A. Prehistory and the first Americans: Archaeology and History
a. Paleolithic age
b. Population
c. Everyday life: food, shelter, fire, customs and culture
d. The first peoples of this area
B. Discussion of History: use text and associated research materials for background
a. Who were and who are the Leni Lenape Indians? (We may want to consider a field trip to the Museum of Natural History to supplement our introductory material)
b. What do they look like?
i. Look at the physical appearance section in the text
ii. More pictures will be added
iii. Face painting for the ceremony at the end of the course section will mirror what is viewed in the pictures (combine with art classes?)
c. How do they dress?
d. Marriage, divorce, hygiene, babies, birth, education discussion
e. Do a comparative study and analysis of Lenape government and a current political system such as the US
f. Compare how they treated their elders and how we treat our elders in current American society
g. We need to have ongoing creative input from students through writing, artistic work, craftsmanship and self-assessment that brings the Leni Lenape to life.
During the first week we will demonstrate the use of everyday tools and implements as an introduction. At the beginning of our process students will be divided into phratries or clans. Traditionally, the three clans of the Lenape are the Turtle, Wolf and Turkey. Each clan will create a logo and letter style that represents their clan. They will also write a description of what their clan names mean and an explanation of their particular animal totems, their habits and habitats. We might ask: Why did they use animal names for clans? What is a clan and why have them? What are the unwritten laws of the clan? Do we have any kind of social organization today that resembles a clan structure? How do families and clans work together? (Please answer all these questions based on local native peoples).
At this time each student will take an Indian name. See discussion of names in text on page 18. The students will also design and draw or paint their name and speak about why they selected that particular name and what it has to do with their personality and life in general.
We will also be creating “medicine pouches”. These will be sewn by the students now so that throughout the course they will be collecting and placing important objects in the pouch. Toward the end of the course they will write about or discuss why they placed these particular objects in the medicine pouch. See pictures on page 11 of the text of two Lenape men wearing medicine pouches around their necks. Materials and tools required for pouches: leather or suede, rawhide strips, awls, beads, feathers, scissors. Please refer to Epoch I for more skills reference.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgeQ5B-7YBU&hl=en_US&fs=1&]