Pauline Duncan's Tlingit Curriculum Resources - Books

We have a Release Agreement online which gives us permission to copy and distribute resources for educational purposes only.

An Alaskan Herring Spawn
10 Sitka Herring

 

 

 

by: Pauline Duncan, Sitka, Alaska © May 2001

Students Cultural Standards met;
A-1 Practice their traditional responsibilities to the surrounding environment.
C-1 Perform subsistence activities that are appropriate to local cultural traditions.
E-8 Identify and appreciate who they are and their place in the world.

Educators Cultural Standards met:

A-4 Provide opportunities for students to learn through observation and hands-on demonstration of cultural knowledge of skills.
A-6 Involve themselves in learning about the local cultures.
B-1 Regularly engages students in appropriate activities.
B-3 Provide integrated learning activities, organized around themes of local significance and across subject areas.
B-5 Seek to ground all teaching in a constructive process, built on a local cultural foundation.

Curriculum Cultural Standards met:
A-5 Provides opportunities for students to study all subjects starting from a base in the local knowledge system.

Community Cultural Standards met:

C-5 Provides opportunities for all community members to acquire and practice the appropriate knowledge and skills associated with local cultural traditions.
D-3 Adopts the adage, "It takes the whole village to raise a child."
E-2 Encourages teachers to make use of facilities and expertise in the community to demonstrate that education is a community-wide process, involving everyone as teachers.
E-4 Attempts to articulate the cultural knowledge, values and beliefs that it wishes teachers to incorporate into the school curriculum.
F-1 takes an active part in the development of the mission, goals and content of the local educational program.

Alaska Standards for Culturally Responsive Schools,
published by the Alaska Native Knowledge Network, 1998.

Alaska Standards

Mathematics

A-2 Select and use appropriate systems, units, and tools of measurement, including estimation.
A-4 Represent, analyze, and use mathematical patterns, relations and functions, using methods such as tables, equations, and graphs.
B-6 Use common sense to help interpret results.
B-7 Apply what was learned to new situations.
B-8 Use mathematics with confidence.
C-1 Express and represent mathematical ideas using oral and written presentations, physical materials, pictures, graphs, charts, and algebraic expressions.
E-2 Use mathematics in daily life.
E-3 Use mathematics in other curriculum areas.

English/Language Arts

B-1 Comprehend meaning from written text and oral and visual information by applying a variety of reading, listening and viewing strategies; these strategies include phonic, context, and vocabulary cues in reading, critical viewing, and active listening.
E-1 Use information, both oral and written, and literature of many types and cultures to understand self and others.

Science
A-7 Understand how the earth changes because of plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, erosion and deposition, and living things. (process that shape the earth)
A-15 Use science to understand and describe the local environment.
D-1 Apply scientific knowledge and skills to understand issues and everyday events.

Government and Citizenship
C-4 Understand the importance of the historical and current roles of Alaska Native communities.
E-1 Know the important characteristics of citizenship
G-5 Understand how jobs are created and their role in the economy.

  

 

The Sitka Herring Spawn

A book about Sitka, Alaska's Herring Spawn.

 

Listen to Tlingit Numbers

Tlingit numbers you will learn to count!

1 Tléix'	2 Déix
3 Nás'k	4 Daax'oon
5 Keiji'n	6 Tleidooshú
7 Daxadooshú	8 Nas' gadooshú
9 Gooshúk	10 Jinkaat

 

Tlingit Creatures

Tlingit ocean creatures you will get to know!

 *Singular-Yaaw *Plural Yaaw'x

Salmon	Xáat	Crab	S'aaw
Sea Lion	Taan	Bull Head	Wéix
Halibut	Cháatl	Devil Fish	Ná akw
Eel	Lóot'	Red Snapper	Leik'w
Shark	Tóos'

