You are hitting on one of my hot topics--namely, referring to something
generically as "Native American." Your feeling that maybe that's not a
correct term is absolutely correct. I see many references to "Native
American dreamcatchers," "Native American kachinas," and so on. Those
items are sacred and specific to certain tribes, not all tribes! If one
cannot bother to research which tribes dreamcatchers and kachinas (now
spelled katsina) originated from, they probably shouldn't be teaching
that lesson.
Why bother calling your weavings "Native American" in the first place?
Call them circle weavings, and show them examples from various cultures
(and please, name the cultures! ) It doesn't sound like your students
are replicating the designs anyway; they can be inspired by the designs
and come up with their own designs.
I taught cardboard loom weaving successfully at the HS level on an
Apache reservation for many years. The Apaches do not have a history of
loom weaving, but they thoroughly enjoyed the projects and made some
really spectacular weavings. The handout for a workshop I did at NAEA
still on IAD:
http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/weave.htm It
starts with the basics and has diagrams for several different weaving
techniques. Bunki also has an interesting weaving lesson in which the
students weave on colored matboard looms and accent it with tooled
foil. A lot of us here on the list advocate teaching weaving; as you've
noted, the students love it. And, it's so CLEAN!
Maggie
Amy Broady wrote:
<snip>
> But I never felt right about calling them "Native American Weavings"
> because I feel that giving this simple project that title trivializes
> the stunning artwork that is woven by the indiginous tribes of our
> nation. Who certainly do not weave on paper plates just for the sake
> of weaving!
>
> Do any of you do this lesson? I think it is excellent for teaching the
> skill, and the students are so proud of themselves when they are done,
> so I would like to teach it again. I am simply seeking a more accurate
> context, and a justification for doing the project. I would love more
> than just a vague reference to connect it to the American Indians, but
> not at the expense of authenticity. I wouldn't mind just teaching it
> for the sake of the product and and process, if need be, but what
> would I call it? Are there any other tie-ins that you have used?
