Menu
Search
Browse by Grade & Subjects

Grade

Subjects

Native American Heritage Month | Periscope

Photo: Native American child dressed in traditional tribal attire

November is Native American Heritage Month. 

This month's Periscope takes a look at the national and local importance of Native American heritage. We celebrate the first South Carolinians and the first Americans. The observation began as "American Indian Day" in 1915. Prior to that, Red Fox James, a Blackfeet Indian, rode horseback across the United States seeking support for the event. His 4,000 mile trip covered 24 states. Native American Heritage Month is now an official observation.

Resource Type
Tradition: The Cherokee Language | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Tradition: The Cherokee Language | Periscope
Episode 15
Tradition: The Cherokee Language Children in Snowbird schools learn the Cherokee language at a young age. They, in turn, may teach a future generation of students the language. In the early part of...
Mound Ceremony | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Mound Ceremony | Periscope
Episode 14
Mound Ceremony During the Mound Ceremony, people bring a turtle shell full of dirt from their homes. Participants then walk around a sacred fire seven times, one time for each of the seven Cherokee...
Tradition: The Fading Voices Festival | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Tradition: The Fading Voices Festival | Periscope
Episode 13
Tradition: The Fading Voices Festival Each year, on the Saturday before Memorial Day, the Fading Voices Festival is held in Snowbird. The festival commemorates community elders and celebrates Cherokee...
Tradition: The Trail of Tears Singing | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
Tradition: The Trail of Tears Singing | Periscope
Episode 12
Tradition: The Trail of Tears Singing Every year since 1968, the Snowbird Cherokee have held a ceremony called "The Trail of Tears Singing." The ceremony is held in memory of the Cherokee who were...
Tradition: Gadugi | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Tradition: Gadugi | Periscope
Episode 11
Tradition: Gadugi (ga-doo-gee) The word gadugi means "working together." Originally, the gadugi were a group of people in a Cherokee community who helped others in a time of need. The gadugi planted...
Children Learn Cherokee Language | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Children Learn Cherokee Language | Periscope
Episode 10
In Snowbird, some children learn the Cherokee language before they learn English. There are festivals to celebrate Cherokee ancestors and elders and the changing of seasons. Traditional arts, dance...
Tradition and The Snowbird | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
Tradition and The Snowbird | Periscope
Episode 9
Over 500 Cherokee now live on tribal lands that make up the Snowbird Community. Tribal lands, or reservations, are protected for use by Native Americans. The Snowbird Cherokee have kept much of their...
Snowbird Cherokee Community | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Snowbird Cherokee Community | Periscope
Episode 8
The Snowbird Cherokee community looks like a typical American community in many ways. There are schools, churches, cars and roads. The Snowbird Cherokee play on local football teams and Snowbird youth...
Chapter 3: The Snowbird Cherokee | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
Chapter 3: The Snowbird Cherokee | Periscope
Episode 7
Only a few Cherokee escaped the Indian Removal Act. Those who remained found safe hiding places in the remote mountains and valleys of Appalachia. Today, the Snowbird community is home to many...
Map: Trail of Tears National History Trail | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
Map: Trail of Tears National History Trail | Periscope
Episode 6
Between 1838 and 1839, over 15,000 Cherokee people were forced to march over 800 miles. The Cherokee's dangerous route began in the Appalachian mountains and ended in Oklahoma. Over 4,000 Cherokee...
Chapter 2: The Trail of Tears | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
Chapter 2: The Trail of Tears | Periscope
Episode 5
So what became of the once grand Cherokee nation? In 1830, the United States Congress passed the Indian Removal Act. The government of the United States wanted to move Native Americans from land in...
Legendary War Chief, Oconostota | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Legendary War Chief, Oconostota | Periscope
Episode 4
Oconostota: The original site of Echota was flooded while building a lake, but prior to its loss, archaeologist John Green discovered the grave site of the legendary war chief, Oconostota. Photo...
Cherokee Government, Trade & More | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
Cherokee Government, Trade & More | Periscope
Episode 3
The Cherokee had a system of government, trade and a religious order. The Cherokee also had a capital city. In the 1700s, the capital of the Cherokee tribe was Echota, which means "a peaceful place."...
Chapter 1: The Early Cherokee | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
Chapter 1: The Early Cherokee | Periscope
Episode 2
The group of Native Americans known as the Cherokee have lived in the southeastern United States for thousands of years. Their population at one time numbered over 20,000 people. Before the 1800s...
Snowbird Cherokee | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
Snowbird Cherokee | Periscope
Episode 1
More than likely, you have heard of the Cherokee Indian tribe. Before the 1800s, they were one of the largest tribes in the eastern United States. After the 1800s, the Cherokee people still living in...
Dreamcatcher | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Dreamcatcher | Periscope
Episode 10
We saw many Native American crafts at the powwow. Jewelry, clothing, and crafts such as "dreamcatchers" were popular items. The origin of the dreamcatcher is hard to determine. Different tribes...
Arts, Crafts and Food! Fry Bread | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Arts, Crafts and Food! Fry Bread | Periscope
Episode 9
Arts, Crafts and Food! Have you ever tasted fry bread or made a dreamcatcher? Powwows are great places to experience Native American crafts, clothing and food. Fry bread can be found at most powwows...
The Grass Dance | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
The Grass Dance | Periscope
Episode 8
The Grass Dance originated with northern tribes, and was eventually passed down to southern tribes. It gets its name from the tradition of tying sweetgrass to the belts of the dancers. Today, the...
The Jingle Dress Dance | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
The Jingle Dress Dance | Periscope
Episode 7
The Jingle Dress Dance is a dance for girls and women. The regalia for the Jingle Dress dance features a skirt adorned with small bells. The bells jingle loudly to the beat of the dances. This dance...
Fancy Dances | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Fancy Dances | Periscope
Episode 6
Fancy Dances are more lively, colorful, and exaggerated. These dances began in the 20th century as different tribes around the country started meeting through powwows. The dancers shared moves and...
Traditional Dances | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Traditional Dances | Periscope
Episode 5
Traditional Dances have been passed down many generations. The dances often represent a hunter as he stalks his prey, or a warrior looking for his enemies. Many of these dances originated with Native...
Dance | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
Dance | Periscope
Episode 4
One of the most important parts of a powwow is dancing. Dancers in fancy costumes perform steps to songs of the drum circle. Sometimes different tribes, or Indian Nations, dance together. This is...
The Drum Circle | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
The Drum Circle | Periscope
Episode 3
The Drum Circle symbolizes the heart beat of the earth. Thunderous powwow drums, sometimes called community drums, are made of wood and have heads of elk, moose, buffalo, horse, or cow. Native...
The Grand Entry | Periscope

Photo

Grades

  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
The Grand Entry | Periscope
Episode 2
The Grand Entry At the beginning of a powwow, there is a "Grand Entry." During the Grand Entry, everyone rises to their feet as an elder leads a parade of dancers into a round arena. Participants hold...