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Native
Oral History and Marine Resources
Duration: 1-hour
class time; one week for research.
Grade: 4th - 8th
Goals:
Alaska Natives share their culture through oral history.
This lesson will give students an opportunity to take part
in this tradition.
Objectives: Students
will be able to…
- Demonstrate
oral communication skills;
- Develop questions
for interviews;
- Use library,
Internet, or other resources to research information;
- Write letters
using correct sentence structure, grammar, and spelling.
Standards:
English / Language Arts: A-1, A-3, A-6, B-1, B-3, E-1, E-4
Geography: B-1, B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, D-5, E-4
Materials:
Resource materials on Native cultures that depend on marine
resources and oral histories that refer to the role of the
ocean in their lives.
Introduction:
Native oral histories have been shared for hundreds, even
thousands of years. These stories have been told by many
different groups of people, so therefore some have different
written versions. Teachers may obtain copies of some of
these through school or public libraries as well as by contacting
the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Alaska Native
Heritage Center. (need web-address)
Activity:
Choose a Native story and read it out loud to the class.
Students should listen carefully because you will ask them
to repeat the most important parts of the story once you
are through. Have students re-tell the story one at a time.
This will demonstrate their listening and communication
skills. If possible, invite someone to your class from a
local native group to speak or bring your class on a visit
to native history museum.
Questions related to oral histories:
1. Who are the main characters?
2. What is the plot or theme of the story?
3. What type(s) of marine resources do they mention?
4. How are they using those resources?
5. What did they do that was surprising?
6. What does this story tell you about why marine animals
are important to Alaskan Natives?
Wrap-up: Students should be able discuss
the following…
1. What are some of the advantages of passing information
through oral tradition?
2. Do oral traditions exist in other cultures today?
3. Why do we depend on oral histories to learn more about
Native cultures?
4. How could oral histories be useful to (or used by) scientists
studying Alaskan marine species?
5. Did you learn anything new about Alaska Natives or marine
animals from the story? Why or why not?
Extension:
Students can research how native people used natural resources.
Are there still people there that depend on animals for
subsistence?
Students should research this information
by using the following tools:
1. Internet
2. Library (to view old newspapers, books, etc.)
3. Local historical society/museum.
Students may want to research their own family
history and relationship with the ocean. Parents, extended
family, grandparents can be interviewed to identify family
history and traditions including vacations, military service,
jobs that involve marine resources or transportation.
Once students have completed this research
they should create a chant, dance or song to "tell"
the story. This can be performed for the class.
Invite an Alaska Native elder to speak to
your class.
