| Years of cultural oppression and loss have
caused many Native American adults to experience grief and
shame related to their culture and heritage. Rebecca Kreth,
Director of the Native American Early Learning Project at
Puget Sound ESD says, “ There is a long history of our
standardized educational settings devaluing of the role culture
and tradition play in long term success for American Indian
and Alaska Native children. Our project is working to find
ways to help teachers and families improve child outcomes
through the incorporation of Native American traditions and
culture into meaningful learning experiences for young children.”
The Native American Early Learning Project creates and demonstrates
a variety of learning experiences for children and families
that weave Native culture and pride into activities. Children
get to play, explore, and learn critical pre-reading and pre-math
skills in creative new ways.
Visiting early childhood classrooms that have American Indian
and Alaska Native children enrolled, the Native American Early
Learning Project staff work in partnership with teaching and
family support staff to plan classroom activities and family
gatherings. The family gatherings focus on encouraging adults
in Native children’s lives to explore the power that
incorporating traditional stories, crafts and activities have
in enhancing self image and improving children’s long
term success in learning.
Family night: Food, stories, and fun
During the month of March, Native American families participating
in the Native American Early Learning Project explored the
powerful role that storytelling can play in creating joy and
motivation for their children.
Gene Tagaban, noted Tlingit storyteller and actor, shared
his wisdom and talent for Native flute and storytelling. While
children, families and staff from the Chief Leschi School
ECEAP and FACE classes enjoyed dinner together, Gene played
the flute. After the meal, children and families gathered
to listen to stories and dances. Asking family members to
sit behind him and the children to sit in front of him, Gene
asked the families to watch the faces of their children as
they listened to the stories. He also asked that they note
body language and behaviors of their children and how their
children participated when asked to respond.
 As
Gene told stories, his words and movement held both children
and adults. After several stories, many of which incorporated
audience participation, Gene asked the families to describe
what they had seen. He talked about the powerful role storytelling
had in building a love of story and language, and how the
attention to and inclusion of Native stories by family members
help to create a value for learning and culture that young
children respect and will follow.
After the storytelling, families were invited to personalize
their book baskets, creating an honored way to hold books
at home. Families worked together, using the baskets and a
wonderful array of decorative beads, feathers, raffia and
textiles. Children and their families were then given a Native
storybook, parenting information and a laminated, reusable
name strip to place in the basket to begin their family literacy
basket. The attention to the project by families, and the
joy in the faces of the children participating was obvious
and powerful.
To learn more about other activities and ideas, or to receive
the Native American Early Learning Project newsletter, contact
Rebecca Kreth at rkreth@psesd.org.
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