Hands-on activities, games, and crafts introduce children to the diversity of Native American cultures and teach them about the people, experiences, and events that have helped shape America, past and present. Nine geographical areas cover a variety of communities such as the Mohawk in the Northeast, Ojibway in the Midwest, Shoshone in the Great Basin, Apache in the Southwest, Yup'ik in Alaska, and Native Hawaiians. Featuring a look at the lives of notable historical and contemporary individuals, including Chief Joseph and Maria Tallchief, this guide also covers a variety of topics, such as first encounters with Europeans, Indian removal, Mohawk skywalkers, and Navajo code talkers. With activities that highlight the arts, games, food, clothing, unique celebrations, language and lifeways of various nations, kids can make Iroquois corn husk dolls, play Washoe stone jacks, design Inupiat sun goggles, or create a Hawaiian Ma'o-hau-hele Bag. A time line, glossary, and recommendations for websites, books, movies, and museums for further study round out this multicultural guide.
Author Biography:
Yvonne Wakim Dennis is the outreach director for Nitchen, Inc., a support agency for indigenous families, and the Nitchen Children's Museum of Native America. She lives in New York City. Arlene Hirschfelder is the author of numerous books on Native Americans. She has been a consultant for the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. She lives in Teaneck, New Jersey.
