Presentation by Sharon Meyer NESD FNMI
With a partner use 4 stick notes Label each sticky note with one item that First Nation people used for everyday pre-contact lifestyle
Traditional Art Ceremonial and Spiritual Art Utilitarian Art Contemporary Art Woodland Art Pop Art Refer to notes for examples of Items in each category
Items made from pre-contact materials and used for everyday purposes Wood flute Birch Bark Moose Call Clay pot Firing clay pots and bowls Plants were traditional medicine Making a primitive style clay pot 4:12
What could you make with your materials? Stone hammer Snowsnake Talking stick Bushcraft- Rock Axe & Knife 3:11 (This video demonstrates how to make a tool using items from Mother Earth)
Animals were here before humans and animals taught us how to survive on Turtle Island – The buffalo was our superstore – food, shelter, clothing, tools, etc. The buffalo was also our teacher - for example Buffalo formed a circle when being attacked and that process was used by the First Nation people in setting up the tipi village in a circle. Home made bone neck knife….cutting test 2:08
Robe paintings were picture stories recording special events for historical purposes Native American Hide Painting 1:53
Symbols had significant meanings and in contemporary art it continues to have symbolic meaning Artist Spotlight: “Shields” by James Little Wounded 1:11
Porcupine Plain students created a legend using symbols
Another example of a student story using symbols Mike McLeod – How to Paint on a Buffalo Robe 8:14
Carvings in rock LP Miller – Miss Lukoni students used clay to create raised petroglyph style art Sloan Canyon Petroglyphs Nevada Native American Rock Art Drawing [HD] 3:52 (can fast forward to 1:40)
Paintings on rock Choiceland students painted Symbols on rocks Buckhorn Draw Pictograph Panel / Rock Art / Petroglyph / San Rafael Swell In South-Central Utah 3:40
What other materials could you use to create your own Inukshuk? The Inukshuk 1:54
Totem poles are a history of family clans. Animals have symbolic significance. There is a NESD FNMI Totem Pole and Haida Art Bundle Available for further teaching Totem Poles – Talking Trees 2:58 (visual video of totem poles)
Wood Carving *Haida art* 0:38
Birch Bark was also used as a medicinal plant There is a NESD FNMI Birch Bark Biting Bundle available to further learn about birch bark Birch-bark-harvesting-small 0:34
Created your own birch bark biting Norval Morriseau used birch bark paper when he first started drawing WIIGWAASSABAKOON / BIRCH BARK SCROLLS 24:06 (fast forward to 4:00)
Thank you for being a part of this day! Sharon Meyer NESD FNMI (306)