Something to make us stronger?
Do you know this book?
The People Shall Continue (Paperback)
by Simon Ortiz (Author), Sharol Graves (Illustrator)
I wrote a little about it a year ago.....
I am a teacher, in 1st grade, that has used my copy of this book in November for 12 plus years in multiple grade settings and really love it.. It was sold by The Children's Press out of San Fran which put out excellent tales of bi-literacy and stories from minority and immigrant cultures. I hope they still are going strong.
In this story, one that stood the test of time for me, a kind of poetic Prufrock unfolds...a song really of Native American tradition in our world from then to now...a sad song...a flowing tale of bittersweet truths and perseverance....I usually read it with a child gently keeping a rhythm of a drum I was given a few years ago by a Native Sioux family.
What does it teach to make it worth the reading journey?
The relationship to the earth, nature, care of this relationship, responsibility to care for our children and their life spaces and places, the traditions of tribal members in the beginning prior to times when native cultures were literally pulled to pieces (tho that tone is not struck in this sensitive story), the arrival of the white men, the change this wrought, dissension, unrest, new religious practice, relating to the American government, scattering of tribal culture, reservation life, suffering of Native peoples, ultimate desire for unity and peace. It's really an elegy.
Why do I use it? I think this text alone is one of the most powerful ways to try to bring into the primary room a kind of talking back story, a kind of story like understanding about history and past and awareness that will take many years, many stories, many kinds of experiences to be able to fuller absorb and understand. It's a validation of something. It's a story of message, of empowering by acknowledging, it's a story of the kinds of things history can deny or do a great job of telling in another way.
I use it to bring to the story of the first Thanksgiving the story of the giant change these times signaled to Native American's...and to begin talk about indigenous peoples, immigration and all the complexities of societies and communities.
The tone set inside the text is unique...listen...
" But one day, something unusual began to happen.
Maybe there was a small change in the wind.
Maybe there was a shift in the stars.
Maybe it was a dream that someone dreamed.
Maybe it was the strange behavior of an animal.
The People thought and remembered,
"A long time ago, there were Yellow-skinned men
who came upon the ocean to the Western Coasts"
The People Thought and remembered,
"A long time ago , there were Red-haired men who came upon the ocean to the Eastern Coasts"
But these visitors had not stayed for long.
They met with some of the People
and soon they left upon the ocean for their homes.".......
You can see the way the story unfolds the perspectives of these events and allows a teacher to drop in the facts and the fictions, the then, now and the kinds of pieces needed to bring students into awareness of cultural perspectives. It's a treasure, hope you can find and use it with a child..
When I worked at Warner the need to be heard on personal history, on suffering was so great. My children were learning lifetimes of Native Perspectives.
I remember wondering about this holiday. And from my notes one father, a Cahuilla said, “It is a time to remember, for thanks we have survived, for teaching the children.”
I expected something else maybe. He went on to tell me of his families contribution to America.
A time to remember.
Here are a few things we made today.
This week the student dolls began to appear.
These came with this story from “The Fish.” one of my student's pen names. His grand mom gave him a hand making.
“ These are like we make in Mexico. My Grandmom made dolls when she was little everyday. She dressed them in the way we dressed in her town. “
I stopped here to ask the name of the town but my student wasn’t able to answer so he has to go home and try again.
“She could not buy the dolls and they make everything so she was the one that made them for all the children. She used pieces of clothes that were worn out and little things she found. My grandmom likes this. “
I went on to ask my student about his grandmother. She is close to him. He mostly nodded. But he is 6 and I know from this he is listening to her. So in one home the Molly’s Pilgrim project allowed a little boy to know a bit more about his grandmother’s childhood, and what she can make.
Ah a doll to inspire a tomorrow. I like that. To see the world, even better. How can we do that?
Indeed.
How?
Tell me about your doll I asked.
“She is dressed for a very important dance..the quinceanera. We like this in our family. I am going to have a party then and wear a dress with a big skirt. In our family we have this party for the girls who get presents and are so pretty.”
This student literally rolled the contents of his doll making things around a pin, no family involved. He not only did not show it to his mom, his mom has never shown herself at school.kind of like my son does. Walks himself wherever he goes and has a savvy unlike other students in my room. With work together we made this. I don’t think we have a why.
Of this he said, “That’s how it looks right teacher?”
And so I made up a little story about a Gingerbread maker that had a face of a lion that made the cookies for holidays of little lost children. A special job in the Land of Green Dresses. She was rather interesting in her black curls and a really good baker. One bite and a child was able to wish any wish…….
And the wish of my student…….”I wish I could have another cookie.”
Well here she is. The doll with a doll stand jammed on her head. By a worried little boy who said it took “A lot of work to get that onto her head.”
This is my child who asked me if I was “Going to be happy today.” I could only answer…
"Well I’ll try.”
Of this doll he said, “ In Mexico This is how the Momma looks.”
Okay.
This child presented her doll with a smile and silence.
So I have dubbed her “Silent One” I asked if she was thinking. “Yes,”
What is she thinking about? “She’s thinking in her mind.”
Yes. Of course.
Years ago I taught in Greenfield. I taught a student, Steven Cole. I would like to know 20 years later how he is, where he is. He was such a nice kid. In 4th grade we were at that time working so often on writing. Essays I think at the time. I had a rather long test, essay format. We had worked a great deal on using the question to formulate the answer, I’m sure I allowed notes. The question as I recall it was to describe the life of the California Indians from the perspective of one tribal group.
To this Seven Cole on a two page answer sheet wrote, “Rough.”
I was unable to fail him. It just made me laugh. I am THAT KIND of teacher.
This was a wonderful doll. I looked at my student bringing it in, so happy. I asked her about this….did it represent the family, how did they get their ideas?
She looked at me, “Ask my Mom, she made it.”
And so…….I did.
“I made a teacher for you. From a village."
For now these are the Pilgrim dolls that have come to our class first Thanksgiving. Next week we will try to build them a little community.
To share their stories and write some more.
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