Native American Heritage Month
experiencing native american storytelling
When visiting author Kevin Maillard invited Meadow Pond’s entire second and third grade to pretend to be squirrels, there was a whole lot of chattering, sniffing and nibbling going on, as well as giggling.
The students didn’t need much encouragement because Maillard led the way—using hand motions and facial expressions he shared stories about the five squirrels he heard in his home, and the three bats that flew into his living room.
Through the November 27 presentation, Maillard—a member of the Muscogee Creek tribe, part of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma—gave students a taste of Native American storytelling, a hallmark of which is the value of honoring all life.
Acting Out Animal Stories
Visit supports belonging at Meadow Pond
The all-grade visit was arranged for by the school PTO and the Belonging at Meadow Pond committee, which supports diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. It was part of the school’s honoring of Native American Heritage Month.
Students share their stories, too
considering who was here first
Maillard is also the award-winning author of the children’s book “Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story.” He gave students a glimpse of his creative process by telling them about the bears that came to his window.
When he called the game warden, he was told: “The bears were here first. You are living in the bears’ forest.”
He read a fictionalized account of his family’s encounter with the bears to the students and showed them the illustrations in the works for a new book titled “The Ones Who Came Before.”
Maillard’s visit ended with an invitation for students to tell him their animal stories. They gathered around him, full of stories about the deer, coyote, and other wild animals they’ve encountered.