Spearfishing, Culture, Reflection: New Video Story

A new story in The Ways series from Wisconsin Media Lab will help educators address statutory requirements to educate about Native American culture and sovereignity and assist with the goal of helping students understand themselves and others through exploring culture, identity, and tradition.

Engaging for grades 6-12, the video, “Spearfishing: A Living History,” examines this Ojibwe practice through the eyes of Jason Bisonette as he teaches his son to provide for his family.

Taking a fish from the lake “means I can be a contributing member of the community,” Bisonette explains in the piece. “We’ve fished for elders, we’ve fished for single mothers. We always try to give as much as we can away. There’s a lot of honor in that.”

The lake, sky, trees, and tools used for fishing come alive in the beautiful videography of the piece. “Even though our techniques have maybe changed a little bit ... that fish coming off a long winter is something that all the Ojibwe people that came before us since the creation of the world tasted...” Bisonette says.

Teaching guides are available. There is also an interactive online Native lands map activity. The entire resource is iPad compatible.

The Wisconsin Media Lab, the PK-12 arm of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board, creates and curates resources to engage students on a wide range of subjects. The Ways is currently among 23 social studies offerings, both Wisconsin-focused and from sources elsewhere.

** This story was submitted by a DPI-ConnectEd subscriber! We are looking for your news of exciting programs, promising practices, initiatives that could benefit from publicity, or your questions about working with Wisconsin students. E-mail just a sentence or two to benson.gardner@dpi.wi.gov, with “Story Idea” in the subject line.