Miwok Artisan

As the artisan, you will research the art forms of your tribe. Some examples are: basket weaving, sand painting, weaving, pottery, drawing, painting, writing, music, etc.

Some general information from a fourth grade project can get you started. Go to the Central Valley portion of te site (at the top) and click on your subject http://www.cuca.k12.ca.us/la/tribes.html .

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Native Americans had to make make everything for everyday life. Some of their essential tools, supplies, jewelry, dolls, musical instruments and money are now know to us as “crafts.”

•Did your mom have to make baskets this morning to carry the laundry to the river?

Explore these sites (see LINKS page) and write about them in your journal. Remember that you should take good notes and draw pictures, because you will be using your journal entries to help write your presentation for the Powwow.

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	•BASKET WEAVING http://www.hoodcanal.wednet.edu/herit age%2099%20a/default/a%20basket_map.htm http://library.thinkquest.org/J001677/basket_page.htm (this is a Miwok specific link!) See how they made their baskets below . . . Here is a California basket-maker gathering tule along the edge of a pond. Tule, a tall reed found only near water, is too heavy to use for fine basketry, but they sometimes used the material for other purposes. From one or two species, they made coarse twined baskets and boats. The other was used for such items as house thatch and mats. Source: Reader's Digest (1978). America's Fascinating Indian Heritage. NY: Reader's Digest Association, Inc., p. 268

Source: Reader's Digest (1978). America's Fascinating Indian Heritage. NY: Reader's Digest Association, Inc., p. 268-269
	•CORNHUSK http://www.nativetech.org/cornhusk/index.html
	HAIR PIPES – http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/BAE/Bulletin164/tptoc.htm
	•NATIVE BEADS http://www.nativetech.org/beadwork/index.html

MUSIC

•Music is an important part of Native American culture. It is integral to their religion, ceremonies, and celebrations.

Miwok music can be heard at the following site....

http://library.thinkquest.org/J001677/miwoksongs.html

(If this link will not respond try going to http://library.thinkquest.org/J001677/go_to.htm and click on the SONGS link)

Go may hear other Native music by going to the listening center to hear the DreamWeaver CD/ tape (or other music chosen by your teacher) of Native American Music. •

Respond to each selection that your teacher plays and/or the MIWOK music in your journal and answer the following questions:
- –How the music made them feel?
- –What pictures did the music make?
- –For what purpose do they think this music would be used?

Here are some sites you might try to hear Native American Music (You may need to download "RealAudio 5.0+" in order to play the samples of music. Have your teacher help you if needed.