Voices on the Land
Voices on the Land provides literacy-based, artist residencies in 4th and 5th grade classrooms, with Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian languages and cultural values forming the basis of instruction. The program integrates visual, performing, and digital arts with traditional knowledge. Through the experience, students use storytelling to create stop motion animation videos; learn the elements of Northwest Coast formline design, while keeping an artist’s journal and making a traditional drum; and use the skills of the actor’s toolbox and reader’s theater to explore and perform Raven Stories handed down through the ages. Voices on the Land also provides an in-person summer and winter arts intensive program for students in grades 4-8, as well as a virtual summer intensive program for students in grades 4-8 who live outside of Juneau.
Learning Our Tlingit Language: Book 4: Grade 5
These units are designed to instill language into long term memory. The Process use meaningful language content from the environment, academic programs, stories, and themes to enlarge the students' language bases. The Process takes the students through developmental steps that reflect the natural acquisition of language in the home and community.
Learning Our Tlingit Language: Book 3: Grade 5
These units are designed to instill language into long term memory. The Process use meaningful language content from the environment, academic programs, stories, and themes to enlarge the students' language bases. The Process takes the students through developmental steps that reflect the natural acquisition of language in the home and community.
Learning Our Tlingit Language: Book 2: Grade 5
These units are designed to instill language into long term memory. The Process use meaningful language content from the environment, academic programs, stories, and themes to enlarge the students' language bases. The Process takes the students through developmental steps that reflect the natural acquisition of language in the home and community.
Learning Our Tlingit Language: Book 1: Grade 5
These units are designed to instill language into long term memory. The Process use meaningful language content from the environment, academic programs, stories, and themes to enlarge the students' language bases. The Process takes the students through developmental steps that reflect the natural acquisition of language in the home and community.
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.
The Woman Who Lived With the Bears
The book, The Girl Who Lived with the Bears, retold by Barbara Diamond Goldin, forms the basis for this literature unit. Listening to the story, as read from the book and/or as told by a storyteller, provides the knowledge needed to complete other activities in the rest 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.
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.
Kit & Curricula
Formline design is part of a living culture and integral to the lifeways of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian. “It surrounds us, and it holds us up. Our Northwest Coast art is ingrained in the social fabric and oral histories of our clans.” —Rico Lanáat ́ Worl, A Basic Guide to Northwest Coast Formline Art In this project, we give students an introduction to formline design shapes and definitions, the importance of balance in the design form, and to ways an experienced Native artist would compose a formline design. We then provide them with tools to create their formline design. A key to this project is to see both the positive and negative aspects of a design and how each type influences and serves to shape the other. SHI offers materials to teach Northwest Coast art, including an online textbook, flashcards, and curriculum boards. To order a hard copy of the textbook, contact the Sealaska Heritage Store at thestore@sealaska.com or 907.586.9114.