![Lesson 3 : Classroom Potlatch](images/lessonthreehead.gif)
Lesson Concept:
This lesson helps students to experience how a potlatch might
proceed. If possible, enlist the help of members of the
Aboriginal community with this project.
Learning Outcome:
It is expected that students will organize information into
a presentation with a main idea and supporting details.
Lesson Plan:
First, choose a group of students to represent the family of the
host, and a student to be the host of the potlatch. This student
can visit Potlatch: Then and Now and build a copper in the
Copper Game, and choose another student to award the copper to
– this will be the purpose of the potlatch.
Assign specific responsibilities
to groups of students: create the copper to transfer, create
invitations, create or obtain gifts for each person attending,
design ceremonial aspects (create regalia and masks, create
dances), arrange entertainment, create a seating arrangement for
guests (a more complete list can be made from the events listed
below).
The following are notes on some
of the activities, the order of some activities and how they are
traditionally carried out during a potlatch. This information can be modified to suit classroom needs (ie. new
dances must be created):
- seating is in order of
importance, with the host’s family or tribe sitting on the
left hand side, toward the back of the room
- welcoming address by the
speaker (the host does not speak during a potlatch)
- mourning ceremony/dance –
ladies dance
- transfer or sale of copper
- the feast
- food or
feast songs are sung after people have eaten
- red cedar bark ceremony
- pass out cedar bark to guests
- speeches are made while gifts
are brought onto the floor
- gifts are distributed as
guests leave
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