Athabascan Winter Studies
The Dene'
Indigenous People of Interior

Kindergarten Unit

FNSBSD Alaska Native Education
(DRAFT)

Lesson: Host or attend an Athabascan Celebration

Day 10:

Students will demonstrate what they have learned in the Dene' unit by hosting or attending an Athabascan Winter Gathering or Potlatch.

Materials:

Collecting of materials and things made in the Dene' unit

Invitation, passing the word along about the gathering, invite parents, another classroom or across grade levels (this may be a school-wide culmination project and not be done in consecutive order of days)

Arrange for an appropriate space for guests and students

Optional

-request parents to bring celebration goodies

-commercially smoked fish, berries, or frybread

Request a student's grandparent or speaker from ANE resource listing to attend

Any games materials for the games students demonstrate

Drum and beater

Objectives:

Students will participate in a winter gathering/potlatch.

Students will demonstrate activities associated with traditional winter camp and celebrations.

Students will demonstrate general knowledge and respect of traditional and contemporary Athabascan winter activities.

Preparation:

Select and practice song, dance, stories or other things you wish to perform (if more than one class, assign tasks to each class.

You can make it like several houses in a village are preparing to host/attend a gathering)

Coordinating with other building personnel involved

Arrange for preparation of food, space for guests, etc.

Display student work, fish, coloring books, etc.

 Introduction: (set/purpose)

Brainstorm with the students about "who do they invite to parties and holiday celebrations today?" Responses will include: family members, friends, distant relatives, teachers, people from our church or girl/boy scout troops etc.

If this is part of a school-wide or grade level potlatch, explain that they will be attending a celebration and demonstrate/perform some of the games, songs they learned these past two weeks.

If they are the hosts explain that the class will be sending invitations to individuals to attend and see them demonstrate/perform some of the activities they have learned.

 Activity: (input/guided practice)

Determine and assign demonstration or performance groups

Select and practice grade level song and dance

Prepare food for the winter gathering

Prepare area to host the winter gathering

Decorate with paper dolls, tent, language and coloring pages

Recreate or tell one of the stories they have heard

Invite the Elder/Artists or Parents back to share or lead group activities

Review for students information related to:

-What happens at winter camp

-What foods are eaten

-What activities children and adults participate in at winter camp, hunting, trapping, socializing, storytelling, foot races, visiting, etc.

Activity: (closure)

Students will work in a cooperative manner to make necessary preparations to attend or host a small winter gathering with an understanding that winter season activities lead into spring camp related activities.

Activity: (independent practice)

Perform their dance and song for guests at the winter gathering.

Demonstrate their Dene' games and story for guests at the winter gathering

 

SAMPLE INVITATION

 

Introduction
ANE Curriculum Overview
Unit Overview

LESSON ONE	LESSON TWO	LESSON THREE
LESSON FOUR	LESSON FIVE	LESSON SIX
LESSON SEVEN	LESSON EIGHT	LESSON NINE
LESSON TEN	APPENDIX A	APPENDIX B

Athabascan Art Sampler
OCR SCANNED MATERIAL

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