Our Minnesota Community Educator Guides
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The PDF contains a culture snapshot, vocabulary, lesson plan, related videos, extension activities, and additional resources. As well, the download comes with a digital copy of the activity book page that corresponds with the lesson.
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Kathy Denman-Wilke on Ojibwe Culture
Our Minnesota Community:
Pages 3-4
Estimated Lesson Duration
(not including extension activities):
1 hour
CULTURE SNAPSHOT
The state of Minnesota sits on Dakota land. Even though most of the history books written about the early 19th century focus on European explorers and fur traders, the majority of people living in the area that is now known as Minnesota were Ojibwe and Dakota people. Oral history and archeological artifacts show that native communities have been living on the land since 6,000 B.C. Minnesota scholars and traditional Ojibwe accounts place Ojibwe tribes in the state during the late 1600’s with remnants of their early life seen in burial mounds as well as pieces of pottery and metalwork found by archaeologists.
When European settlers came to Minnesota in the 1700’s and 1800’s the Ojibwe had the majority of their territorial land taken from them. In the treaties, the US government promised the Ojibwe money, materials, and resource rights forever. None of these promises were upheld. “By the mid-1860’s much of the once vast domain of this tribe had been transferred to the United States government.” At this time the tribe was forced to live on reservations which negatively impacted their lives and lifestyles in many ways, including loss of cultural traditions and population decline.
Today, there are seven Ojibwe reservations in Minnesota including: Grand Portage, Bois Forte, Red Lake, White Earth, Leech Lake, Fond du Lac, and Mille Lacs. “All seven reservations in Minnesota were originally established by treaty and are considered separate and distinct nations by the United States government. According to a 2013 study and report conducted by the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and Wilder Research, there are currently 41,000 members of the Chippewas tribe living in Minnesota. The total number of “American Indians in Minnesota number 60,916, or 1.1 percent of Minnesota’s total population.”
References:
- Minnesota Historical Society Press: They Chose Minnesota: A Survey of the State’s Ethnic Groups
- MN Indian Affairs Council
- Wilder Foundation’s Minnesota Chippewa Tribe Research
VOCABULARY
American Indian
A member of any of the indigenous peoples of the western hemisphere, especially the United States. (p. 3)
Aspiration
Something that a person wants very much to achieve. (p. 4)
Cradleboard
A wooden frame worn on the back, used by North American Indian women for
carrying an infant. (p. 3)
Descendent
Someone who is related to someone who lived long ago. (p. 3)
Dream Catcher
A small hoop containing a horsehair mesh, or a similar construction of string or yarn, decorated with feathers and beads, believed to give its owner good dreams. Dreamcatchers were originally made by American Indians. (p.3)
LESSON PLANS
Text
(Estimated Activity Duration: 5 minutes)
- Read the Text aloud on page 3.
Activity
(Estimated Activity Duration: 25 minutes, a bit longer if you chose the collage option.)
Dreams are often symbolic of our personal hopes, goals and aspirations. In the space provided on page 4, have students draw pictures that represent things they want to achieve. They can also make a collage in this space by cutting out images from magazines or printed pictures from online. After the pictures or collages are completed, students can share their final products in small groups.
Stating our goals aloud, writing them down, and asking for support are all ways to help us stay on track toward achieving them. To take this activity even further, encourage students to make an action plan that includes three steps to take toward achieving their dreams. Have them identify a person in their life who can help them along the way.
Question
(Estimated Activity Duration: 10 minutes)
“Why is it important for children to dream?”
The question on page 4 prompts children to think about the value of planning ahead, thinking big, and pondering the possibilities of their future. Ask students to write a thoughtful response encompassing both their prior knowledge and the new ideas they explored today.
Illustration
(Estimated Activity Duration: 25 minutes)
- Look at the illustration and ask students: What do you notice about the cradleboard?
- Give children time to color the illustrations.
Discuss as a group:
Why do Ojibwe mothers carry their babies in cradleboards?
Why might a baby feel safe and loved while in a cradleboard?
How does a cradleboard allow a baby to view the world around them?
If a baby was carried into this room on a cradleboard, what might they see and observe?
How do you see families carry their infants?
RELATED VIDEOS
EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
EXTENSION ACTIVITY #1:
Research and write about one of Minnesota’s 11 Indian Tribes.
In Minnesota, there are seven Anishinaabe (Chippewa, Ojibwe) reservations and four Dakota (Sioux) communities. Have students research and report information about the geography, history, tribal information. For a research starting point, visit the Minnesota government website’s list of links to the tribe websites.
EXTENSION ACTIVITY #2:
Create a timeline of Minnesota history.
Have students create a timeline of Minnesota history, dating back centuries before Minnesota officially became a state. For a starting point, see Minnesota Historical Society Resources, including this link about Native Americans in Minnesota.
Teaching Tool Video: Timelines Introduction
(Video duration: 5:32)
This video walks students through how to create and read timelines.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Indians.org – This website is managed by the American Indian Heritage Foundation. The group was established in 1973 “to provide relief services to Indian people nationwide, to build bridges of understanding and friendship between Indian and non-Indian people.” The website has resources including books, articles, and resource directories.
Chippewa Tribe in Minnesota – This site hosts a variety of resources and information points about the Chippewa Tribe in Minnesota including educational, financial, election, employment, and environmental services offered by the tribe.
Native American Cradleboards – This site explains the history and purpose of cradleboards as used by American Indians. There is even a craft listed at the end of the site, teaching how to make your own mini cradleboard!
Minnesota Indian Affairs Council – The Minnesota Indian Affairs Council has a mission to “protect the sovereignty of the eleven Minnesota tribes and ensure the well-being of all American Indian citizens throughout the state of Minnesota.” This website is a central location of information, resources, events, and legislation to work toward attaining these goals.
Twin Cities PBS – The Public Broadcasting System station in the Twin Cities has a collection of videos available for public consumption. Linked here are the search results for American Indians. These videos will add further depth to your knowledge of this Minnesota cultural group, especially the more current events and issues the various American Indian communities face.
