Native Alaskan Knowledge
1/28/2021
As a class we have been learning about the cultures, customs, and traditions of Alaskans. Across the state there are native populations with different languages, art forms, and histories. Each are unique and worthy of learning about! Although we develop new technologies, clothing, and forms of entertainment, honoring traditions are a way of respecting where we have come from and connecting us to the past. One of the traditions we learned about is the blanket toss. While it's now conducted as entertainment, it didn’t originate that way. An Iñupiaq hunter would be tossed in the air, enabling him to see across the horizon to hunt game.
Building an Igloo Igloo is the Inuit word for "snowhouse". The igloo was a means for hunters to survive brutal winters. Snow and ice work as insulators to trap body heat inside the igloo (Hoyt, 2008). The Inuit designed the igloo to be warm, sturdy and easy to construct. We are still in the process of completing our classroom "igloo". We began with the dome-like shape that will eventually allow for a roof and a completed shelter. Alaskan ExpertsOur virtual field trip this week allowed us to learn more about Alaska's land. We honored the Dena'ina land we are currently inhabiting and discussed the effects that climate change is having on Alaska. It is important that we know about our current and future impact on the land around us. As residents of Alaska, we enjoy the benefits of the outdoors and nature, therefore we have a responsibility to protect it. Totem PolesTotem Poles are a significant part of Alaskan history. Each carving tell tales of the legends and ancient stories of the Native people. Some of the greatest concentrations of currently standing totem poles are in Sitka and Ketchikan, Alaska. Hoyt, A. (2008, January 17). How Igloos Work. Retrieved January 30, 2021, from https://people.howstuffworks.com/igloo.htm
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Jessica GrahamMs. Graham graduated from the University of Alabama with a BS in Early Childhood/Elementary Education, and is currently working on her master's in reading. She enjoys hiking, traveling, arts & crafts, and playing the ukulele. Archives
April 2021
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