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The 2009-2010 Nation of the Month program kicked off with a study of the Oneida Nation.
In our first activity, grades 4-7 picked corn at the Oneida Community Gardens. The students learned about seed selection and braiding corn.
The students enjoyed a beautiful display of Oneida Nation items in our front lobby. Our deep appreciation goes out to the McLester family for their care and effort in making this display possible. Among the items werea model of a long house in both summer and winter depictions, a traditional Oneida dress, an elaborate headdress and Oneida arts.
Students attended a number of assemblies featuring various representatives from the Oneida Nation. The heard the Oneida Singers perform hymns in their native language, learned about the Oneida culture and had a lesson in social dancing with students from the Oneida Nation High School in our gymnasium. The children were also entertained with story telling when a big sister to two of our students read a story in the Oneida language and followed with the English translation. The story explained how the chipmunk got its stripes. (The black bear did it with its claws.)
Grades 3-7 visited the Oneida Nation Museum to learn the history of the Oneida Nation. They also participated in the art of making Corn Husk Dolls. While they were assembling the dolls, the students learned the legend of the corn husk doll and why they have no face. They learned that vanity can be an obstacle that prevents us from accomplishing our appointed tasks and purpose.
Finally, the art room enjoyed the visit of a local Oneida Artist who shared more of the creative arts and symbolism of the Oneida Nation. Here she is with 4K and Kindergarten students.
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