Teacher Resources
Jane Ash Poitras
Living in the Storm Too Long, 1992Video Interview
Essential Questions
- Who discovered America?
- If people were living here already, how does "discovery" apply?
- Can people really "own" land?
Discussions
- Why did Poitras have problems with elders?
- What is the significance of 1992?
- What is the Law of the Seven Fires?
- What is a stereotype?
- What are popular culture stereotypes?
- How would life be different if the "discoverers" had adopted the First Nations' way of life?
Suggested Activity
- Consider some of the stereotypes you have either experienced or observed in your school, on television or in your personal life.
- How would you visually interpret these experiences? Maybe you have written something about these experiences and could use these writings to get you started.
- What medium would you use, paint, oil pastels, or collage? Would you incorporate found objects as Poitras has done?
Evaluation
Resources
- Jane Ash Poitras
http://www.inuitfinearts.com/paintings/poitras/index.html - Racial Prejudice
http://www.understandingprejudice.org/ - Indigenous relationship to the land
http://www.mnh.si.edu/biodiversity/aislynn1.htm#introduction - Family History
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/migrations/seek2/present2.html - First Nations Art
http://www.americanpentimento.com/art.htm - Native Arts
http://www.sicc.sk.ca/native_arts/links2.htm - Indigenous Storytelling/Digital
http://www.horizonzero.ca/index.php?pp=29&lang=0#- - History of Canadian Women
http://www.heroines.ca/resources/links.html#art
