6th grade

Tikigaq School, Point Hope, Alaska

Greetings:

As part of our study of Family History, I asked my students to bring something to school that had been handed down in their family at least one generation. Initially, almost all of the children said they had nothing like that in their family. However, when they went home and asked, it turned out there were many objects in all of their home that had been handed down at least one generation.

Students have brought in tools like ulus and ikuns (animal hide scrapers) that have been in their families for 2, 3 or even 4 generations. One girl brought a large spoon that belonged to her great-grandmother and is used in her family when they make donuts.

She said, "I've used that how many times???? I never knew it was my great-grandmothers!"

One boy brought a handmade flag that has been in his family since 1876. The flag was made to celebrate the Centennial.

We are taking pictures of all the family artifacts with a digital

camera, and the kids are writing the history of their objects. We

plan to compile all the writings into booklet, and later in the school

year, "hang" their work on our school district's home page.

Sheila Gaquin

6th grade

Tikigaq School, Point Hope, Alaska