Whouy Sze Kuinalth: "Teaching Our Many Grandchildren"

Village Elders and other Native adults in Chistochina and Mentasta, Alaska were asked to share their knowledge and became vital participants in the development of this curriculum, providing input on topics selection, protocol, background information, and cultural relevancy. The importance of this curriculum and teaching model extends beyond the classroom and school walls. It serves as a means to pass on traditional knowledge to students, forming a strong working partnership between the school and community in understanding and solving environmental and health issues that confront the Village. This curriculum is designed to be used, adjusted or adapted in order to meet the individual needs of villages and schools outside the grant area. School districts, schools, and teachers must interface and work with Tribal Councils, Elders, and community members in order to use the information and lessons. This curriculum has been designed to illustrate ways in which Indigenous and Western knowledge systems can be brought to bear in schools through a balanced, comprehensive and culturally-aligned curriculum framework adaptable to local circumstances. This resource is intended to help teachers and students make the connection between the knowledge, skills and ways of knowing used to maintain a livelihood in the villages, and the knowledge, skills and cultural standards for teaching/learning reflected in the school curriculum.