The herring spawn is an important cultural event of Sitka and other native communities of Alaska, that usually occurs in March or April. Just before the spawn, mother nature sends out many signals to let everyone know that the herring are on the way. The eagles, sea gulls and ravens can be seen all over the area on trees, beaches and out on the water. Sea life is very apparent, with the sea lions, seals and whales, all visible and ready to take their share of herring. During this time, one can never predict the weather. One minute the sun is out, and then, suddenly there are showers of rain, or the snow comes down in large feather-like flakes. The spring snow usually melts as soon as it falls to the ground. The natives believe that nature is helping the herring by getting the temperature of the water just right so the herring will spawn. Written records corrobaroate the oral history and document the history of herring spawn harvest by Tlingits living in the Sitka Sound area or coming from home communities for the harvest. (Kookesh,Schroeder, October 1989) Marchand visited Sitka as part of his 1790-92 voyage (Fleurieu, 1969) and wrote; The principle food of the natives of Tchinkitanay (Sitka) is fish, fresh or smoked, the dried spawn of fish,of which they make a sort of cake, and the flesh of the animals that they kill. Captain Richard Cleveland visited Sitka Sound on a trading voyage in 1799. He mentioned two groups of indians present in the sound on April 2 (Dearmond).. The following morning, the natives came soon after daylight and began without hesitation to dispose of these furs to us.... Our linguist recognized them to be the Hoodsnahoo tribe (Kootznahoo Inlet or Angoon Tlingit), who had come thus early to the coast to get a supply of the spawn of a certain fish (herring) which constitutes their principal food in the spring of the year. As this tribe had attacked the cutter last year, alone, we thought it not improbable that. now that they were united with the Norfolk Sound tribe (refers to Tlingits in Sitka Sound), they might determine to make another attempt.

Krause arrived on a field trip to Sitka on April 25,1882 and reported, Everywhere along the beach I see fisheggs (herring eggs) being dried on strings hung up between poles. Some fisheggs are spread on rocks and cloths (Krause 1883xxx) In April the herring come to the shores in countless numbers to spawn, depositing their eggs in the sea grass,rockweed, and on the bushes hanging in the water. At this time the Indians plant hemlock twigs at the lowwater mark, where they become covered with spawn,after which they are gathered in canoe loads. The spawn is heaped upon the twigs, to which it adheres in grapelike clusters, which are sometimes called "Alaska grapes," and is consumed by the natives in large quantities,either fresh or dried, and cooked as occasion demands, and for winter use. Usually it is eaten with rancid oil, which is the sauce that goes with all their delicacies,even the berries. (Moser 1899) Now, sad to say, the herring spawn has turned into a commercial venture for a limited number of permit holders with large boats, the majority of which are not from Sitka, and many that are not even from Alaska. The news media and other agencies have shifted the focus from a cultural celebration to how much money the herring will be worth on the foreign market. When the commercial herring fishing started in Sitka, the quota was usually picked up in less than an hour. In more recent years, however, sometimes the fishing will last for a week or longer and still not catch what they used to in that hour. Before it became a commercial venture there was herring spawn all over the beaches. The eggs were so thick one could barely walk through them. To prevent over-fishing, agencies were monitoring other areas; Juneau, Ka Shakes, and Ketchikan. Even so. these areas are now closed to herring fishers, due to a decline in the spawn.

   Click on image for a big graphic
Listen to Tlingit 10 Sitka Herring

Gathering Herring Eggs 1) Go out and cut down hemlock trees. (Be sure to thank the tree for giving itself.) 2) Set the tree out in the water with an anchor. 3) When lowering the tree, give thanks to the herring for providing your family and friends with this special food. 4) Leave the tree 1-3 days (depending on how many eggs you would like on the branch. 5) Lift the trees onto the boat, cut up the branches and take home.   Eggs can be dried, salted, or frozen.   To Dry Eggs; Put branches with the eggs attached up on a tree to dry. Bring the branches inside in the evening to prevent them collecting dewdrops. Continue bringing out or putting in a covered area until eggs are dried. When drying process is complete, eggs can be stored in an airtight container or card board box.  For Salted Herring Eggs; In a wooden barrel or container, put alternate layers of salt and herring egg branches. Eggs can be stored for a long time. When ready to eat the eggs, rinse out the salt and cook as if there were fresh.  Frozen Herring Eggs; Herring eggs are cut into smaller portions and put into freezer. Herring eggs will stay up to a year in the freezer. When ready to eat the eggs, thaw out in a bucket of salt water from the ocean. (Thawing out in salt water helps the eggs to thaw out faster and if the eggs have sand in them, it will soak out of the eggs while thawing. Cooking Herring Eggs; Heat-up water (not boiling), dip herring eggs and branches into the water and take right out. Eggs are ready to eat. Serve with melted butter, seal, eulachon oil, or soy sauce. Save leftovers to eat cold or in a herring egg salad. Herring Facts; There are 180 species of herring Average size is 9-18 inches Male releases milt to fertilize eggs Herring spawn every year Herring are very important to the food chain Average number of eggs released by a single herring is 20,000. They are blue-green on the upper body They spawn during spring Eggs hatch in 2 weeks Herring migrate in schools

