Workshop 3: Indigenous Religions: The Earth Speaks

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Building Bridges, Grades 8-9: A World Religions Program

In This Section

Introduction
From Building Bridges

… everything on the Earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission. This is the Indian theory of existence. — Mourning Dove (Christine Quintasket) (1888-1936), Native American (Salish) novelist Introduction The earliest human beings developed the four aspects…
Spiritual Preparation
From Building Bridges

Indigenous religions are close to the sources of life and permeate the lives of followers; their stories give meaning to everything adherents see, touch, and do in their daily lives, and their rituals have sacred significance as well as practical value. Ready yourself to talk about faiths that…
Welcoming and Entering
From Building Bridges

Materials for Activity Leader Resource 1, Cave Drawings Newspaper or drop cloth Modeling clay Large sheets of drawing paper Charcoal drawing sticks Tape Preparation for Activity Print several copies of Leader Resource 1, Cave Drawings. Mold a small clay figurine of a human and place it near the…
Opening
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle World map or globe Leader Resource 2, Indigenous Religions Background Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Read Leader Resource 2, Indigenous Religions Background so you w…
Activity 1: Story - Sun Mother Walks the Earth
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Story, “Sun Mother Walks the Earth” Preparation for Activity Read the story so you will be comfortable presenting it. Description of Activity Participants hear and discuss an Australian Aboriginal Dreamtime story. Tell or read the story “Sun Mother…
Activity 2: Oral Tradition
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 25 minutes Materials for Activity Small chime, gong, or bell Timepiece (minutes) Preparation for Activity Think of a story that was told to you that has been important in your life….
Activity 3: Leaving a Record
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Large sheets of cardboard, at least 11x17 inches A variety of art materials, such as water color paints and brushes, pens, and markers Leader Resource 1, Cave Drawings Preparation for Activity If needed, make several copies of Leader Resource 1….
Activity 4: Fact Sheet
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Handout 1, Indigenous Religions Fact Sheet A poster of the Unitarian Universalist Principles Description of Activity Summarize the basic tenets of some indigenous faiths. Distribute Handout 1, Indigenous Religions Fact Sheet. Review the handout and…
Activity 5: Time Line
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 3 minutes Materials for Activity Religions Time Line (Workshop 1) Sticky notes and fine-point markers World map or globe Preparation for Activity Display the Religions Time Line. Write a sticky note saying “Indigenous Religions, 3 million BCE” and add a left-pointing arrow.
Closing
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 2 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Taking It Home handout Optional: Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Download, adapt, and copy Taking It Home for all participants. Optional: Write the closing words on…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Building Bridges

This was the first workshop to explore a faith outside Unitarian Universalism. Review today’s workshop with your co-leader: Did participants engage the subject with respect? Do they seem open to learning from the ways other faiths serve their followers? Did they seem to understand the deeper…
Faith In Action: Kids vs. Global Warming
From Building Bridges

Materials for Activity Optional: Computer with Internet access Preparation for Activity Visit the Kids vs. Global Warming website, also known as the I Matter Youth Movement. If your meeting space has Internet access, plan to have participants use a computer to visit the website. Or, visit the…
Alternate Activity 1: Engagement
From Building Bridges

Preparation for Activity Find an indigenous faith community with which to engage. Research local Native American tribes to see if outsiders are allowed to attend religious ceremonies….
Alternate Activity 2: Goddesses
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Optional: Computer with Internet access Preparation for Activity Post blank newsprint. Optional: Preview a video clip on YouTube and plan to show it to the group: Oshun Festival in New York….
Alternate Activity 3: Honoring Our Ancestors
From Building Bridges

Activity time: 15 minutes Preparation for Activity Review the activity description so you will be comfortable presenting information about Shinto. Note: The Faith in Action activity in Workshop 7, Eastern Religions, offers further exploration of Shinto. Description of Activity Participants become…
Alternate Activity 4: Canning and Drying Food
From Building Bridges

Materials for Activity For drying fruit: Apricots, peaches, apples, berries, and more; a knife for pitting or coring; water and (a) ascorbic acid (2 tablespoons) or vitamin C tablets (five one-gram tablets), or, (for peaches, apples, bananas) 1 quart pineapple juice and 1/4 cup bottled lemon juic…
Taking It Home: Indigenous Religions: The Earth Speaks
From Building Bridges

… everything on the Earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission. This is the Indian theory of existence. — Mourning Dove (Christine Quintasket) (1888-1936), Native American (Salish) novelist IN TODAY’S WORKSHOP… we discussed indigenous religions and some…
Sun Mother Walks the Earth
From Building Bridges

Based on a story of indigenous people of Australia/New Zealand.There was a time when everything was still. All the spirits of the Earth were asleep—or almost all. The great Sun Mother was awake, and as she opened her eyes a warm ray of light spread out toward the sleeping Earth. “Ah!” the Sun…
Handout 1: Indigenous Religions Fact Sheet
From Building Bridges

Emerged: As early as three million years ago in China, Japan, Australia, various regions in Africa, and Southeast Asia (Hinduism is explored in Workshop 4.) Adherents: 420 million (not including Hinduism) Ranking: Fifth, behind Christianity, Islam, Atheism/Agnosticism, and Hinduism Prophets: Ther…
Leader Resource 1: Cave Drawings
From Building Bridges

The first painting is Lascaux, from France. The second painting is Altammira, from Spain. Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Leader Resource 2: Indigenous Religions Background
From Building Bridges

The earliest human beings developed the four aspects of human societies: language, music, a social order, and religion. For more than three million years, human beings have practiced religion. Some of the earliest places we know human beings have lived are the southernmost tip of Africa (South…
Find Out More About Workshop 3
From Building Bridges

Explore the world’s largest indigenous faiths. Information about the history, practices, and contemporary expressions of ShintoJapan-Guide travel website offers information about Shinto and links to explore Shinto sites in Japan and art forms….