Enduring Understandings

Estimated Time:

Two class periods

Materials needed:

• Alaska's Cultures Unit Narrative
• Also see www.akart.org

Lesson Plan:

• The Yupiit Mask Exhibit illustrates the national interest in Alaska Native art. Entitled, Agayalivaraput (our way of making prayer). Audio and video segments are a part of the exhibit.
  
  
• The on line text by Corbett and Swibold contains a chapter "Response: Struggles to Survive Culturally." This chapter is a part of the book the
  Aleuts of Pribilof Islands, Alaska
  and can be accessed through:
  www.amiq.org/people.html
  The text is relatively short and gives students a context within which to discuss the notions of cultural renaissance and cultural preservation.
  
  
• Students might also be directed to the web sites of the regional corporations (included with AK Natives as Economic Leaders) as some of these sites have information on the art of the region and also on the cultural preservation projects. Often, this information can be accessed through the 'foundation' buttons. Read, for example, about the cultural preservation work of the Bering Straits Corporation or the Aqqaluk Trust on the NANA web site. Discuss with the students: What does the term 'cultural preservation' mean? What does the term 'cultural renaissance' mean? What are some cultural preservation projects on which you found information? What is the status of Alaska Native languages today?
  
  
• The artistic expression of Alaska Natives is a rich area to explore and students might be invited to select, according to their interests, from a variety of web sites that represent different types of artistry. (See Alaska Native Artistic Expression Web Site List)

Alaska Standards:

Culture: A, B, E
History: A, B, C, D
AK History: AH. PPE 3

Assessment: