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When the students finished adding color to their artwork, they cut out the "garment" and wrote a description explaining how the design represents the person they chose to honor.
My Friday classes didn't have as much time as the Monday/Tuesday classes, so to save time, they worked on smaller paper, didn't cut out their garments, and wrote out a symbol "key" on the front instead of attaching a separate piece of paper.
*The initial inspiration for this lesson came from a National Museum of the American Indian resource. It was available on their website (www.NMAI.si.edu) under explore, for educators and students but the link doesn't seem to be working today.
Background
The Give Away Horses dress was created by beaders in the Growing Thunder family. Each design element is a symbol that helps tell the story of how Joyce’s grandparents would have a ceremony to give away horses in honor of their grandchildren. The women sewed beads on the dress for 16 hours a day to complete the piece for an exhibit at the National Museum of the American Indian.
In addition to the images from NMAI, I found some cool pictures in a FiberArts magazine review. The article said that some
warriors wore shirts that “were decorated with personal images and designs that
symbolized the deeds and valor of their wearers". (FiberArts Magazine, Beauty, Honor, and Tradition: The Legacy of Plains Indian Shirts).
I loved your idea on Native American. I am na English teacher in Brazil, South América and thanks you a lot.
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