The Inuit Big Culture Lesson

The Inuit Big Culture Lesson which took place during the fall and winter of 2003-2004, focused on 6th grade students’ study of Canadian culture and more broadly, the study of art as a reflection of culture. The Dennos Museum Center has one of the most extensive and historically complete Canadian Inuit art collections in the US with over 1000 pieces that reflect various aspects of Inuit life and culture. The art of local Native American tribes, including the Anishinaabek of Grand Traverse Bay, similarly reflects their values and heritage. Therefore, exploring the traditions of these two native cultures becomes a rich foundation for the Inuit Big Culture Lesson.

The Inuit Big Culture Lesson was a collaboration between the Dennos Museum Center, Central Grade TAG, Eastern Elementary and Willow Hill Elementary Schools’ 6th Grade classes, and our local Native American community.

This project is funded by a grant that the Dennos Museum Center received from the Michigan Council for Arts an Cultural Affairs.

Preparation

The participants in the planning process included Kathleen Buday, Museum Curator of Education and Interpretation, Mary Bader and Pat Fulkerson, Museum Docents; Jim Linsell, Kelli Hannum-Spencer, and Pam McMurray, sixth grade TCAPS teachers; John Bailey, Odawa Native American and historian, and Christopher Bishop, filmmaker. This group met bi-weekly at the museum from September through January to discuss the program’s objectives and coordinate school and museum visits. The three teachers also met separately to discuss and prepare their pre and post- visit activities and lesson plans.

School Program: Week-Long Museum Visit

The heart of the Inuit Partnership Big Culture Lesson is a weeklong visit by students and teachers to the Dennos Museum Center for five consecutive half-days during the semester, immersing them in in-depth study of art as a reflection of culture. Each day includes time for gallery exploration and journal reflection. Students work with Museum staff and docents, artists and specialists, followed each day with teacher-led lessons and independent time to reflect in journals provided by the program.

The Inuit Partnership Program

The Dennos Museum Center holds a collection of nearly 1,000 works of Inuit art from the Canadian Arctic and has a permanent gallery devoted to showcasing works from this collection. Because of this extensive Inuit Art Collection. an Inuit Partnership Program was created that complements the sixth grade curriculum study of Canada with enrichment activities focusing on specific Inuit themes. Teachers and museum specialists work together to present programs that connect with Michigan Department of Education guidelines for Social Studies, Language Arts and Fine Arts. The program is available for sixth grade level classes and is offered from September through May of each academic year. Due to the extensive planning and coordination necessary for this program, such a partnership is provided on a first come, first served basis.

Educators Support

Teachers may receive support materials relating to our Inuit art collection. Materials cover culture, economics, art, government, history, language and other related topics. Additional support includes suggested teaching schedules, model rubrics and assessment tools. Teachers may utilize the Museum's extensive Inuit research library as well as the expertise of the Dennos' curator, education department and specially trained docents.

Educational Links to Inuit Information:

• Learn the latest facts about Nunavut
  www.nunavut.com
• "Kids Stop" - Great information on many subjects
  www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ks/index_e.html
• Great site to learn about the Inukitut language - has video clips of the language being spoken
  www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ks/5020_e.html
• John Houston's gallery website containing information on Inuit art and culture
  www.houston-north-gallery.ns.ca

At left: Docents discuss Inuit life while visiting a 6th grade class. At right: Docents visiting a 6th grade class let a student wear Inuit snow goggles.
At left: 6th graders work on creating stencils during their Inuit Partnership Day at the Dennos Museum Center. At right: 6th graders create Inuit parkas during their Inuit Partnership Day at the Museum.
At left: A 6th grader takes his turn at an Inuit kicking game during an Inuit Partnership Day. At right: 6th graders learn an Inuit dance during an Inuit Partnership Day at the Museum.
At left: A docent discusses legends in the Inuit Gallery during Partnership Day. At right: Docents go all out to teach 6th graders about Inuit culture.

Inuit Partnership Photos by Dennis Keenon