Spirit of the Eagle Presentations

The following information may be useful to those who are anticipating a visit from Spirit of the Eagle
Presentations.  This is not a complete list of topics to be discussed at each program but merely a guideline for
instructors to prepare students for the presentation. The following curriculum guide(pdf format) can be
downloaded and printed or individual items can be enlarged for better viewing.  

Highlight the Rosette below to receive the 2010 Spirit of the Eagle Curriculum Guide.

Vocabulary terms
Nomad, ancestors, renewable resource, tipi, bison/buffalo, Sioux, Plains, migrate (migration)
Modern life, Reservations, Pemmican

Animals   It is possible these animals will be discussed.  Depending on the age of the students you may wish to show pictures
and discuss these animals.   
buffalo/bison, wolf, coyote, fox, deer, bear, elk, Opossum,porcupine, rabbit, Hawk, Eagle, raccoon, chipmunk

Discussion Questions  The following are some questions for use either before or after the presentation.

Why was it important for the Plains tribes to respect the buffalo?
Why was it important for the Plains tribes to move from place to Place?
Explain the Similarities and differences in education to modern schooling.
What methods did the Sioux use to hunt the  buffalo?
What did  the Sioux (Lakota) do for enjoyment?
What happened if someone got sick?
What was the bravest thing a Sioux man could do?
What four qualities were most important to the Lakota?
What types of tools were used by men and women?
What qualities were important in choosing a leader?
How was leadership different for the Sioux than modern times?

Research idea
Allow students to discuss/research their personal ancestry.   Discuss their ancestors  clothing styles,
homes, gender roles.   Mapping skills can be brought in on project as children locate where they are
from.  Compare and contrast it with how life was lived by the Plains cultures.

• American Museum of Natural History Collections Database   Very cool pictures! Great for researching artifacts.
• Native American resource for Dancing, music and more Powwows.com
• Lakota Creation Story
• Native American Lore Index site. Lots of Good Stories to read
• Learn how to do traditional porcupine quill work at  NativeTech
• The Saskatchewan First Nations Heritage Site is designed to serve as a resource for compiling and sharing information related to the language, culture, arts, history, and current affairs of the Dene, Woodland Cree, Swampy Cree, Plains Cree, Saulteaux, Dakota, Nakota, and Lakota.
• Lakhota  Sioux Heritage, Culture and Language site
• Lakota books, tapes, and much more
• More Lakota Language with some samples too.
• Lakota Electronic texts with information about Games played in the past.
• Lodge of Sunkmanitu Tanka An Informational site containing Lakota Language, Culture and Much more.  
• Reese tipis web site.  One Company available to purchase tipis. This site has some nice pictures.

Suggested Reading  

Belitz, Larry The Buffalo Hide Tipi of the Sioux,  Pine Hill Press, Sioux Falls, SD 2006.
Bruchac, Joseph. Code Talker, Scholastic, New York 2005.
Bruchac, Joseph. Native American Animal Stories, Fulcrum Publishing, Golden, Colorado 1992.
Freedman, Russell. Indian Chiefs, Scholastic Inc. New York, 1991.
Goble, Paul. Tipi Home of the Nomadic Buffalo Hunters , World Wisdom Inc. 2007.
Goble, Paul, Dream Wolf, Bradbury Press, New York, 1990.
Goble, Paul, Buffalo Woman, Macmillan Publishing Company, New York, 1984.
McGovern, Ann. If you lived with the Sioux Indians,  Scholastic Inc.
Osborne, Mary Pope.  Buffalo Before Breakfast,  Magic Tree House #18, Random House, New York, 1999

Video
Native Americans People of the Plains, Rainbow Educational Media, Discovery Education  Florence, KY.

Spirit of the Eagle Presentations

Jon Jordan

(815) 354-7063

soe9972@yahoo.com