Wholistic Curriculum

There are two goals for First Nations education:

1. to reinforce a strong sense of First Nations identity, through cultural activities, and
2. to make a good living in modern society.

The essence of wholistic curriculum is to do the following:

• blend the two goals together;
• bring culturally relevant activities into the school system in a "real-life" way;
• find positive ways to show the value of the local First Nations culture in the school setting;
• show how those values are still important to contemporary First Nations people;
• understand how First Nations values have been changed by modern society; and
• help build a sense of pride, and self-esteem in students through their culture.

Example: Drummaking
ACTIVITY	SKILLS	COMMENTS
1. DRUM MAKING	WOOD WORKING Wood bending Working with wood working tools
	HIDES Working with hides
	LEARNING ABOUT DRUMS Philosophy of drums Importance of drums
	ART First Nations' art styles Drawing Painting Learning how to use basic woodworking tools Interfacing two types of materials, wood and hide, with different shrinking/expanding characteristics Research/make drums from other cultures Learn about various First Nations' art styles such as West Coast Art ing inks/paints/etc.
2. SINGING & DANCING	LEARNING SONGS/DANCES Research local songs/dances Interviewing of elders/singers/dancers
	PERFORMING Learning how to do basic research, including use of tape recorder, framing questions, showing respect by presenting elder with gift, learning the local protocol around use of songs and dances, etc. Learn how to public speak and perform in public
3. MAKING REGALIA	BUTTON BLANKETS Sewing Research family crests & clans West Coast art on appliqué Holding a Button Blanket Ceremony
	DRESSES/LEGGINGS/SHIRTS Styles Sewing Beading
	HEADGEAR/ETC Other regalia important to the local community Learning about self in relationship to the community Learning how to take an art form and modify it to fit a different medium Cultural research Potluck = cooking/planning/etc. Cultural changes that have occurred
4. TOURING	PLANNING Where to go How to "sell" group Fund-raising
	TOURING Booking performances Booking hotel rooms Budget monitoring Getting along Math Reading/writing Self-esteem Cultural awareness Sharing culture with others Professional conduct	All kinds of activities that relate to achieving a goal
5. EXPANSION	BUSINESS How to use hide remnants Cultural awareness Bookkeeping Running a small business
	TEACHING Teaching younger students to sing/dance, make drums, etc.
	STICK GAMBLING Bringing community into a cultural activity in a positive way Start small business selling remnants by designing rattles/small drums/etc and advertise and selling kits Computers to monitor accounts and write letters/etc.
6. MONITOR	COMMUNITY INPUT Community helps give direction to what is being done
7. OTHER IDEAS	SNOWSHOE MAKING How to make snow shoes Using them afterwards Bush safety Winter travel Helping others Etc.	Making snowshoes and NOT using them degrades the value of snowshoes. Snowshoes were an important way of travelling. They were also important in creating determination, character, etc. in a person. But to create determination and character, the snowshoes must be use in real life situations.