Native American Homes

Reflection:
Having been each assigned a different tribe to look into, we spent a day in class looking at the different Native American homes. There were quite a lot to choose from. We were than given the assignment to pick a house and recreate it using different supplies that were provided. I chose to do the Grasshouse. Upon completing the house, we then had to provide the Tribe that used them, the Location they were often used, and the advantages and disadvantages of the house. It was a great learning experience and quite fun creating the houses.

Artifact:

Lakota Way e-Book

Reflection:
Looking at the twelve virtues of the Lakota, we were assigned to create a page for a e-Book on each virtue. We compared our lives and the Lakota's as well as why each virtue was important. We also were able to create our own definition for each word. After writing everything required for the word, we also had to supply a picture we created for each virtue. The drawings were how we would describe the feeling in imagery. The information and picture were than displayed on their own page and twelve of them created the e-Book, along with a title page and contents page.

Artifact: Humility:

Flags

Reflection:
Having looked closely at the Oceti Sakowin, we, the students, were challenged to create a flag holding meaning that could represent the Oceti Sakowin tribe. It was to be no more than three colors with no extreme designs. It was to be simple enough that a third grader could recreate it. Upon receiving these instructions each student was given the freedom to decide what we believed was important in the Oceti culture. Mine was the red painted hands. It showed respect to their Great Spirit.

Artifact:

Lockboxes

Reflection:
A puzzle that leaves a person guessing would be a lockbox. The individual who creates it can decide how tough they wish it to be. A lockbox can be digital or realistic. To challenge our knowledge and computer skills, our Professor created a very tough digital Lockbox. It was over everything we were learning in class as well as how well we could hunt for new information. It was quite stressful because it became a race for the prize promised at the end of completing each lock. It was a great activity that challenges the mind while proving what knowledge a person knows.

Artifact:

Nine Reservations

Reflection:
Looking at South Dakota only, there are nine reservations in total. In order to better understand how the Oceti Sakowin, the class took an opportunity to look closely at how the government stole Native American land, forcing them into smaller locations. Due to the government's rudeness, many were forced from their homelands, having to adapt to new surroundings and ways of living. Often times the land they ended up on was not the greatest of land. Each reservation has a tribe and capital that we also were able to learn. It is quite unique.

Artifact:

Kinship

Reflection:

Throughout everything that was viewed in class, one thing that continued to pop up was Kinship. In the Native American culture Kinship is respected and required. It can be seen in the way each person interacts with another. One noticeable kinship example is that the children are raised by the entire tribe, not just their parents. Another example is their courtship, the man must have permission from the father/ guardian of the mother. Then they are supported by the entire clan. Kinship is also seen in how they help the widowed. They keep them apart of the family, providing for them in any way that they can. The providing for others also occurs in moments of hardship when there isn't much to go around but everyone in the tribe will share so everyone has.

Artifact: Picture of grandmother with her grandchildren, teaching them

Waterlily By:Ella Cara Deloria

Reflection:

One of the books we read in INED. It was a peak into the Oceti Sakowin world. It focused on the life of a little girl named Waterlily and her mother, Bluebird. It showed many examples of kinship in their culture as well as both the role of the women as well as the men. In order to help us be able to make connections, each student was assigned a book group. In the group each person was assigned a job to bring connections into view of the story in each chapter read. Through these connections in the story with the outside world, there was a deeper understanding engraved on what was occurring in Waterlily's life.


Artifact: Timeline