A RESOURCE GUIDE FOR TEACHERS
NATIVE NEW YORK:  A NATIVE AMERICAN HARVEST

The focus of the Native New York Program is to develop an understanding of the culture of the Northeastern Woodland Indians.  This will be done through the consideration of Native storytelling, shelter, food, tools, weapons, and song and dance.  Each of these topics will be covered during your visit to Brookside through interaction with our interpreters, show and tell of objects, and hands-on activities.

I.  Setting the Stage

            Native Americans, specifically the Mohawks, lived in Saratoga County long before the white settlers came.  The land around the Kayaderosseras Creek was a favorite hunting ground for the Iroquois.  In the spring, they came into the area to fish i Ballston Lake (Shanantaha) and Saratoga Lake.  Then they would make their hunting camp along the shores of the lakes or near the mineral springs of Ballston Spa or Saratoga Springs
            According to former Town of Ballston Historian, Kathleen Briaddy, “For hundreds of years, Mohawks traveled the ancient path from their easterly long-houses near to what is now Amsterdam.  They paddled down the Mohawk River to the south Alplaus Creek.  They ascended that stream to the bend near high mills.  Canoes were then portaged (carried) to the beloved Shanantaha.”  To continue on to Saratoga Lake, the trail connected to the Mourning Kill and Kayderosseras Creek.

Activity:  Use the attached map – Native Trails/Presettlement – to complete the following: 

1)      Outline with a blue marker:  Mohawk River, Alplaus Kill, Ballston Lake, Mourning Kill, Kayaderosseras           Creek, Saratoga Lake, Hudson River, and Gordon Creek 2)      Draw in a dotted red line – the trail described above by K. Briaddy 3)      Draw in a dotted green line – the trail through Ballston Spa to Saratoga Lake 4)      Draw a symbol (a drinking cup) to stand for the mineral springs – at Ballston Spa and Saratoga Springs 5)      Make a key for your map using all colors and symbols used on the map

II.  Map of Woodland Tribes

                 During the program reference will be made to both Iroquois (the tribal group closest to our area) and Abenaki (a tribal group of New England and part of the “family tree” of Jim Bruchac, one of our interpreters).
                Activity:  Use the attached map of northeastern United States to do the following:            

1)  With a red marker, outline the boundaries of New York State 2)  Find the Six Nations of the Iroquois and mark with a yellow marker.  What other name was this tribal      group known? 3)  With a green marker, circle the two Abenaki tribal groups 4)  With a blue marker and a ·, locate and write in Albany and with a purple marker and a ▲, locate and write in your home town

               Storytelling is a natural teaching tool and Brookside’s Native New York Program encourages the art of story telling to enhance the understanding of how Native people lived.  Stories and activities that revolve around stories will engage the students in creative thinking and synthesis of knowledge and experience.  In many Native stories, lessons are taught both directly and through symbols, and these lessons can lead to a better understanding of the Native American culture.
            Storytelling is an old form of entertainment and teaching.  Each time a story is told, it changes because of the unique abilities of the storyteller.  Here are a few storytelling guidelines to use in the classroom:         

• stories are meant to be told, not read silently; memorize the story or develop it into a puppet show, play or skit • when first learning a story, read it aloud several times to “see” the story and make it part of you • to help recall stories, use a bag of items representing the story (a feather, stone, a small carving).  Use the bag to trigger your memory.  (All participants in Native New York will make story bags during their visit to Brookside.) • stories should be told with listeners in a circle (signifying that everyone is equal); make sure to bring