 

 

 

Use Your 5 Senses During The Sitka Herring Spawn

Sensory Awareness

Sight-See the white brine on the surface of the water. Look at all the boats, waiting.
See the planes and helicopters watching overhead.
Sound-Listen to the sea gulls, eagles and ravens speaking aloud. Airplanes are flying.
Boats are busy checking out the spawn. Cars are driving to go out to see the spawn.
Families are laughing and visiting with one another.
Smell-The smell of salt water, fish smell aroma all over the beach and close to the village. The smell of herring cooking. Yum!
Taste-Herring eggs taste crunchy, salty, and slippery.
The herring tastes like trout, but better. The meat is soft and sweet.
Touch-Slippery, slimy, trees are sharp, hemlock needles are soft. Boat is hard.

What season of the year does the spawn usually occur?

 

4 Seasons in Tlingit	Circle Your Answer Summer Fall Winter Spring

 

From the story "10 Sitka Herring", write an action word for each word below.

Salmon		Crab
Sealion		Halibut
Eel		Shark
Bullhead		Devil Fish
Red Snapper		Herring

 

 

Recommended Cultural Activities;

Word Box

An- A-s

Eagle	Raven	People	Jet	Children	Whales	Water
Planes	Sea gulls	Crows	Cars

Sit quietly on the beach. List the sounds that you hear.	Sit and observe a tide pool. List what you see.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.	1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

With a thermometer, take the temperature of;

1. Tide pool water temperature is ________ degrees.

2. Down by the waterline the water temperature is _______ degrees.

3. The outside temperature today is ________ degrees.

4. The river that flows into the ocean nearby is ________ degrees.

 

With a magnifying glass, sit and study the sand. Answer the following;

1. What Color is most of the sand?
2. What other Colors do you see in it?
3. Is it smooth or grainy?
4. Is it shiny or dull?
5. What does it smell like?

During low tide, go down to the beach and find loose floating seaweed. Bring back to class to sort by color. How many different colors did you find? List them.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Dry seaweed in class for future use as a seaweed print. Seaweed Drying Tips; Thin the seaweed out and press on waterproof paper. Set heavy weight on top of print and let dry overnight. Next day laminate and write a poem to go with your seaweed print. Be sure to put date, found on Sitka Beach (what beach), and your name. Remember! Seaweed is also GOOD to eat!! Yummy! And... so pretty! Colors; red, black, and green!

Make a list of words that begins with the letter "H".

1.	6.
2.	7.
3.	8.
4.	9.
5.	10.

Comprehension
Do you remember? Write yes or no.

1. Herring travels in schools?
2. Birds do not eat fish.
3. Herring eggs are healthy and good to eat.
4. Spruce trees are used for the herring to lay their eggs on.
5. The Herring Spawn is the same as it was 100 years ago.
6. Herring is good to eat.
7. Herring eggs can be bought in a grocery store
8. The herring are important to the food chain.

 

Word Box

Sea Anemone	Heart Cockle	Bullheads	Sea Lemon	Geoduck
Starfish Blue	Mussel Black	Chiton	Crab	Top Snail
Small Brittle Star	Barnacle

Draw six creatures in the boxes below. Write their name below.

__________________________	__________________________	__________________________
__________________________	__________________________	__________________________

Word Box

Cannery Worker	Biologist	Boat Pilot	Law Enforcement Officer
Captain Crew Member	Subsistence Gatherer	Fisherman	News Reporter

Draw and list 6 occupations that you observed during the herring spawn.

