Materials

• 1 video The Way of the Willow
• 1 VCR player & monitor (teacher provided)
• 1 audio cassette of the Washoe language
• 1 cassette player (teacher/school provided)
• 1 bag of willow samples
• 1 photograph of a Washoe basket
• 1 class set of Washoe drawings labeled as: (teacher provided)
• Activity Sheet 11a - Carson Valley Scene
• Activity Sheet 11b - Alpine County Scene
• Activity Sheet 11c - Lake Tahoe Scene
• Assorted colored pens, pencils, etc. (teacher/student provided)

Objectives:

• Students will learn how the ancient art of basket weaving is being taught to a new generation of Washoe.
• Students will learn how the Washoe people are in the process of rediscovering their cultural heritage through basket weaving, language and art.
• Students will listen to a sample of ancient Washoe language.
• Students will color a drawing done by a local Washoe artist.
• Students will list what they learned about the environment and the Washoe through Project Willow.

Background:

This final lesson is intended to demonstrate how the Washoe people are in the process of rediscovering their ancient heritage and culture. The lesson is centered around a 18 minute video, The Way of the Willow, produced by television station KNPB of Reno as part of their Nevada Experience series. This video shows students the importance of the willow to the Washoe people. Through the video, students learn how the Washoe are rediscovering the ancient art of basket weaving, traditional food gathering and preparation, language, art, and history. The lesson should help students better understand the role of the Washoe people today, and in the future.

Before You Begin This Lesson:

• You will need to run off enough copies of the Washoe drawing for all students in class.
• You will need a VCR tape player and monitor for this lesson.
• You will need a common audio cassette player to use with the Washoe audio tape provided in the kit.
• You can find fresh willow growing in wet areas throughout the region. If you have time, try bringing in a fresh sample for students to investigate.

Activity:

1. Begin by showing students the photograph of a willow basket. Explain that the willow plant was used to fashion many important tools of the ancient Washoe.

2. Show students the sample of willow. Ask them to begin thinking about what must be done to this plant before it can be woven into a basket.

3. Ask students to imagine trying to weave a basket like that shown in the photograph.

- Where would you begin?

- What would you have to know before you began weaving?

- What materials would you need?

- Where could you learn how to do this?

4. Explain that the ancient Washoe relied on baskets for many different things, but no one has ever written down how exactly to weave a basket. The only way for a person to weave a traditional Washoe basket is to learn from someone who knows how.

5. Ask what might happen if the Washoe people who knew how to weave baskets never taught the technique to anyone else (no new baskets would be made once those people died).

6. Spend a few moments explaining that, until a few years ago, there was concern that the art of Washoe basket weaving would be lost forever as the few remaining elders who knew the technique began dieing off. The Washoe have been recognized around the world as master basket weavers. The thought of losing this important link to their environment helped lead to a cultural awakening within the tribe. It is through the willow that the Washoe are rediscovering their historical roots and culture.

7. Show students the 18 minute video The Way of The Willow.

8. Spend a few minutes discussing key concepts in the tape. Topics you might bring up include:

- What must the willow have to grow properly (good water)

- How do most people view the willow plant (as a weed that should be removed)

- How does the willow plant connect the past with the present and future. (The plant is used in many of the ancient Washoe tools. The elder master weavers are passing on their knowledge and skills to future generations. This tie with the past is important for the Washoe to retain a sense of their cultural heritage).

You may also wish to point out that basket weaving is an incredibly difficult, time consuming activity. This is one reason that the art form nearly died out. Few thought it worth the effort to make a traditional basket. Recently, the Washoe have begun to realize the importance of this craft to their culture, and there has been a resurgence of interest in the ancient craft.

9. Explain that the Washoe are also trying to preserve their unique language and art.

10. Pass out the Washoe drawing provided in the kit. Explain that this sketch was drawn by a local Washoe artist.

11. Encourage students to personalize this drawing by adding color to it.

12. While students are coloring the drawing, play the cassette tape for the class. The cassette contains samples of the ancient Washoe language. You might want to mention that the Washoe language still has no true written form. The written record of the Washoe language is simply an attempt to interpret, in written form, the sounds and words of this unique language.

Closure:

1. Upon hearing the tape, ask students to think back on all they have learned during the course of this unit.

• What things about the environment have they learned that they never knew before?
• What "things" about the Washoe have they learned that was new to them?

2. Instruct students to write down on they back of their drawing one thing new they learned about the environment and one thing new they learned about the Washoe that they never knew before.

You might prefer to have students record their answers in their journals, or incorporate and expand this final closure into a writing assignment - it is up to you.

Evaluation:

The amount of new "things" the students learned will be an indicator of the impact of the lessons.

Lesson 11 Activity Sheet 11a

Today's Washoe Carson Valley Scene

Lesson 11 Activity Sheet 11b

Today's Washoe Alpine County Scene

Lesson 11 Activity Sheet 11c

Today's Washoe Lake Tahoe Scene