Grades 9 – 12 Musical Arts – Honoring the Nez Perce: Overview

Overview

	BASED UPON WISDOM OF THE ELDERS RADIO: SERIES 3, PROGRAM 3 Lesson plan written by Dr. Don Addison, Ph.D. Historical Introduction: Read the transcript Arlie Neskahi, in an interview with Nez Perce tribal member, Diane Malliken, discusses the Nez Perce encounter with the Lewis and Clark Expedition and more recent tribal history. Elder Wisdom: Read the transcript Brian Bull introduces us to Horace Axtell, the spiritual leader of the Nez Perce tribe, who has experienced reconciliation and friendship with his father, and has contributed to the recovery of his peoples’ spiritual practices. Speaking Native: Read the transcript Don Addison speaks of the Nimiipuu language as a member of the Sahaptian language family which is spoken in Idaho and eastern parts of Washington and Oregon. Nimiipuu is related to languages spoken by neighboring Yakama and Umatilla peoples. Sacred Landscape: Read the transcript Judy Bluehorse Skelton speaks to us about the many gifts of the cedar tree which was used for basket making, medicine and other uses. She tells of a personal experiencing of gathering bark from a forest soon to be logged, and then sharing the bark, along with its story, with her students. Tribal Rhythms: Read the transcript Nico Wind tells us of the wax cylinder collection recorded between 1909 and 1912 by a Nez Perce Indian named Sam Morris, or Horse Blanket which preserved the traditional music of the Nez Perce. This collection was recently restored by Ethnomusicologist Loran Olsen for the tribe and others. Health and Healing: Read the transcript Rose High Bear features Valerie Albert who promotes the tribe’s exercise and health program at the Nimiipuu health clinic in Lapwai, Idaho. An enthusiastic warrior in the battle against diabetes, Valerie introduces us to a cheerful woman named Karen Zachary, who has struggled with diabetes for more than twenty years. Artists Circle: Read the transcript Bruce Crespin shares the stories of Nez Perce artist Kevin Peters who lives and works as a curator and park interpreter at the Nez Perce National Historic Park in Spalding, Idaho, and is devoted to reviving traditional arts of flute- playing and flute-making. Turtle Island Storytellers: Read the transcript Tribal storyteller Allen Pinkham takes us on a journey with coyote, sharing with us the creation story of his people who once lived and still live along Idaho’s Clearwater River.


	GUIDING QUESTIONS Why are songs sung? INSTRUCTOR ANSWER: To convey lessons on good human qualities to emulate, sometimes to pray, sometimes to honor various peoples, animals, etc. Why do the Nez Perce dance? INSTRUCTOR ANSWER: To pray as a community, to keep close to Mother Earth and honor the land, and maintain honored cultural traditions from the past Why are old Nez Perce recordings important? INSTRUCTOR ANSWER: They represent how the songs were actually sung and sounded at an earlier time in history and how Native music today in some respects retains much of those historical characteristics and in other aspects, have changed What arts were most prominent before the coming of the Europeans? INSTRUCTOR ANSWER: Music, dance, storytelling, beadwork, painting, drawing, weaving, etc. Which arts remain and are being preserved? INSTRUCTOR ANSWER: Music, dance, storytelling, beadwork, painting, drawing, weaving, etc. Why is preservation of music and dance important to Native people? INSTRUCTOR ANSWER: It represents culture that survives in today’s world which is a metaphor for the survival of Native Americans as a whole in spite of many forces that tried to wipe out indigenous peoples in the USA Why is it important that students pass this knowledge on to their younger siblings and friends? INSTRUCTOR ANSWER: To maintain praiseworthy human virtues, spiritual life styles (in contrast to materialism, commercialism, etc.), time-tested cultural principles, aspects of individual and community life that distinguish the Nez Perce from other peoples and give them an identity and a culture they can enjoy in the future as well.		SUBJECT AREAS Music Literature Dance Spirituality (distinct from organized religion) History SKILLS Research Writing Analysis Oral skills Interpretation Creativity Learning Objectives Upon completion of the activities and lessons, students will: Understand basic forms of traditional and contemporary Nez Perce music Nez Perce concepts of veterans and elders who teach the people Nez Perce values, past and present, regarding respect for the oral tradition Be able to distinguish stereotypes and how to overcome them Be able to help others overcome stereotypes Learn to sing and dance from a students’ own cultural background and interest Understand why creative and musical arts traditions are valuable, why they should be preserved, how they can be preserved, and how they tell us important messages about virtues and character traits that are important. LESSONS: Lesson 1: Experience—Day One Lesson 2: Study—Day Two Lesson 3: Study (Continued)—Day Three Lesson 4: Performance—Day Four Lesson 5: Performance—Day Five