Native-format council meeting for a debate, encouraging restraint, respect, listening to understand, and good speaking skills. A huge part of Native discourse was good oratory skills, which most lessons will never touch upon.

 This is the kind of authentic resource that is needed by teachers to create meaningful lessons on Native American history and culture, rather than relying solely on textbooks and/or on random lessons found online. It is appropriate for grades one through twelve, and can be used by teachers, homeschooling parents, and youth group leaders.

Right now the book may be purchases via Create a Space, and Amazon store; it will soon be available directly on Amazon as well. It is $18.99. Click on the text link below to be taken to the Create a Space product page.

THE FIRST PEOPLES OF OHIO AND INDIANA

John Wooden Legs - Our Land is Everything to Us

Sharing some digital art I created today using a Native Quote by John Wooden Legs, Cheyenne.

"Our land is everything to us... I will tell you one of the things we remember on our land. We remember that our grandfathers paid for it - with their lives."

Sioux Chiefs Native Photo Art

I decided to to explore some Native photos at the Library of Congress today and came across a beautiful photo by Edward S. Curtis of some Sioux Chiefs, taken sometime between 1900-10. I wanted to do some digital editing, since that is one of my passions, because I loved the photo so much.

Sioux Chiefs

(Clicking on the photo's title will take you to its location at the Library of Congress.)

According to The Great Sioux Nation page of the Snow Owl website, for the Sioux, the title of Chief was earned for outstanding performance during times of war or peace. It was considered an honorary title. The Sioux people traditionally ruled by a unanimous vote of a council of Chiefs, rather than by one "elected" leader. Decisions of the council were meant to guide the people, rather than to dictate or command them.

You can read more about the great Sioux Nation by clicking on the link below, which will take you to the Snow Owl website's page on the Sioux people.

The Great Sioux Nation

Tecumseh - Give Thanks

When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. 

Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. 

If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.

~ Tecumseh

Map of the Tribal Nations

A new Map of the Tribal Nations has been created by Aaron Carapella, an Oklahoma native who is of Cherokee and European ancestry. Carapella's map was over a decade in the making, having spent approximately 14 years of study and research to create an accurate representation of how each original Nation looked before contact with non-indigenous people.

This map is truly a testament and tribute to each Native American nation and their unique and original place in the history of North America. Carapella's map documents every known Native American tribe that was in the Unite States in Pre-Columbian times in the approximate year of 1490. All of the nations are documented in their original locations, before the European invasion affected their movement and displacement. And most of the names are given in their own language, rather than the names given by Europeans or other tribes.

Carapella says that this map is "a tribute to all of those forgotten tribes whose names had been lost to the wind, but who live in the hearts and minds of modern-day Native Americans, who managed to survive largest full-scale holocaust in man's history. We also honor the indigenous Nations of this land by giving them ownership of their names for themselves."

To purchase your own copy of this thorough and well-researched map of Native American Nations, please visit Carapella's website below:

Map of Our Tribal Nations

There you can find more information about the map, photos, news stories, and more. You can also download a small PDF version of the map, or purchase one of several full size 35x52" paper versions.