Northwest Coast Native Americans

Northwest Coast Native Americans

Students viewed the video "Smart One" about the work of Northwest Coast Indian, Bob Dempsey. We learned more by using the CD computer software "Totem Poles"

In order to interpret the designs, you have to know the stories, yourself, your people, and nature. To be an artist, you have to know all those things. That is why our people say our designs and blankets are very special.~Dempsey Bob, Tlingit artist

NOTE: Most of these links are broken. Email me if you need a lesson on line for your students.

1.	This is an extensive site for the Columbia Museum of Civilizations--come back later to see more of what is has to offer. You could spend hours and not see it all! Tell one area you might want to learn more about. Be sure to study the Native Groups - See what you can find about the Pacific Coast Peoples. I found the watercolors of Gordon Miller interesting-- Read about the "Trickster". Look at the painting called "Potlatch" of the Tlingit people http://www.civilization.ca/index1e.html Find out more about the "Potlatch" --See a "Potlatch" box for gifting- a wooden box with carvings. Members of the Chilkat tribe of the Tlingit would have worn a Chilkat blanket or tunic like those picture here to the potlatch. Learn more about these blankets from Evelyn Vanderhoop - Haida textile weaver http://www.conexus.si.edu/vanderhoop_e/toc/index.htm Compare the art of the Tlingit to the art of the Haida. Look at "Hosting the Feast". Study this image of a bentwood tray. See more bentwood boxes on this page--click on small picture
2.	Go anywhere you want In the "Grand Hall" Canadian Museum of Civilization. Check on one of the houses you saw in the CD "Totem Poles" from the Lima Public Library. What did you find interesting about the art you selected? http://www.civilization.ca/cmc/cmceng/grandeng.html
3.	Click on the bentwood box to see all sides. How did this short video give you a better understanding of the piece? What now do you see as a disadvantage of only using the Internet to learn about the art of a culture? http://www.civilization.ca/cmc/cmceng/gh12eng.html
4.	View the Transformation mask. If you click on the mask, you can get a better look. What is the meaning of the mask? What other views of the mask would you like to see? http://www.civilization.ca/cmc/cmceng/gh13eng.html
5.	Find about any of the Poles on this page. Which one did you select and why? Briefly describe it. http://www.civilization.ca/cmc/cmceng/gh06eng.html
6.	Who are "People of the Salmon"? Read about the "Story of Raven". Why is Raven an important symbol to the people. How do you suppose they earned the name "People of the Salmon"? http://www.civilization.ca/cmc/cx/cxs01eng.html
7.	See the work of artist, Davey Stephens, who does contemporary traditional art in several tribal styles. http://www.northwest-coast-art.com/htm/fsp_tribsty.htm What did you find interesting in the Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl) carving? What did you find interesting in the Tlingit carving? How did Davey Stephens get interested in North West Coast art? Are you interested in reading more about Northwest Coast art? Check for books from this list.
8.	West Coast Native Indian Art incorporates the use of design and legends to create a unique look unique any other art form in the world. Find out the meaning of some of their symbols. http://www.northwest-connection.com/symbols.htm
9	See the work of Israel Shotridge-Tlingit carver. Tell about the symbols in one of his carvings. http://www.shotridgestudios.com/totems1.htm
10.	News Flash! Stolen art! See if you can find out more about some of these images. Do some surfing to find out about the creator, the meanings and the truth to this announcement. What do you suppose the value of the theft might be? What purpose could the thief/thieves have had? Do you think there is a market for stolen native American art?
11.	The Seattle Museum invites you to explore Northwest Coast First Peoples Art. click on any of their links. Special software is needed for the panorama views. Educational online videos. Take the tour --Kids Tour of NW Coast Exhibit. You may use the Docent Tour for more study. http://www.SeattleArtMuseum.org/Exhibitions/general/Exhibit.htm
	To the Totem Forests Emily Carr and Contemporary artists interpret coastal villages. http://collections.ic.gc.ca/totems/exhibit/index.htm
12.	These next two sites are to be done with your parents. Discuss some of the environmental concerns of the Northwest Coast Native Americans
13.	Review the speech given by Chief Seattle with your parents. This speech is at the heart of the issues that still divide the Indian race and Euro-Americans today. Why do the Indians feel the way they do? What, if anything, could be done to bridge the gap that still exists today? Visit National Museum of the American Indian to learn more about our indigenous people. Essay on NW Coast Maskmaking by Margaret Cumming
Come back later for more inquiry into these proud people!

[African American Art]