Post by blackcrowheart on Dec 7, 2006 12:24:38 GMT -5
Children's book teaches Indian culture
By Kevin Miller
- Bangor Daily News
By Kevin Miller
Bangor Daily News
The Passamaquoddy Tribe has teamed up with a lakes conservation organization to produce an illustrated book that uses tribal oral history to teach children about living in balance with the natural world.
The book, "Wind Bird: Gift of the Mist," recounts the tale of Gluskop who attempts to save his village by manipulating nature. But the endeavor backfires and his people must learn to live in concert with nature.
The book, which is being distributed free to all elementary schools across Maine, grew out of an existing partnership between the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute. The Nobleboro-based institute works to educate children and the wider public about the importance of understanding and preserving Maine’s lakes and lake communities.
On Tuesday, some fourth-graders at All Saints Catholic School in Bangor were among the first schoolchildren to hear "Wind Bird: Gift of the Mist," which was written by Sarah Stiles Bright and illustrated by Gustav Moore.
The 16 students listened attentively as Brenda Lozada, a bilingual educator in the Passamaquoddy Indian Township School, read the tale and showed the class artistic renditions of Gluskop, of the giant "wind bird" Wocawson, and of American Indian culture.
The story begins with tribal members appealing to Gluskop to stop the powerful winds that are destroying homes, blowing down trees and making hunting, fishing and agriculture impossible.
Gluskop climbs the mountain to tell the giant bird that makes the wind — depicted as a bald eagle in the book — that the winds he is creating are too strong. Angered by this human interference, the bird flaps his wings even harder.
The two scuffle and Gluskop ties the bird’s wings with thick leather straps. The winds stop and all is peaceful in Gluskop’s community, but only for a time.
The tribe’s lake eventually becomes "sick" from the lack of wind and weather. Fish die, animals leave the forests, crop fields dry up, and the heat becomes unbearable without the cool breeze.
In the end, Gluskop unties Wind Bird and the two compromise. The bird agrees to use only one wing to create a gentle wind while Gluskop pledges his community will take only what it needs from the forests, fields and lakes.
To remind the people of their obligation, Wind Bird breathes down on the valley below. His breath becomes the mist that hovers above Maine’s lakes, hence the title of the book.
"Your people will see the mist over their waters in the stillness of the morning and in the evening," Wind Bird tells Gluskop. "From one generation to the next they will remember the lessons of their ancestors and they will know what it is to love the land and the water of their place."
Wayne Newell, a Passamaquoddy tribal elder, called the book and its illustrations "wonderful" and a "very direct but entertaining way to talk about balance and how to take care of Earth." Newell said the writing and illustrations were consistent with the common oral history.
"It’s good we published it statewide so that any child or adult can enjoy the wisdom contained in it," Newell said.
Several of the children in teacher Alicia Estey’s fourth-grade class said they enjoyed the book.
Caroline Bush, 9, of Holden said she learned about American Indian culture and tribal reliance on hunting, fishing and agriculture.
David Carmack, 9, of Veazie said he learned about tribes’ relationships with animals and the natural world.
"I thought it was very interesting because I never knew the Native Americans had so many thoughts about why things happen," he said.
"Wind Bird: Gift of the Mist" is available in bookstores or can be purchased online at www.mlci.org. All proceeds from the book go to support the Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute’s lake science educational programs.
By Kevin Miller
- Bangor Daily News
By Kevin Miller
Bangor Daily News
The Passamaquoddy Tribe has teamed up with a lakes conservation organization to produce an illustrated book that uses tribal oral history to teach children about living in balance with the natural world.
The book, "Wind Bird: Gift of the Mist," recounts the tale of Gluskop who attempts to save his village by manipulating nature. But the endeavor backfires and his people must learn to live in concert with nature.
The book, which is being distributed free to all elementary schools across Maine, grew out of an existing partnership between the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute. The Nobleboro-based institute works to educate children and the wider public about the importance of understanding and preserving Maine’s lakes and lake communities.
On Tuesday, some fourth-graders at All Saints Catholic School in Bangor were among the first schoolchildren to hear "Wind Bird: Gift of the Mist," which was written by Sarah Stiles Bright and illustrated by Gustav Moore.
The 16 students listened attentively as Brenda Lozada, a bilingual educator in the Passamaquoddy Indian Township School, read the tale and showed the class artistic renditions of Gluskop, of the giant "wind bird" Wocawson, and of American Indian culture.
The story begins with tribal members appealing to Gluskop to stop the powerful winds that are destroying homes, blowing down trees and making hunting, fishing and agriculture impossible.
Gluskop climbs the mountain to tell the giant bird that makes the wind — depicted as a bald eagle in the book — that the winds he is creating are too strong. Angered by this human interference, the bird flaps his wings even harder.
The two scuffle and Gluskop ties the bird’s wings with thick leather straps. The winds stop and all is peaceful in Gluskop’s community, but only for a time.
The tribe’s lake eventually becomes "sick" from the lack of wind and weather. Fish die, animals leave the forests, crop fields dry up, and the heat becomes unbearable without the cool breeze.
In the end, Gluskop unties Wind Bird and the two compromise. The bird agrees to use only one wing to create a gentle wind while Gluskop pledges his community will take only what it needs from the forests, fields and lakes.
To remind the people of their obligation, Wind Bird breathes down on the valley below. His breath becomes the mist that hovers above Maine’s lakes, hence the title of the book.
"Your people will see the mist over their waters in the stillness of the morning and in the evening," Wind Bird tells Gluskop. "From one generation to the next they will remember the lessons of their ancestors and they will know what it is to love the land and the water of their place."
Wayne Newell, a Passamaquoddy tribal elder, called the book and its illustrations "wonderful" and a "very direct but entertaining way to talk about balance and how to take care of Earth." Newell said the writing and illustrations were consistent with the common oral history.
"It’s good we published it statewide so that any child or adult can enjoy the wisdom contained in it," Newell said.
Several of the children in teacher Alicia Estey’s fourth-grade class said they enjoyed the book.
Caroline Bush, 9, of Holden said she learned about American Indian culture and tribal reliance on hunting, fishing and agriculture.
David Carmack, 9, of Veazie said he learned about tribes’ relationships with animals and the natural world.
"I thought it was very interesting because I never knew the Native Americans had so many thoughts about why things happen," he said.
"Wind Bird: Gift of the Mist" is available in bookstores or can be purchased online at www.mlci.org. All proceeds from the book go to support the Maine Lakes Conservancy Institute’s lake science educational programs.