10:45-11:45 75 minutes. Number of students: Cycle 2, Year 1 29

Transcription

1 Lesson Plan Date: Week: 7 Time: Duration: 10:45-11:45 75 minutes Subject: Social Studies (HCE) Title: Native Spirituality Animism Cycle: Number of students: Cycle 2, Year 1 29 Description Objective Quebec Curriculum Objectives Cross- Curricular Objectives Students will learn How to define native spirituality. About spirit animals and the connection, they had with natives. About the Vision Quest a boy s quest into adolescence. By the end of this lesson, the students will be able to Define native spirituality. Understand how natives connect with animal and looked toward them for guidance by picking up on their traits. Competency 1 Examines social phenomena Competency 2 Interprets social phenomena Competency 3 Strengthens his/her exercise of citizenship Competency 3: Exercise critical judgement Competency 7: Achieves his/her potential Competency 9: Communicates appropriately Assessment Cue Card Activity to be turned into end of module short writing assignment. Materials Smart Board Technology PowerPoint Presentation Logbook p.10 Canada A People s History Cue Card activity spirit animal Workbook Preparation

2 References Never Alone: Time Introduction: 10 minutes Plan Write out the Game Plan! Take attendance through GPI. Correct homework Workbook p. 15 # 1 & 2. Review: How would you define aboriginal spirituality? Connection with the earth Development: 40 minutes Explore Animism: - Every living and non-living thing has a soul o Their belief in animism was shown in the way natives hunted large game. They would communicate with the animal through listening. o In this communication, the hunter made it clear that he was going to kill his prey in order to survive. o However, this brings us back to the idea of equilibrium and how in order to maintain good relations with nature they treated the animals they hunted with respect. o How? They would make sure none of the animal went to waste. Video: Never alone: Basis of spirituality: Why are we here? How was the earth formed? 24:55 to 26:27 Discusses animal spirit and the idea that every animal has a spirit and humans have a lot to learn from animals. Segway into Vision Quest. Discuss the goal of a vision quest Rite of passage from boyhood to manhood. Sacrifices are made in order to enlighten oneself. Best way to illustrate this is to read about a modern day vision quest.

3 See attached Vision Quest reading. Closure: 10 minutes Vision Quest: - Video: Canada a people s history: 4 minutes Discuss: Connection with earth, finding an animal spirit, protection, becoming a man as well as the connection to animals and what they can teach man. Goal of going on a vision quest: Spirit animals: People found their role in society from nature. A boy would go out alone in his vision quest. They would live alone anywhere between 3-5 days where you would need to survive without food. Only a strong person can stay and wait for the vision. The animal tests the boy s courage. At the end, the spirit gives him a protector. His animal spirit. Activity: On a cue card, pick a spirit animal and choose why you chose it? Share with the class. Last 15 minutes Class work In preparation for the next lesson, read p and answer questions p. 23 (1&2) and p. 24 (6). Adaptations No adaptations were needed for said lesson. Professional Competencies

4 Reflections

5 NATIVE AMERICAN VISION QUEST Those of us on a spiritual path and more specifically on a Vision Quest believe that we are put on this earth for a special reason, but that reason is not always clear to us. We want to know what we need to accomplish in life for our highest benefit, and, in turn, the benefit of the world. The quest can reveal our life's purpose, but it is an arduous journey into the core of our being that we should only embark upon with sincerity. William Walk Sacred cautions, "It's very important for people to realize that this is not fun and games. Going into the spiritual world is very serious. If the intent isn't clear, the spirits will not give the vision. The most important thing is being clear in your heart as to what you are seeking for yourself and the people of the world." How to embark on a quest varies greatly from tribe to tribe. Walk Sacred's experience, as a Cree Indian, involved a long period of preparation, which he says is designed, in part, to weed out all but the most committed. Walk Sacred describes this procedure in great detail in a link below. But now let's hear from a revered teacher and sacred walker "Eagle Man"! Ed McGaa "Eagle Man", is the author of Native Wisdom, Perceptions of the Natural Way, and Mother Earth Spirituality.

6 Eagle Man 's Vision Quest "One time, I Eagle Man had a medicine person put me up on the hill. Another time, I had two very powerful medicine people as my mentors. They simply said, 'Go up on this place, and vision quest.' They never accompanied me, nor did they have a sweat lodge waiting for me. They just took me up on the hill and placed me. They told me to do it and I just did it. "I went to the mountain, and I parked my car down below. I took my peace pipe, and I simply walked up to the top of the mountain. In those days, believe it or not, when you went to Bear View Mountain, there was nobody there. Now it's quite crowded because Native spirituality has become so popular. But when I used to go there, I would be the only one on the whole mountain. So, I'd walk way up there and I'd fast. I'd drink no water. I'd simply take four little flags--red, white, black, and yellow--and place them around me, in a square. I'd stay in the square. If I had to go to the bathroom, I'd go away, of course, and then come back. But that's it. I'd sit in my square, and watch the sun come up in the morning, and set at night. I'd see the moon come up, and I'd see all the phases of the earth. When you're fasting, your mind becomes more alert. You simply contemplate your life. And when you fall asleep, your dreams become more vivid. "As each day goes by, the phases of life go through their cycles. At night, the stars come out. Pilades will actually dance for you if you're a vision quester. They light up, almost like a neon sign. I know people find that hard to believe, but that's just the mystery of the ceremony. An eagle will hover right over you knowing that you're in ceremony. Thunder and lightning come by, and you just endure it. It's no problem. Lightning can be flashing all around you, and you'll laugh. The Great Spirit is not going to take your life up there while you are vision questing. And if it does, who cares? You're in a good state. But you don't fear nature or God. The Great Spirit made you. Why should you fear it? You become more confident once you follow this natural road. "So, this is an Eagle Man vision quest. It's performed by you and it's for yourself. You don't have to go through anybody. You can communicate to the Great Spirit through observation. Of course, it's nice to have a medicine person there to help you interpret the experience. When I came down from the mountain, the medicine man asked me, 'What did you see?' I said that I didn't see too much. 'This eagle just came and hovered over me, and lightning cracked close to me.' 'Were you afraid?' he asked? 'No, I wasn't afraid. In fact, I laughed. And I saw four horses before I went up the mountain. But they were real, live horses.' 'What color were they?' he wanted to know. He was even interested in these pre-vision quest scenes, as well as my dreams." Eagle Man suggests that most people attempting a vision quest go into the mountains for one or two days at most, as the majority aren't stronger to go up for long periods of time. Although the point of this is to finish the quest without the convenience of camping gear people should take their medications and drink water if it is a necessity.