I am one of three teachers in an Icelandic college (pre-university, age
c.18-20) teaching an experimental inter-disciplinary course dealing with
the history, culture and beliefs of the Native American nations. As part
of their work on this course, our students are expected to concentrate
on one particular nation, and really sink themselves as much as possible
into the world view and culture of the people in this nation, and do a
research project on their findings.
Our belief is that it is not enough to merely read history books and
anthropological works on Native American people (which often contain
important errors), but also to try and have direct contact with Native
Americans themselves, partly through their myths and legends, but
ideally through writing to them and asking for their opinions on the
so-called facts in the history books and the image the students have
gained from films. We believe that this direct contact will help to
remove certain misunderstandings, and improve their conception of the
Native American world. Direct contact is by far the best. It can change
lives. In this sense, e-mail contact is perfect.
We are therefore asking for any help that people are prepared to give
us. (The least we can offer is information about Iceland in return,
and/ or contact with this icy island in the north). In short, are there
any members of the following nations who would be prepared to have a
little contact with our (very eager and excited) students and answer a
few questions from them - and correct previous misconceptions:
Apache, Navajo, Zuni, Hopi, Comanche, Pawnee, Blackfeet, Sioux, Cheyenne,
Cherokee, Ojibway, Iroquois (Six Nations), Kwakiutl.
Ideally, we would like to have contact with students of these nations
who are in school or university, but really we are anxious for any
direct conact at all. (We are aware this list is not terribly original,
but our available books for research are limited - hopefully this is
merely a doorway for the students into further study.)
We taught this course once before, and at that time received a good
response from some very kind members of the Native-L list. Their help
made all the difference. We hope that the same thing will occur again
this time. What we aim for is greater world contact, and greater world
understanding.
Many thanks in advance, and best regards to all from the frozen north,
Terry Gunnell
(Head of English, Hamrahlid College, Reykjavik, Iceland)
[ Please send replies directly to Terry, by sending a new message to the
address "gunnel@ismennt.is" rather than responding to the message from
the LISTSERV containing this article (for those of you reading this
article via the NATIVE-L mailing list). Those reading it via Usenet
should send a personal message rather than a followup, since Terry is
not accessing "soc.culture.native" or "alt.native" to the best of my
knowledge. Thanks. --Gary (gst@gnosys.svle.ma.us) ]