Teacher Workshops

Workshop Description

As educators, we sincerely wish to portray accurately the culture and history of Abenaki people who have lived, and continue to live, in the Monadnock region. This task can be difficult when appropriate resources are often limited, unavailable, outdated, or inaccurate. We have concerns about using proper language and pronunciation, the use of appropriate books and art, and the accuracy of much of the history that has been written and told by non-native people. This workshop is designed to help fill this void.

Embracing the Native Heritage in the Monadnock Region will be a three day teacher workshop for any educator seeking to expand their knowledge on the history and culture of Native Americans in the Monadnock Region over the past 15,000 years.

The workshop will offer sessions on the region's archaeology and how Native culture has evolved; Abenaki history and how they maintained aspects of their culture thought wars and assimilation into the twenty-first century; appropriate Native American books to use in the classroom; making traditional crafts with classroom activities; listening and sharing oral stories; and a field trip to visit archaeological sites in the region.

The workshop will be a mix of lectures and activities all supported by a teacher packet with handouts.

Workshop Presenters

Bob Goodby, is the workshop's humanist, and Associate Professor of Anthropology at Franklin Pierce University. Bob has more than two decades of excavating and studying Native American archaeological sites in northern New England, including several important sites in the Monadnock Region. Bob will be leading the session on the region's archaeology and the Friday field trip.

David Stewart-Smith is a scholar of Scottish and Pennacook decent, and serves as a historian for the New Hampshire Intertribal Council. His interests and research on Indian archaeology and history in New Hampshire span more than 30 years. David will talk about the history of the Abenaki in during Session 4.

Liz Charlebois is an Abenaki crafts person, artist, and traditional basket maker who helps keep this essential part of the Abenaki culture alive. Liz will be sharing her skills, classroom activities, and history during Session 5.

Tom Haynes is HSCC's Director of Education. He will be offering sessions on appropriate Native American children's books to use in the classroom, simple Native crafts for children to make, and classroom activities that use oral stories during the first day of the workshop.

Tentative Schedule

Wednesday: 27 June - Day 1
8:30     Registration
9:00     Session 1: Monadnock Region's Archaeological History w/ Bob Goodby
12:30   Session 2: Appropriate Native American Children's Books w/ Tom Haynes
2:00     Session 3: Native Crafts and Oral Stories for the Classroom w/ Tom Haynes
3:00     Reflection and Discussion Time

Thursday: 28 June - Day 2
9:00     Session 4: The Monadnock Region's Abenaki History and Heritage w/ David
            Stewart-Smith
12:30   Session 5: Abenaki Beading, Basket Making & History w/ Liz Charlebois
3:00     Reflection and Discussion Time

Friday: 29 June - Day 3
9:00     Session 7: Archaeological Field Study w/ Bob Goodby
3:00     Reflection and Discussion Time, Evaluations, Closing

The workshop will be held at HSCC, 246 Main Street in Keene, and limited to 26 teachers. Lunch and refreshments will be provided on Wednesday and Thursday. Each participant will need to bring their own food for the Friday field trip. Teachers will earn 18 hours of professional development credit for attending all three days.

For further information, please email Tom Haynes or phone 603-352-1895. If you would like to attend this workshop, pleae click to print a registration form.

We want to thank our workshop sponsors: New Hampshire Humanities Council and Arial Printing for their generous support.