This children's book describes how Pablo, a young Mexican boy, and his family celebrate the Day of the Dead (El Dia de Los Muertos). This holiday takes place on the first and second day of November and honors relatives and friends who have died. The holiday celebrates their spiritual return to Earth to share a special feast with the living, and…

Utilizing 1991-92 Pennsylvania Department of Education Section 353 Special Demonstration Project Funding, the Fayette County Community Action Agency, Inc. Education Center conducted a cookbook and stories project. It was designed to encourage English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students to maintain their cultural heritage while learning about that…

This bilingual (English and Spanish) illustrated children's book relates the story of Carlos, a young boy who lives with his aunt Nina and dog Chico in the small Mexican town of San Bernardo. Nina and Carlos are poor, but their house is full of love. Carlos is excited because he is getting ready to attend the first night of "las…

Among Mexico's most original traditions is the holiday dedicated to honoring the dead, Dia de los Muertos, November 2. This tradition combines aspects that define the national spirit. At the same time that it is a solemn festivity to remember the dead, it becomes a fiesta in its own right. Death, more than a thing to be feared, becomes the motif…

Discussing the different ways people (including Chinese, Greek, African-American, English, and Cuban) celebrate with food, this book presents a brief account of various celebrations followed by a short story involving each celebration. Celebrations discussed in the book are family parties, birthday parties, school parties, surprise parties, and…

One in a series of stories of the Blackfeet Indians, this short novel is set in the late 1800's when the life of the Blackfeet centered around horses and buffalo, and they were one of the most powerful tribes on the northern plains. The novel consists of 12 chapters, each with a full-page illustration, and tells the story of Lame Bear, a boy who…

This book, one of a series, shows how to help children develop a sense of personal, local, and national history. The message of the series urges parents and children to spend time together, talk about stories, and learn together. The first part of each book presents stories appropriate for varying grade levels, both younger children and those in…

The article uses an interdisciplinary approach to reexamine the literary form and merit of a Zuni ritual narrative poem from the midwinter Shalako ceremonies. After describing the poem's cultural context, the article addresses its shape, structure, language, and style. The article includes the English language text of the poem. (SB)

Traditional and contemporary Hupa songs as sung by a Hupa medicine woman in her 70's are collected in this booklet. Songs are presented in Hupa and English on facing pages that are illustrated with pen and ink drawings. The four songs are "Flower Dance Song" and "Kick Dance Song" (both for traditional religious ceremonial…

Written for children, this story is one in a series about the history of the Blackfeet from the precontact period to the mid-nineteenth century. The story begins when the tribe first encounters gunfire in a battle with the Plains Cree, then their neighbors to the east. A Blackfeet warrior is killed and the others return home to tell the chiefs and…

Cooperation is one of the central motivating forces in the economic and social organization of China. This unit utilizes a game called "Broken Squares" to initiate a discussion of the concepts of cooperation and competition as possible models for problem solving. In the game, students are confronted with a group task and provided with…

This book documents meetings with Native American elders who shared their tribal stories of origin, sacred traditions, social life and customs, and traditional wisdom. The idea for the book began when a Cherokee medicine man requested that his tribal knowledge be documented for future generations. For the past 10 years, the spiritual elders of…

In their own language, Tewa Pueblo people have no word for art. Pottery, painting, embroidery, dancing, and other "art" forms are not considered separate from life; they are synonymous with work, thoughts, and expressions. In this collection, artwork by the children of Santa Clara, San Ildefonso, San Juan, Pojoaque, and Nambe Pueblos…

Cherokee students at the Qualla Boundary started a student organization in 1973 to improve educational prospects among Native Americans attending non-Indian colleges and universities. Because cultural conflict was perceived as playing a crucial role in the failure of Cherokee students in higher education, a major objective of the group was to…

One in a series of curriculum materials on Southeast Alaska Natives, this booklet contains seven myths and legends from the Haida oral tradition, each accompanied by discussion questions and suggested learning activities. Intended for use in the intermediate grades, the stories are two to four pages long with many Haida words included in the text…