 

__________________________	__________________________	__________________________
__________________________	__________________________	__________________________

This book was created by Pauline Duncan, any other use or reproduction is forbidden without consent. 

Pauline is a first grade teacher at Baranof School, in Sitka, Alaska. An Alaska native, herself, Pauline was concerned about the loss of her language, so she set about finding a way to stimu-late an interest in learning the language in her own classroom. Pauline has been able to do all this work with the support and help of her husband, Al Duncan. Al is a fluent speaker and is the son of Peter and Emma Duncan, formerly of Excursion Inlet. Al, a native, was born and raised in Alaska.

~ ~ ~

If you work with children and would like a listing of other available educational material, write to or call;

Pauline Duncan, 721 Lake Street, Sitka, AK 99835, or call 1-907-747-6987

 

Listen to The Herring Spawn in Tlingit

THE HERRING SPAWN SITKA CHILDREN AWAKE AT DAWN, TO SEE IF TODAY THE HERRING WILL SPAWN. EXCITEMENT IS IN THE AIR, AS FISHING BOATS COME IN FROM EVERYWHERE. THE WATER TEMPERATURE HAS TO BE JUST SO FOR THE HERRING ROE TO GROW. THE WIND, SNOW, SUN, AND RAIN, COME AND GO AS THE FOG HORN STEADILY BLOWS. THE SCENT OF FRESH HERRING FRYING IS IN THE AIR, AS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SIT DOWN TO SHARE. SEAGULLS CRY WITH EXCITEMENT AT THIS GREAT EVENT. THEY KNOW THAT SOON ALL THEIR TIME WILL BE WELL SPENT. SEAL AND SEA LIONS SIT WITH GLEE, AS THEY WATCH HERRING COME IN FROM THE SEA. WHALES COME TO SITKA IN SOUTHEAST, TO JOIN IN THIS GREAT HERRING EGG FEAST. THE OCTOPUS. HALIBUT, AND SALMON, CANNOT BE LEFT OUT OF THE FUN. THEY JOIN EVERYONE AS THE HERRING EGG SEASON STARTS ITS RUN. RAVENS SAY "KA, KA, KA," AS THEY SIT AND VIEW THE HERRING IN AWE. EAGLES SOAR AND SIT ON TREES AND EAT AS MUCH HERRING AS THEY PLEASE. THE HEMLOCK TREES SIT IN A GRAND AND MAJESTIC STANCE AS NATIVES VIEW IT FOR THEIR SUBSISTENCE CIRCUMSTANCES. THE HEMLOCK BRANCH IS PLACED IN THE WATER FOR HERRING SPAWN ON. THE HERRING WILL SPAWN AND SPAWN UNTIL THEY'RE READY TO MOVE ON. THE HEMLOCK BRANCH AND KELP ARE CAREFULLY PICKED UP TO EAT. FAMILY AND FRIENDS EXCLAIM, "WHAT A TREAT!" THE HERING EGGS ARE DIPPED IN SEAL AND EULACHEN OIL, AND NOT ONE HERRING EGG IS ALLOWED TO SPOIL. IN SITKA, A LONG TIME AGO YOU WOULD SEE HERRING HEMLOCK BRANCHES AND KELP DRYING IN THE SUN. THIS WAS THE WAY PRESERVING WAS DONE. FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS, THE HERRING HAS BROUGHT NATIVES MUCH TO EAT. WITHOUT THE HERRING, THE NATIVE SUBSISTENCE YEAR WOULD BE INCOMPLETE. I TOLD YOU THE RAIN, WIND, SUN, AND SNOW HELPED THE HERRING ROE TO GROW. THE HERRING EGG STORY STARTED A LONG, LONG TIME AGO. ©Created by Pauline Ducan, Sitka, Alaska. Reproduction of words or poster is forbidden

©February 2001; Children of The Tidelands Series, Reproduction forbidden with written consent

 

Return to Pauline Duncan's Tlingit Materials 

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, educational institution, and provider is a part of the University of Alaska system. Learn more about UA's notice of nondiscrimination.