Series II

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Lesson 2#             Saskatchewan's First Nations Tipi Pole Values

SUBJECT: Social Studies

TOPIC: Tipi Pole Values

TIME FRAME: 1-3 classes

Critical and Creative thinking - Students' will use their knowledge to develop definitions and examples of the tipi pole values.

Personal and Social Values - Students' will draw on their own experiences to come up with their examples of tipi pole values.

MATERIALS:  Copy of the 'Tipi Pole Values,'  pen, pencil, paper and pictures of tipis.

1. OBJECTIVES:                      Saskatchewan Social Studies Objectives

Cognitive: Students will...

- discuss the art of tipi making to the different values that traditional Plains people lived by.

- demonstrate and define what each pole means and the different value that it represents from the Plains people.

Psychomotor: Students will...

- write their different responses based on their personal experience on the paper provided when discussing the tipi pole values.

Spiritual:  Students will...

- demonstrate respect for the Plains people and their beliefs about the tipi pole values.

- respect the values and traditions that the First Nations people believe and lived by.

2. RESOURCES:

http://gcc.ca/Culture/cree_commission/history.htm
This website contains information on 'values' with respect to Mother Earth.

http://www.mun.ca/rels/native/beothuk/beo_religion.html
This website talks about the Beothuk values and beliefs.

3. PURPOSE/TEACHER BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Tipi poles represents a holistic way of living.  Each pole of the tipi has a special meaning for specific First Nation groups. For example, 'respect' means to respect all life including man, animals and Mother Earth. In order to live a holistic life these values were considered routine guidelines to follow as part of the beliefs of the group.  When these Tipi Pole Values were developed they were derived from the cultural practices held by many First Nations communities.

Obedience              Love                      Thankfulness              Hope

Respect                 Faith                       Sharing                      Ultimate Protection

Humility                 Kinship                   Strength                     Happiness        

Cleanliness             Good Child Rearing

 4. ACTIVITIES/IDEAS:

Have the students' complete an example of the Tipi Pole Values as it relates to their own personal experiences.  For example, discussing the 'respect' value - have the students' think of an example of how they may respect man, animals, or Mother Earth. One response could be;  I respect Mother Earth by not littering and recycling.

(Tipi Poles: Infomajic, 1998)