Loading...Native American Culture
Special Collection
This collection from KET provides examples of music, dance, drama, and visual art from Native American cultures, ranging from traditional stories and dances to contemporary art.
Segments include Cherokee Paula Nelson performing original songs that incorporate Cherokee sounds and Apache, Cherokee, Git-Hoan, Navajo, and Zuni dances, many of which were taped at the Festival of Native Peoples in Cherokee, NC.
Storytelling is represented by a Cherokee’s traditional story about the delicate balance of nature, and visual arts is represented by a Winnebago/Ho-Chunk artist who uses nature as inspiration and by an Ojibwe artist who creates dream catchers.
| RESOURCE | GRADE LEVEL | MEDIA TYPE |
|---|---|---|
Native American Culture: Cherokee Beaver DanceThe Raven Rock Dancers perform the Beaver Dance, a social dance depicting the actions of a hunting party, at the 2006 Festival of Native Peoples. The Raven Rock Dancers is a family group founded by Walker Calhoun, a respected Cherokee elder. |
5-12 |
Video |
Native American Culture: About Apache DancesThe Apache Crown Dancers are enrolled members of the White Mountain Apache Tribe and live in Whiteriver, Ariz. In this video segment, the group leader, Joe Tohonnie, Jr., talks about the long history of the dance and its role in Apache culture as the dancers perform Crown Dances. |
5-12 |
Video |
Native American Culture: About Cherokee DanceJohn Bullet Standingdeer is a member of the Warriors of AniKituhwa of Cherokee, North Carolina. In this video, he describes the cultural importance of the ceremonial Eagle Dance, performed by the Warriors of AniKituhwa, and the social Beaver Dance, performed by the Raven Rock Dancers. |
5-12 |
Video |
Native American Culture: About Git-Hoan DancesDavid Boxley of the Git-Hoan Dancers discusses dance traditions of the Tsimshian, whose descendants live on the Northwest coast of northern British Columbia and in southeastern Alaska. He discusses the use of masks and other handmade regalia in the dances. |
5-12 |
Video |
Native American Culture: About Navajo DancesAlbert Brent Chase, artistic director of The Pollen Trail Dancers, explains the purposes of dance in Navajo culture. |
5-12 |
Video |
Native American Culture: Apache Dance PerformanceThe Apache Crown Dancers are enrolled members of the White Mountain Apache Tribe and live in Whiteriver, Ariz. In this video segment, they perform a traditional Crown Dance in full regalia to music sung by the group leader, Joe Tohonnie, Jr.
|
5-12 |
Video |
Native American Culture: Cherokee Eagle DanceThe Warriors of AniKituhwa perform the Eagle Dance at the 2006 Festival of Native Peoples. Like other dances from Cherokee culture, the Eagle Dance serves as a catalyst for people to come forward and share their memories and a way to preserve cultural traditions. |
5-12 |
Video |
Native American Culture: Cherokee SingerCherokee singer Paula Nelson performs a learning song that teaches a greeting and farewell in Cherokee. In the second part of the segment, Nelson says that the Cherokee people are a “water people” and performs a song called “It’s Going to Rain.” |
6-12 |
Video |
Native American Culture: Git-Hoan Chief's Headdress DanceThree dancers of the Git-Hoan troupe perform the Chief’s Headdress Dance celebrating the meaning found in the leader’s ceremonial headwear. The Git-Hoan are descendants of the Tsimshian people of northwest Canada and Alaska. |
5-12 |
Video |
Native American Culture: Git-Hoan Raven DanceThe Git-Hoan Dancers perform the Raven Dance, a celebration of the Raven Clan. They wear masks representing the clan. In Tsimshian culture, the wearer of a mask is said to take on the spirit of the creature it signifies. |
5-12 |
Video |
Native American Culture: Little Deer and Mother EarthMarilou Awiakta, of Cherokee/Appalachian heritage, tells a traditional Cherokee story in which humans are killing too many of their animal relatives, threatening the delicate balance of nature. Little Deer leads the animals in taking action, teaching the lesson that people should take “only what you need with respect and gratitude.” |
5-12 |
Video |
Native American Culture: Navajo Shaker DanceThe Pollen Trail Dancers perform the Navajo Shaker Dance, also called the Buffalo Dance. Artistic director Albert Brent Chase explains that the Shaker or Buffalo Dance is a healing dance that is part of the Fire Dance Ceremony, which lasts nine nights. |
5-12 |
Video |
Native American Culture: The DreamcatcherSusan Mullins (Kwaronhia:wi), a Mohawk from the Kahnawake reserve in Canada who now resides in Berea, Ky., shows her grandchildren how to create a dreamcatcher, an item designed to catch bad dreams and let good dreams through. |
5-12 |
Video |
Native American Culture: Truman Lowe: Contemporary Native American ArtistTruman Lowe is a contemporary sculptor working primarily in wood that he often scavenges from the landscape. This segment is from the KET documentary From the Shadows of the River, which chronicles Lowe’s visit to Wickliffe Mounds and his creation of a sculpture inspired by the rich heritage of the place. |
6-12 |
Video |
Native American Culture: Truman Lowe at Wickliffe MoundsIn this video segment, contemporary Native American artist Truman Lowe discusses his visit to an ancient Native American community in Western Kentucky, Wickliffe Mounds, and how it influenced his work. The segment also includes a tour of art works at the Eagle Gallery at Murray State University. |
6-12 |
Video |
Native American Culture: Zuni Harvest DanceInstructor Arden Kucate gives background on the Zuni culture and the harvest celebration, explains the significance of Zuni boys being presented gourd shakers, and teaches a group of middle school students two dances from the Zuni harvest celebration. |
5-12 |
Video |
