Overview
Lesson 1: What is storytelling and how it is used to remember traditions
Lesson 2: Stories of the Land (and how it shapes people’s lives)
Lesson 3: European Contact and the Stories of that Era
Lesson 4: Individuals Who Had an Impact on the Tribal Way of Life
Lesson 5: Contemporary stories and why they are important
Standards
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
EL.06.RE.01—Read aloud grade-level narrative text and informational text fluently and accurately with effective pacing, intonation, and expression.
EL.06.SL.02—Match the purpose, message, occasion, and delivery to the audience.
EL.06.SL.03—Organize information using supporting details, reasons, descriptions, and examples.
EL.06.SL.08—Use effective rate, volume, pitch, and tone, and align non-verbal elements, including eye contact, to sustain audience interest and attention.
CD Segments to Play
Background
Although many stories exist about times long ago, contemporary stories of today also are a part of oral traditions. Sometimes these stories use themes and lessons from the past to emphasize what is important today.
The people of Warm Springs recognize that the huckleberries and other berries have always been an important part of a healthy diet. The huckleberries are considered to be one of the most important spiritual and cultural resources on the reservation. Drawing from this knowledge of the past, the people of Warm Springs still tell stories about the huckleberry as a way to remember and to encourage restoration of traditional huckleberry fields.
Songs are also stories. Traditional Warm Springs singers and drummers still remember songs they were taught by their ancestors. These songs and the traditions surrounding the songs tell of respect, honor, responsibility and pride. These are important lessons that have been carried from a time long ago into the present.
ASK THE WARM SPRINGS REVIEW GROUP ABOUT A MODERN DAY STORY
Suggested Strategies
Activities
Share
Devote a class period to listening to the family stories the students have researched. Ask the following questions:
What family member tells the story most often?
Why is that particular story important to the family?
Is there a lesson to be learned from the story?
Will you tell this story to other people?
Reflect
Ask the class if they have a story about some adventure they’ve had and would that story be something they would tell to other people? Why?
Select a few representative responses from the class and have them tell that story to the class.
THIS ACTIVITY WILL BE BASED ON A MODERN-DAY WARM SPRINGS STORY.
Vocabulary
ancestor
tradition
cultural
contemporary
EXTENDING THE LESSON/REFERENCES
On library day, have the students check out a book about Indian tribal stories. If book reports are required, this would be a good time for class members to practice storytelling by summarizing the book to the class.
Arrange a field trip to a local museum that has displays of Indian tribal history. Have the class write a report about what they see.
Check with the local ESD to see if there are films about American Indians, and especially films that are stories of the tribes.
Invite a member of the Warm Springs to visit the class.
Websites
Information about Celilo Falls
http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/ohq/105.2/fisher.html
ASK WARM SPRINGS REVIEW GROUP IF THIS IS ACCEPTABLE
Indian Reading Series
http://www.nwrel.org/indianed/indianreading/1/book01.pdf
ASK WARM SPRINGS REVIEW GROUP TO SUGGEST OTHER APPROPRIATE SITES
