Salmon II (X̱áat)
Upon settling in the region the Tlingit people adapted and developed their traditional food gathering around these resources, the primary one being salmon.
Sea Mammals (Hintaak.átx’i)
Hunting activities were determined by the seasonal availability of local resources. Tlingit people continue to have a great understanding of the environment. The techniques used to gather food have changed but subsistence hunting and fishing continue to be important today.
Tale of an Alaska Whale
The book, Tale of an Alaska Whale, tells a story of the origin of the killer whale and is also known as Naatsilanei. Listening to the story, as read from a book or told by a culture bearer or storyteller, is the basis for the unit. Viewing a video of a storyteller adds another dimension to the experience and provides opportunities for comparison activities. Guided reading (for older students), retelling the story and writing a story extension are also part of the unit.
How the Raven Stole the Sun
The book, How Raven Stole the Sun is one version of how light was brought to the world. Listening to this story is necessary before introducing other activities in the unit. Viewing a video version of the story provides opportunities for comparison activities. Guided reading (for older students), retelling the story, studying the setting and writing additional "Raven as Trickster" stories are also part of the unit.
Elizabeth Peratrovich Ḵaax̱gal.aat
She is an important Civil Rights leader who collaborated with ANB to help end discrimination for Alaska Natives.
Yellow and Red Cedar (Ts’úu Isgyáan Sgahláang)
For hundreds of years, the ocean and the forest have provided life sustaining resources for the Haida people of Southeast Alaska. Using red and yellow cedar trees they made their homes, canoes, clothing, tools, dishes, baskets and monument poles.
Canoes (Tlúu)
Canoes represent unity and teamwork, strength training and health, as well as being a sophisticated art form and symbol of cultural identity. In this unit students learn what makes objects move and understand how they move. Central understandings include the concepts of friction, gravity, force, and the movement of sound waves.
Kaaxgal.aat, Elizabeth Peratrovich
In this unit, students study the life and work of the remarkable Elizabeth Peratrovich, civil rights champion of Alaska. They learn about the importance of the Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) and the Alaska Native Sisterhood (ANS), and how these organizations continue to promote civil rights for everyone. The rich historical context of events in the 1940s provides the backdrop for research and discussions contained in unit activities.
Canoes (Yaakwx’)
Canoes were the primary mode of transportation used by the people of Southeast Alaska for hundreds of years. Tlingit people use canoes and other watercraft to support their coastal lifestyle, to gather resources, and for basic transportation.
Alder and Cottonwood (Keishísh Ḵa Dúk)
Forests supply everything from berries on bushes, to wood for houses and fires. They provided materials for tools that made it possible for people to harvest and further use this valuable resource. Alder and cottonwood trees are the focus of this unit.