WASHOE CULTURE

Unit Outline:

 1. CULTURE: Students are introduced to the concept of culture, and investigate why we learn about our own and other cultures. They also explore their own cultural heritage using a family tree activity.

 2. STEREOTYPES AND PREJUDICE: AN EXERCISE IN POSITIVE ACTION: Students learn about the concepts of prejudice and stereotypes and attempt to avoid them as we discuss culture. They also learn about and practice empathy, identifying feelings, and getting along with others.

 3. THE WASHOE AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT, PAST AND PRESENT: A MAPPING ACTIVITY: Students are introduced to the Washoe and their territory, past and present, through a map exercise.

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SEASONS OF WASHOE LIFE: this background information for teachers introduces and answers some basic questions about the next four lessons, which present the traditional seasonal activities of the Washoe.

 4. SPRINGTIME: FISHING AT DA-OW-'AH-GA: Students learn about the cultural aspects of the traditional Washoe-fishing season at Lake Tahoe, and participate in some of the traditional and contemporary games and dances of the Washoe.

 5. THE GATHERING SEASON: Students learn about the cultural aspects of the traditional Washoe gathering season, and prepare pine nuts.

 6. THE HUNTING SEASON: Students learn about the cultural aspects of the traditional Washoe hunting season, prepare and eat some contemporary Indian foods, and learn about some of the ways, other than as food, in which the Washoe used the animals they hunted.

 7. A WASHOE WINTER: Students learn about the importance of the baskets, tools, and shelters made during the traditional Washoe winter, and demonstrate their understanding by making a diorama of a traditional Washoe winter scene.

 8. STORYTELLING: Students experience the entertainment and educational value of Washoe stories on videotape.

 9. WASHOE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY LIFE: Students learn about the traditional family and community relations of the Washoe, and how theyhave changed or remained the same since the arrival of white settlers.

 10. WASHOE LIFE EVENTS AND CEREMONIES: Students learn about how the Washoe recognized and still recognize life events, such as birth, marriage, death, etc., and construct their own paper model baby baskets.

 11. THE ARRIVAL OF THE WHITE SETTLERS: Students learn about some of the effects of the arrival of white settlers on traditional Washoe life, and try to empathize with the Washoe people of the 1850'S.

 12. WASHOE LEADERS: Students learn about and research accomplished Washoe men and women of the past 150 years.

 13. WASHOE TODAY: Students are introduced to the contemporary demography and government of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California.

 Appendix A: Washoe Vocabulary and Activities

 Appendix B: Storytelling Activities

 Appendix C: Worksheets