11.8.16+and+11.14.16

Discuss: "Struggle"--annotate as a class

Reflective Writing: Stanza Poem

Use Belay’s poem as a model to create a stanza-poem. Using at least two of her images/phrases/words as starters, build on them to describe and explore some of the thematic issues she’s writing about. Consider our discussion earlier.

What are some of the topics, issues, and ideas she wants us to explore?


 * Silencing Native American history
 * Native Americans are still here, not extinct
 * Institutionalized oppression--history class, media, sports
 * Lack of focus on NA issues
 * Mistreatment around land, “out of sight, out of mind”
 * Hiding past mistakes/mistreatment by US government
 * Racial stereotypes/single stories attached to NA
 * Bringing this to our attention, asking us to know/remember that NA were here, are here, and are still fighting/dancing/celebrating/alive

Sample Stanza Poem:

Pushed behind the shadows of the mountain There is a Suffocated history Silencing voices that still Have sound And fury Fighting to not be labeled Extinct Writing poems to keep stories Alive And dancing

Create your own "Stanza Poem" in response to "Struggle" and some ideas you see Belay exploring. You may use one of the ideas off the list we made above to jump start your writing.

WU: Cultural Artifacts

If someone were to create a section in a museum dedicated to you and your culture, what artifacts would be in it? What items would represent you in a material/physical or emotional/spiritual sense? How would you set up these artifacts to paint an accurate picture of you and your culture?

--Books from my Gram and Grampy’s house on the bookshelf my dad made me || --My favorite music would be playing in the background… --Set up like you’re on a trail (running/hiking) || Discuss:
 * Material/Physical: || Emotional/Spiritual: ||
 * --Photos of places I’ve traveled with explanations, my camera
 * 1) Why do we have museums? What do they “do” for us?


 * 1) What is lost and gained in the creation of museums that attempt to preserve or represent culture/history? How can the creation of museums be about power?


 * 1) How can museums create/sustain racial or ethnic stereotypes? How can they perpetuate, or interrupt, single stories?

HW: For next week:

1) Read "Museum Indians" by Susan Power and annotate for connections to:

 * ==museums and how their created/run (like we discussed in class)==
 * ==single stories, racism, institutionalized oppression, internalized oppression==
 * ==literary devices: metaphor, symbol, imagery, personification==
 * ==connections to the article you read for homework last class, or to "Struggle" by Jozy Belay==

Here's a link to the story: https://www.fsd1.org/schools/williams/hgaston/Documents/museum%20indians.pdf

==3) Like we did for "Struggle," craft a "Stanza Poem" in response to "Museum Indians". Again, your goal is to borrow some of Power's phrasing to set off your own writing, which should connect to a main idea that Power's is exploring, or wants her readers to think about.==