Native American Cultures

Experience traditional Native American culture through dance, music and visual arts. Watch Native Pride the eagle and hoop dances, trace the life of a Navajo weaver, learn how Keith Bear makes a flute, make a listening doll, and meet fancy dancers Larry and Jessup Yazzie.

Video Series

Larry & Jessup Yazzie: Fancy Dancers

Meskwaki Tribe member Larry Yazzie and his son, Jessup, discuss and perform traditional Native American dances.

Video Series

Native Pride Dancers

Watch Native American dancers from the group Native Pride Dancers demonstrate the traditional eagle, fancy, grass and hoop dances.

Video Series

Keith Bear, Flute-Maker

Musician, storyteller and flutemaker Keith Bear sheds light on the art and tradition of making flutes in the Native American tradition in this series of video clips.

Video Series

Joseph Bruchac: The Flute and the Drum

The storyteller explains the origin and significance of the flute and drum in Native American culture

Lesson

Navajo Weaving

Through guided reading of Ten Little Rabbits and hands-on activities students will explore aspects of Native American cultures and Navajo weavings.

Lesson

Life of a Navajo Weaver

Students experiment with interpretative dance as they recreate the weaving process to Native American music.

Lesson

Storyteller Figure by Michelle Paisano, Laguna Pueblo

A Listening Doll

Create a listening doll in the tradition of the Native American storyteller dolls

Lesson

Moccasins Are Made for Dancing

Students will read either of Tomie DePaola’s versions of two Native American legends: The Legend of the Bluebonnet or The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush.

Lesson

Making Rain

In this lesson, students experience rain through several activities, experiments, reading, and performing.

Lesson

Mountain Creation: A Drama Exploration

After examining a poem about mountain creation from a Native American perspective and watching a scientifically-accurate film about mountain formation.

Lesson