Prayer

"If you don't know who the Creator is, just go outside."- Joe Boucher, in Fort Franklin, Jan.1991

Primary Objective:
The Dene have always prayed to the Creator to show respect and to give thanks for all life around them. They prayed before the coming of Non-Dene and their prayers were important to them. The prayers given by the missionaries and churches were a different language but they serve a similar purpose. It is important for children to realize that prayers come in many forms, but all should be respected for they all are attempting to speak to the Creator.

The Spiritual World  The Self
The Land  Suggested Teaching Activities

The Spiritual World 

Students will:

  • Know that the Creator has always been important to the Dene as a group and as individuals.
  • Understand the power of the Creator as being something greater than oneself. Understand that the purpose of prayer is to recognize that greatness, and to be thankful for it and for the life it provides.
  • Know who is being prayed to and what the prayers are for. They are not for material things, but rather for giving thanks and hope for others, for the land, their own spiritual growth, etc.
  • Understand the value of prayers said in both Dene and English as opposed to prayers in English only.
  • Know that people should humble themselves before the Creator with their behavior and clothing as much as their words.
  • Know that some prayers are sung.

 

Experiences:

  • As morning ritual, have students sit in a circle and pass a drum around while they pray.
  • Learn prayers said before and after a meal.
  • Learn a morning prayer - one said before the rising of the sun.
  • Read and learn prayers from Chief Dan George in his books "My Heart Soars" and "My Spirit Weeps".
  • Put prayers on the walls of the school for students to read and consider.
  • (See themes : "Spiritual Power" and "The Drum")
  • Be exposed to and try the different kinds of prayers:
    • feeding the fire
    • drumming songs
    • individual prayers
    • family prayers
    • group prayers
    • sung and spoken prayers
    • silent prayers

The Land

Students will:

  • Know that the Dene show respect to the spiritual forces of the land with prayers.

Experiences:

  • Integrate prayers as a part of the activities in other thematic units, such as when hunting or being on the land.

The People 

Students will:

  • Know that certain kinds of people are called on to say prayers before a group or audience.
  • Show respect for the prayers of all people.
  • Know that the Dene had ideas about the Creator and prayer long before the coming of the white people.
  • Know that ideas about God and Jesus were not totally foreign to the Dene, so it was easy for them to accept the words of the ministers and priests.

 

Experiences:

  • Have students share the kinds of prayers that are done in their homes.
  • Have elders begin assemblies with a prayer.
  • Compare and contrast prayers said before the coming of Christianity and after.

 

The Self 

Students will:

  • Become comfortable with the act of saying personal prayers (silently).

 

Experiences:

  • Expose students to adults saying personal prayers.
  • Have students say silent personal prayers.

 

 Suggested Teaching Activities 

Process for Learning to Pray Individually:

  • First, teacher prays while students listen
  • in time, students may repeat parts of the teacher's prayer
  • teacher then tells individual students what they might want to say in their own prayer
  • finally, teacher asks students to say their own personal prayer

A Note of Caution: The elders have emphasized that there is value in mixing native prayer with church prayers. Nonetheless there may be concern with this in individual communities or families. The teacher should work closely with the CEC and parents so that there is no miscommunication.

 

Special Information for the Teacher:

Elders of the community should be consulted about the possibility of girls handling the drum in activities such as a morning prayer described above. Reference to Rae-Edzo school should be made, where girls have been allowed to handle drums by the elders. If a student appears to be uncomfortable with prayer, the teacher can take the student aside to talk with him or her about it. The teacher should express concern about student's feelings. Discuss the feelings and make a mutual decision about how to deal with the discomfort. The student should not be forced to participate in prayer activities.

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