Inquiry Design Model (IDM) Blueprintâ„¢
Eagle Feather Significance
NDNAEU 1 “Sacred Relatives”, NDNAEU 2 “Learning & Storytelling”, NDNAEU 3 “Sharing & Generosity”, NDNAEU 4 “Sense of Humor”, NDNAEU 5 “Tribal Policies, Treaties and Sovereignty”, NDNAEU 6 “Native Contributions”, NDNAEU 7 “Native Identity”
Compelling QuestionWhy are symbols of culture so important?
Standards and Practices
2.2.3 Discuss the relevance of tangible products (i.e. regalia) of the culture (e.g., dress, types of dwellings, and foods).
2.2.6 Analyze the cultural significance of objects, images, and symbols of the target culture (e.g., flags, currency, architectural style)..
Staging the Question
Why are eagle feathers so important to Native Americans?
Supporting Question 1 Supporting Question 2 Supporting Question 3 
What is the significance of Eagle Feathers to Native Americans?What laws are in place so Native Americans and eagle feathers?What symbols are used in other cultures?
Formative Performance TaskFormative Performance TaskFormative Performance Task

Students will read the book below on Eagle Feather and have a small group discussion about it with guiding questions from the teacher.  Students will also research the link below and discuss the research with their group.

Students will write a brief overview of the rights and laws for Native Americans as they pertain to the question above.

Students will research symbols of their own culture as well other symbols of cultures and compare them to the essence of the Eagle Feather to American Indians
Featured SourcesFeatured SourcesFeatured Sources

Eagle Feather: An Honour
https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Feather-Honour-Ferguson-Plain/dp/0921827121
Significance of the Eagle Feather

http://www.whitewolfpack.com/2013/01/significance-of-eagle-feather-native.html
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services
https://www.fws.gov/midwest/eagle/eagle_feathers.html

Possession of Eagle Feathers
https://www.fws.gov/eaglerepository/factsheets/PossessionOfEagleFeathersFactSheet.pdf
Students will research independently and create a pamphlet describing their cultural symbol.

Religious and Cultural Symbols
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_symbol
SUMMATIVE PERFORMANCE TASK: Supported Claim (written/spoken) or Demonstration of Process (project-based)
Students will create a billboard of cultural symbols to pay respect to all that are represented by the students in the classroom.
SUMMATIVE PERFORMANCE TASK: Extension
Ask a Native Person with knowledge to bring in an eagle feather to share with the classroom as well as any teachings.
Taking Informed Action / Real World ApplicationStudents write to their school districts to allow Native Students to wear a feather in their graduation cap to honor their culture and symbolic nature of graduation.

Disclaimer: Educators are encouraged to use these lessons as a guide, especially when it comes to capturing standards and required content for their instructional disciplines. Adapt, synthesize, abbreviate, and incorporate are just some of the encouraging words to educators to USE any of the NDNAEU lessons to make them their own.
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