Tag Archives: music

Module 2- Practical Dance Resources

            As I am moving along in my research I am looking more for practical ideas on how to implement indigenous dance into my physical education classes. There are very few local persons who are willing to come provide dance lessons for my class, however with our first nations culture being so rich at our school I have spoken to a couple of the first nations support workers. They suggested using YouTube videos and even researching some of the history of the dances as a talking point during the lessons. As a teacher, especially in a school with such a rich first nations population, it is important for myself (and any educator really) to fully educate myself on the many styles and stories that accompany first nations dance. This entry is a little all over the place and probably appears to lack some focus, but I think each site can be focused to the one area of streamlining aboriginal dance in schools.  I have expanded my research to the following.

 

  1. Raven Spirit Dance 

This particular group of people provide workshops and education in Vancouver and surrounding areas on different forms of aboriginal dance forms. Mainly they appear to focus on contemporary dance and storytelling through said dance. Along with the excellent images on the website, this group would be an excellent starting point to have students experience first nations dances, along with the storytelling aspect.

  1.  Vancouver Sun Article 

This article not only delves into the history of aboriginal dance on the NorthWest coast of Canada, but it also discusses how the dance is done. Images and video from the festival itself would be a great visual for students, as it is very traditional in nature, as opposed to the contemporary dances in link above. There is excellent information on the history of the festival and would be a great resource for any teacher wanting to do a first nations dance unit. Not necessarily to use in class, but to educate ourselves before teaching something so rich in cultural history.

 

  1. Traditional Grass Dance 

Since the goal of this research is to put together a website for elementary teachers looking to incorporate aboriginal dance into their gym classes, it is important to provide examples. Not only for the teachers to view and study, but also for the students to get an idea of the traditions and story behind what they are learning. I have found that visual aids are much more effective, especially in the gym. Students need to see an example of the skill they are about to complete, not simply hear about it. The above video is not only beautiful, but short and sweet, perfect for the younger students with little attention span!

 

  1. Modern First Nations Dance Music 

Since most elementary teachers also have older students who tend to turn their noses up at something they feel “isn’t cool”, I thought this example would be a fantastic hook. This group mixes modern with traditional first nations dance music and comes up with a cool sound. Showing this to students at the beginning of the dance unit would maybe make them rethink their ideas about traditional first nations dance. I also thought this would be a great starting off point for creative dance unit, but using first nations moves and storytelling they have already learned. In the website I will be creating, this will be a part of one of the intermediate lessons on first nations dance.

 

  1. Best Practices for Teaching Aboriginal Students 

This actually came directly from my school district’s website, but I have linked it in a google doc. It is actually very informative and a great refresher to use before delving into a first nations dance unit. I will be including this in the website as a kind of, “Before you begin…” preparation type of section. This research has me thinking about the vast possibilities of the website I would like to create. I have begun to pare down and find some excellent resources I hope will help teachers feel more comfortable teaching first nations dance to students.

Learning Resources For Teaching First Nations Art

We are currently participating in a school-wide inquiry at my school to increase First Nations cultural awareness through First Nations art, music and performing arts.  I am providing you with some website links that have helped us along the enriching process.

 

First People’s Art For Learningscreen-shot-2016-09-17-at-9-56-55-pm

The following website was a group project created in ETEC 511.  Our goal was to create a cross curricular resource for teachers that linked Canadian First Nations art and artefacts to the curriculum via a visual literacy framework.  Our goal is to continuously add to this resource, with the intention to add oral stories and personal accounts from elders.  Please share, make comments or ask questions about this resource.

 

 

Authentic Indigenousscreen-shot-2016-09-25-at-11-38-26-am

This website was created by the Aboriginal Tourism BC (AtBC) foundation who have established the Authentic Indigenous Arts Resurgence Campaign (The “ARC”).

Its initiative is: “aimed at promoting and supporting authentic Indigenous artworks in the retail and wholesale marketplace.”

Its goal is: to “undertake various activities designed to protect Indigenous control over Indigenous artwork and to ensure that its sale benefits Indigenous artists and communities economically.”

This website provides a comprehensive list of First Nations Artists in Canada where they are listed by first name in alphabetical order.  Each artist has their own page where viewers can read a short bio, view examples of their work, and search any links that may take them to projects or personal websites.  It also posts events, campaigns, and articles, and members can connect with each other through the blog, and social media.

 

CCCA Canadian Art Databasescreen-shot-2016-09-25-at-11-40-27-am

This informational website provides a database of Canadian artists, including First Nations, located across Canada.  Anyone can search for artists by name, location, subject/category, and advanced search options which include curriculum.  It is a place where Artists have the showcase their work, mention projects they are working on, and list events that are happening across Canada to promote their Art.

 

Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centrescreen-shot-2016-09-25-at-12-36-17-pm

The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre was founded to showcase the art, history and culture of the Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh (people of the Squamish villages) and the L̓il̓wat7úl (the people of the land) nations.  Visitors on the website can learn about the Nations’ past and present history, shop online for authentic artisan merchandise, as well as book tours.  During the visits, visitors are taken through a guided tour of the centre, and they also have the opportunity to sign up for interactive workshops which could involve an interpretive forest walk, holistic tour and indigenous tea ceremony, or participation in various indigenous crafting workshops.

 

Aboriginal Tourism BCscreen-shot-2016-09-25-at-12-56-20-pm

The page dedicated to Arts and Culture, on the Aboriginal Tourism BC website, takes the visitor on an exploration of the many art galleries, studios, museums, cultural sites and cultural centres that are located throughout BC.  Visitors to the website are also able to book special visits and tours.

Separatism and Bubble Gum Pop in Xinjiang

Music has been my bridge for friendship with Chinese people and the proximity of the music shop to the local “Nationalities University” has exposed me to traditional music from Xinjiang. I am constantly amazed at the skill and beauty of the traditional music. The article, From Resistance to Adaptation: Uyghur Popular Music and Changing Attitudes among Uyghur Youth, focuses on how Uighur popular music has changed from the grinding heavy metal of the 90s separatist movement championed by Askar to the fluffy love songs of Arken both minkaohan (educated in Chinese) living in Beijing. I have heard neither of these artists and the article is a little out of date but outlines how the central government has manipulated the media to silence protest and homogenize the Uighur people. The article was published before the eruption of violence and protests in July of 2009 but it concludes a change in Uighur youth ideology from separatism and isolation of the Uighur nation to one of working within the current system to heighten the status of Uighurs in modern China.

Digital Drum – Bringing the Language of Aboriginal Music to the World

 

digital_drum_wl1

http://digitaldrum.ca/

Another site that I found very engaging was http://digitaldrum.ca/.  This site opens the world of aboriginal music to the world and allows people to experience native music and share in its importance.  Music is one of the keystones of human culture and this site does a great job in presenting the unique and creative way that modern native artists are bringing their story to the world.  Music is a powerful force but it needs to be heard.  This amazing site ensures that native music has a strong presence on the web and hopefully exposes both natives and non-natives alike to the powerful messages that music carries.

 

Module 3 Post 4: Decolonization.org

I found this site, Decolonization.org , when searching through resources about Urban Indigenous groups.  I found the link to this blog post from March, and then followed through to the rest of the blog – which appears to be a community-centred extension of the online, peer-reviewed open access journal of the same name.

The most recent issue of the journal was released in May of this year, and includes a number of interesting sounding articles for academic purposes.  Meanwhile, the blog seems to take a more ‘VICE’ style approach to Indigenous issues, with a recent focus on hip-hop and music.  I look forward to sifting through both resources!