The purpose of this project is to disseminate the materials, information, and insights that I gained during the Summer of 1997 when I represented CUSD at a month-long seminar, "Voices and Dreams," held at Saddleback College on Native American Literature and Cultures. This was a Faculty Development Project funded by NEH that enrolled 14 instructors, 12 from Saddleback College and 2 from the feeder districts, Saddleback Valley Unified School District and CUSD. We met several ties during the Spring, and then from June 2 to June 27, 1997 we met daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eminent scholar-teachers were Russell Thornton (Cherokee), UCLA Professor of Anthropology; Hank Stevens (Osage), UCI Assistant Professor of Anthropology; Greg Sarris (Pomo/Miwok), author and UCLA Professor of English; Georgiana Sanchez (Chumash/Papago), poet and CSULB Professor of American Indian Studies; Kenneth Lincoln, UCLA Professor of English and American Indian Studies; and Craig Stone, artist and CSULB Professor of Art. This seminar was not only enlightening, but inspirational and will be reflected in all its participants' future teaching efforts for years to come. My mentor project will inservice CUSD's 7th through 12th grade history and language arts teachers on the art, history and literature of Native American cultures during a 5-week, 15-hour seminar held either at Saddleback College or at a central school site in the CUSD area. This seminar will include many of the guest speakers, videotapes, booklets, internet materials, and demonstrations that were part of "Voices and Dreams." I hope to hold this 5-week seminar during the summer of 1998 or the early fall of 1998.
The language arts, social science and art teachers who take this proposed seminar will have a deeper understanding of the indigenous cultures of North and South American and their enormous contributions to our culture. California is quickly becoming the only state in America with no one dominant culture, but our teaching materials do not accurately reflect the multi-cultural nature of our society. This in-depth study of Native American literature, art, history and traditions can provide a richer understanding of the complexity of our society as well as new and exciting methods for teaching cultural diversity
First, to inservice the districts 7th through 12 grade art, social science, and language arts teachers on Native American art, literature and history by providing a 5-week, 15-hour seminar that will include guest speakers from various Indian nations, videotapes, texts, and works of literature both oral and written.
Second, to provide texts and supplementary materials to the District's teachers that will supplement our course offerings at the secondary level: U.S. History, World Literature, American Literature, 9th and 10th grade English, and American Cultures.
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