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THE DORSET ESKIMO LESSON PLAN

OBJECTIVES

- to investigate the origins of the Dorest Eskimo
- role playing
-reading for information
-drawing conclusions

1. ORIGIN OF THE DORSET ESKIMOS

Display the overhead of background information. Have students brainstorm as to why the Dorset Eskimo disappeared from the Island of Newfoundland.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Dorset Eskimo are named after Cape Dorset in Baffin Island where their artifacts were first found. They were more intensely marine-oriented than the early Palaeoeskimo. Their sites are found throughout coastal Labrador and Newfoundland. Dorset Eskimo marine specialization is reflected in site locations on outermost islands, which permitted better access to the harp seal migrations. It is also reflected in the bone remains, mainly of harp seal, from the middens (refuse dumps) at these sites and by bone and stone tools such as harpoons. Perhaps the most tantalizing Dorset artifacts are carved bone, antler, ivory, and soapstone figurines of polar bears, humans, and birds, many of which are on display at The Newfoundland Museum. For unknown reasons, the Dorset Eskimo disappeared from the Island of Newfoundland around 1000 B.P. They continued to occupy northern Labrador for another 600 years. Dorset Eskimo artifacts were found on Dildo Island in recent years and are now on display at the Dildo Interpretation Centre.

2. RESEARCH (DORSET ESKIMOS HOUSES)

(A.)

The Dorset Eskimos lived in a particular type of house in winter. Using The Atlantic Edge or another reference book from your classroom or library, sketch a diagram of a Dorset Eskimo house. Then write a description of the house. In your description of the house tell what it was made of, how it was made, how big it was, etc.

(B.)

In recent finding on Dildo Island two types of houses were found. The summer house called the wing tent appeared to be supported with poles and covered with animal skins with evidence of an open fire. The winter house called the subterranean had one side built into the hill and the other built up with boulders. In the winter house there was no sign of open fire. Instead they burned oil in soapstone lamps and vessels for heat, light and cooking.

3. ROLE PLAY / BRAINSTORMING

Archaeologists believe the Dorset Eskimos did not move their settlements as some early peoples did.
Divide the class into small groups. Distribute activity sheet 1. Have students complete the sheet. Allow time for sharing.

4. DRAWING CONCLUSIONS

Divide the class into small groups. Instruct them to read pages 48-49 in The Atlantic Edge. As they read, they can complete Activity Sheet 2.

5. READING FOR INFORMATION AND MAPPING

(1) Instruct class to read page 45 in The Atlantic Edge. On a blank map of Newfoundland, show where the Dorset Eskimos lived.

(2) Display on overhead or, provide each student with a copy of information entitled Dorset Eskimo - Dildo Island THEORETICAL SIGNIFICANCE

6. FIELD TRIP

Visit the Dildo Interpretation Centre and maybe Dildo Island.

DORSET ESKIMO - DILDO ISLAND

( Excerpt from Dildo Island 1998: Summary of Field Activities)

THEORETICAL SIGNIFICANCE

(1) Dildo Island is an extremely rich Dorset site.

(2) Work on Dildo Island clearly demonstrates that Dorset people developed a unique regional culture in the Trinity Bay area.

(3) The uniqueness of the material found on Dildo Island seriously challenges the widely held assumption that the Dorset culture maintained a pattern of cultural homogeneity throughout the Dorset shere, with very little change occurring through time. It is suggested that the Dorset culture should rather be envisioned as a mosaic of "regional expressions". Our work on Dildo Island certainly confirms this hypothesis. We now need to define this culture and understand the process leading to this regionalization.

(4) For most of Newfoundland, the Dorset people had disappeared by about 1300 BP However, in the Placentia and Trinity Bay area, the Dorset culture seems to have survived two hundred years longer, until 1100 BP One date on Dildo Island confirms this fact (Leblanc 1998).

Prepared for:
Provincial Archaeological Office
Culture and Heritage Division
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's, Newfoundland

Prepared by:
Sylvie Leblanc
Department of Anthropology
University of Alberta
May, 1999

;ACTIVITY SHEET 1

DIRECTIONS: Imagine you are the Dorset Eskimo leader. What things would be beneficial to your settlement? For example food source, etc.

THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN A SETTLEMENT WHY IT IS IMPORTANT

THE DORSET ESKIMOS

Activity Sheet 2

DIRECTIONS: Read "The Dorset Eskimos" (pages 48-49 in The Atlantic Edge). Answer the following questions.

1. The Dorset Eskimos are now extinct. Make a list of al possible reasons as to why they became extinct?

2. Give a brief description of the type of tools The Dorset Eskimos used. The food they ate, and their religious or ‘spiritual' beliefs in relationships to animals.

Tools:________________________________________________________________________

Food: ________________________________________________________________________

Beliefs: _______________________________________________________________________

DILDO INTERPRETATION CENTER

OBJECTIVES

- locate places on a map
- research
- write an opinion essay
- use the Internet for research

1. INTRODUCTION

Locate Dildo on a map of Newfoundland. Have students show the correct location on a blank map of Newfoundland.

2. INTERNET RESEARCH

Students use a search engine to locate specific information on the Internet.

Activity 1 - locate places in Newfoundland that once had whaling stations

Activity 2 - what types of whales were caught

Activity 3 - what products were made from whales

Activity 4 - what happened to the whale population as hunting increased?

3. OPINION ESSAY

The teacher will have to decide whether to complete this activity in class as a writing activity; or whether to assign it as a home activity spanning several days.

Students write a short essay (depending on their skill level) on the topic:

Should whaling be banned?

ACTIVITY SHEET 1

QUESTION: Find a map of Newfoundland that shows all the towns that once had whaling stations.