Children of Native America Today - Softcover

Dennis, Yvonne Wakim; Hirschfelder, Arlene

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1570919658 ISBN 13: 9781570919657

Publisher: Charlesbridge, 2014

Synopsis

Come along on a photographic journey through America's native nations as seen through the eyes of children.

CHILDREN OF NATIVE AMERICA TODAY invites readers to explore Native nations, focusing on the children who live, learn, and play in tribal communities throughout the United States. These children celebrate a proud heritage, a rich culture, and a close-knit society. They participate in cultural activities such as totem pole carving, storytelling, and dancing at a powwow, as well as enjoying video games, going to school, and other contemporary pastimes.

A map listing the geography of the many nations and culture groups, and resources for further investigation, are included.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these books is donated to innovative programs benefiting children around the world.

About this title

About the Author

Yvonne Wakim Dennis is the author of several award-winning books, curriculum materials, and websites. Yvonne's writing celebrates a multicultural world. She lives in New York City with her husband, Roger. Arlene B. Hirschfelder is an educator in tobacco history and an authority and public speaker on youth involvement in tobacco control activities over the past one hundred years. She is also a widely recognized scholar on contemporary Native American issues, has published over a dozen books in the field, and has worked as a freelance editor and author of curricular materials about Native American ceremonial tobacco use and tobacco abuse for the National Cancer Institute project reducing Cancer Risks Among Native American Youth. She currently resides in New Jersey.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Wabanaki
 
Go almost as far east as you can and you will be in Wabanaki territory. Wabanaki means “people of the dawn land.” The Wabanaki Confederacy includes the Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Micmac, and Maliseet people of Maine, and the Abenaki of Vermont and other New England states. The United States and Canadian borders separate the original Wabanaki lands of dense forests and rivers.
            Blue is the color of the Passamaquoddy tribe’s Northeastern Blueberry Company in Columbia Falls, Maine, during harvest time. It is the third largest blueberry farm in the world. You can get pretty blue picking berries! Besides the farm, the Passamaquoddy own radio stations, a cable program, and some small manufacturing plants.
            Have you ever searched for a giant moose? The Passamaquoddy look for moose by airplane and on foot, to see how well the herd is doing. The Passamaquoddy communities of Pleasant Point and Indian Township are 50 miles apart. Although people usually drive from one community to the other, sometimes they go by canoe. You can learn a lot about the Passamaquoddy by visiting the Wapohnaki Museum in Sipayik, Maine.
            The Penobscot reservation includes over 100 islands in the Penobscot River. Take a guided canoe trip to see moose and eagles, or visit the Penobscot museum to see famous birchbark art and baskets. In August everyone gets together for homecoming. The fun includes storytelling, talking circles, and a bike rodeo!
            On Indian Island, Penobscot workers manufacture toys and audiocassettes. Micmacs make beautiful baskets available by mail order. Look for Maine potatoes in the grocery store – some are raised on the fertile Maliseet farms. The Abenaki in Franklin, Massachusetts, operate a food pantry for needy people.
            Some Wabanaki schools have bilingual and bicultural programs, so children can learn their languages as part of their regular classes. During Motahkmiqewi Skulhawossol, National Indian Day, non-Indian children may be invited to the Indian Township school so they can learn about Wabanaki culture.
            Wabanakis are reorganizing a confederacy to develop cooperation among tribal leaders and community members. Together they are working to stop factories from dumping waste into their rivers. Clean water is important for people, animals, plants, and the forests.
 
Images:
1.     All dressed up in ribbon shirts for Recognition Day, Maliseet.
2.     Playing games at the University of Vermont Powwow, Vermont Abenaki.
3.     Orienteering class, Micmac/Maliseet summer camp
4.     Watching participants at the Bar Harbor Native American Festival
 
More facts about Wabanakis
Reservations/Communities: five reservations in Maine; communities in Massachusetts and Vermont; reserves in Canada
Total population: 10,039 (1990 census)
Some people to learn about: Joseph Bruchac [1942– ], Abenaki writer, storyteller; Mary Mitchell Gabriel [1908– ], Passamaquoddy basket maker; Martin Neptune [contemporary], Penobscot photographer
Neighbors: Micmacs and Maliseets of Canada

Edition details

• Publisher: Charlesbridge
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1570919658
• ISBN 13: 9781570919657
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 64