IROQUOIS INDIAN MUSEUM

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BACK TO HOME PAGE EDUCATION KITS

INDEPENDENT EXPLORATION
 THE MUSEUM IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC   December - April   WE RE-OPEN ON MAY 1.

"We ask the Creator that we always be available for educating the people of both cultures so that we can better understand each other."- Jim Sky (1934 - 2000)
Onondaga Iroquois Trustee (1984 - 2000)

 

Jim Sky giving the Thanksgiving Address at the
ground-breaking for the new Museum in 1992.

The Iroquois Indian Museum is an anthropological museum that uses art to educate and inspire.  Our collections of contemporary Iroquois art and archeological artifacts open a window on Iroquois culture and society.  Our educational programs fulfill the NYS Learning Standards for the Arts, Social Studies, and Language Arts.  The Museum provides a stimulating object-based learning environment that engages visitors on visual, tactile, and intellectual levels.  Some of its features include:

PLANNING YOUR VISIT

Please call ahead to book your group visit.  Reservations are accepted on a first-come/first-served basis, with many groups booking months in advance.  You should plan on a 90 minute visit with 30 minutes for lunch.

After the scheduled program, students and their chaperones then have a chance to explore the Nature Park, and to visit the Museum Shop.

 HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

We are keeping our program fees as low as possible.  Our programs are BOCES reimbursable.  Prices include admission and all supplies.  For every 10 students, there is one free adult admission.  All other adults are charged a reduced admission fee of $5.

PROGRAM FEES:

INDEPENDENT EXPLORATION: $4 PER STUDENT
IROQUOIS STORIES: $4 PER STUDENT
BOTH PROGRAMS: $7 PER STUDENT

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

Following each description  are codes for each NYS Learning Standard addressed in the Program.  Letters refer to subjects (A=Arts, SS=Social Studies, E=English language arts, N-E=Non-English language arts, M=Math, Science and Technology).  Numbers following the letters refer to specific standards within the assigned subject.  For complete information on the Standards click on the numbers or click here NYSLS

1. INDEPENDENT EXPLORATION
The program includes a pre-visit Curriculum Guide which will be mailed to teachers in advance of their class visit to the Museum. On arrival at the Museum classes receive a 15 minute introduction. After the introduction, each student is given a 16 page full color Independent Exploration booklet and allowed to view the Museum's exhibits. The booklet includes short descriptions of major topics important to learning about Iroquois culture, history and prehistory. As students tour the Museum the booklet helps to guide them in what types of things to look for and in understanding these topics. The booklet also contains activities geared towards reinforcing what they are viewing during their visit. This take-home booklet will assist teachers and students during followup discussions back in their classrooms. Knowledgeable Museum Staff will be available to answer questions.

TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE:

A. Archeology: Showing how the domestication of corn changed the lives of Native Americans. Demystifying the tools used on a daily basis before European contact. Comparing and contrasting the changes that occurred in Iroquois life with the arrival of Europeans and their goods.

B. History: Who are the six Iroquois nations?  How and why did those six separate nations join together to create the Iroquois Confederacy? What was the role of clans in Iroquois families? What were the roles of men, women, and children in early Iroquois society? What part did the Natural World play in the daily life of Iroquois?

C. Today's Iroquois: What traditional values are still important to Iroquois today?  What contemporary issues effect Iroquois people today -  Land issues, pollution, stereotypes, maintaining a distinctive Native identity in today's world?

A2, A3, A4, SS1, SS3, N-E2, SS4  SS5, E1, E2, E3, E4

2. IROQUOIS STORIES  

The oral traditions of the Iroquois will be shared with students through stories which could include the Creation Story, the story of the No-Face Doll, or the story of the Peacemaker. Educators will emphasize  symbols  important in Iroquois culture such as SkyWoman, Grandmother Moon, the Three Sisters, and the Celestial Tree. They will be invited to relate these stories to their own lives.  They are then presented with Iroquois arts based on the stories and are engaged in their analysis.  Iroquois oral traditions include legends and historical accounts.  Much of the visual art on exhibit is narrative-based, further stimulating students to cross-cultural understanding.   This program is for all ages.
A3, SS5, E1, E2, E3, E4, N-E2                                        

OTHER GROUP OPTIONS

IROQUOIS  ENVIRONMENTS

Weather permitting, students can take a  self-guided trail walk through our 45 acre Nature Park. Trail maps are available in the Museum. A number of trees are identified on the trail and on the reverse of the Map.

The Iroquois Indian Museum Education Kit

The Iroquois Museum is pleased to make available to the public our education kit.   The kit is designed to help educators better teach their students about Iroquois culture, history, and art.  It can be used to prepare students for a fieldtrip to the Iroquois Museum, but can also be utilized as a stand-alone resource for teachers unable to bring their students to the Museum. 

PURCHASE PRICE = $80 + shipping & handling

 

You can purchase a kit through Paypal by clicking on the button above or e-mail us at info@iroquoismuseum.org

 Each kit contains:

1.) 1 Curriculum Guide (which follows this introduction).
2.)  1 CD-ROM:  Iroquois Museum Digital Image Album.
3.)  1 CD of a contemporary Iroquois singer which includes traditional dance songs.
4.)  1 CD of traditional Mohawk Stories by Kay Olan
5.)  1 CD: Souvenir Slide Show
6.)  1 book, North American Indians Today – Iroquois by Kenneth McIntosh
7.)  1 DVD, Faces of the Iroquois
8.)  1 Instructions for making a cornhusk doll
9.)  Printed activity sheets
10.) 12 Simple Mohawk words with translation and pronounciation guide
11.) Map of Traditional Iroquois Territory and Map of Iroquois Communities Today.
12.)  1 Evaluation form.

The creation of these kits is made possible in part through support from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency.

MUSEUM HOURS

May 1 through November 30:
Tuesday --- Saturday: 10 - 5; Sunday: 12 - 5.
 Monday: CLOSED.
 Thanksgiving Day: CLOSED

CONTACT

For most groups, reservations are required.  These can be made either by phone or via the internet.  The phone # is (518) 296-8949.   The e-mail address is info@iroquoismuseum.org  .   We look forward to serving you and your students. 

DIRECTIONS
From Albany: take I-90 west to exit 25a, and then Interstate 88 to exit 22. Go right onto Rte. 7, for a mile. At Caverns Road turn left and go a mile. The Museum will be on the right.

From NYC: NYS Thruway to exit 21 (Catskill). Take Rte. 23 West to Rte. 145 to Rte. 7.  then follow directions above.

From the West: NYS Thruway east to exit 29 (Canajoharie) Take Rte. 5S to Rte. 162 to Rte. 30A.  Turn right on Rte. 7 (heading west) and go to Caverns Rd.  Take a right.  Museum is up Caverns Road on the right.

The Museum is wheelchair accessible.