The following activities have been developed for educators to use in both formal and informal education settings and provide a way to engage with the history of the Eastern Shawnee.
Activity 3.1 – What Makes a Leader? Exploring Eastern Shawnee Leadership
Summary: In this activity, students will explore the concept of leadership through an examination of Eastern Shawnee tribal leadership since 1830. After collectively determining the qualities they believe make for a good leader, students will learn about past Eastern Shawnee chiefs by reading portions of The Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma: Resilience through Adversity book. Students will present their findings and discuss how each chief did or did not meet the pre-established criteria for a “good leader.” Students will then collectively determine if/how they should alter their original definition of “good leadership” given their new contextualized understanding of Eastern Shawnee tribal history and leadership.
Essential Questions:
- How do we define good leadership?
- How does historical context impact our understanding of the past?
Activity Materials:
Activity 3.2 – Eastern Shawnee Tribal Leadership Roles
Summary: In this activity, students will explore the current government structure of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma through a matching exercise. Students will first match each leadership position or committee with its role and responsibilities. Students will then conduct research to learn about the people currently serving in these leadership roles. This activity will allow the students to see how governmental responsibilities are distributed throughout the Eastern Shawnee Tribe and learn more about current leaders.
Essential Questions:
- How are leadership roles and responsibilities distributed in the Eastern Shawnee Tribe?
- Who are current tribal leaders?
Activity Materials: