Students will:

• Be familiar with the story of the origin of Spiritual Powers: (4-6)
  • The Creator gave Spiritual Powers because the Dene had no means of survival in the beginning (long before the coming of the white people). With this gift the Dene could survive.
  • The gift of Spiritual Power was given with Rules of Conduct which explained the consequences of not following the rules.
  • The Powers began to diminish as the Dene began to disregard the rules.
• Know that the Rules of Conduct affect all aspects of life: (4-6)
  • Rules governing women, marriages.
  • Rules governing the use of the land and hunting.
  • Long life was promised to those who adhered to the rules.
  • See other themes under Spiritual World for Rules of Conduct.
  • See attached for examples of Rules of Conduct.
• Know that everything has a spirit and respect the power that lies in all things. (K-4)
• Seek to hear the Medicine Revelations. (4-6)
• Know there is good and bad Spiritual Power. (K-6)
• Know that Holy Spiritual Power was also used to help people. (4-6)
• Know that outward appearance does not determine whether a person has Spiritual Power. (4-6)
• Know that if one does not have Spiritual Power, the power of others cannot harm you. Any power can be challenged making the person with Spiritual Power susceptible to the powers of others. (4-6)
• Know about Dene prophets. They were holy men who had the Spiritual Power to see into the future in order to help the Dene. (4-6)

Experiences:

• Hear elders speak about Dene Spiritual Powers. (3-6)
  • Spiritual Powers and Rules of Conduct.
  • Leaders who had powerful Spiritual Powers.
• Have the students read stories from George Blondin's book, "When the World was New". (5-6)
• Have available tapes of stories of people with strong Spiritual Powers. (4-6)
• Hear legends about Spiritual Powers: (4-6)
  • Legend of "Ehke Tsilure": a boy who was covered with scabs but he was so powerful that he saved his people.

Students will:  

• Know that Spiritual Powers helped the Dene with all animals. The skill has been passed down for generations. (4-6)
• Know that the Dene ancestors had knowledge of the future as a part of their Spiritual Powers. It was predicted there would be less hunting and trapping in the future. (5-6)

Experiences:

• Have an elder come in to speak about a historical person with strong powers who was able to survive on the land and help others to survive because of his or her powers. (4-6)

Students will:

• Know that Spiritual Powers were placed on earth to help people to be friends with each other, to like each other and to not argue with each other. (4-6)
• Know who has Spiritual Powers (medicine person) in the community and learn how he or she obtained them. (5-6)
• Respect those who have holy Spiritual Power. (5-6)

Experiences:

• Students with the help of the teacher identify members of the community they would like to have come to class to talk about Spiritual Powers. (5-6)
• Hear stories of people who have been considered to have holy Spiritual Powers. (5-6)

Students will:

• Be willing to hear stories and legends about people with Spiritual Powers. (4-6)
• Be willing to learn from elders about Spiritual Powers and Rules of Conduct. (5-6)
• Be willing to choose Rules of Conduct which they think are important to their lives and try to follow them. (5-6)
• Be willing to show respect for those who have holy Spiritual Power. (5-6)

Experiences:

• Have a discussion circle about Spiritual Powers and Rules of Conduct, and allow students to ask their own questions and express their concerns before study begins and periodically throughout unit. (5-6)
• Have the students keep a journal of their interests and questions regarding Spiritual Powers. Have them also make entries regarding their personal feelings and actions with respect to the information they are given. (5-6)

• Have the students collect stories about Spiritual Powers and make a book which can be left in the library.

Special Information for the Teacher:

Examples of Rules of Conduct

• Brothers and sisters who talk with each other are forbidden Spiritual Powers.
• Rules governing women during menstruation:
  • food was brought in the side of the tipi
  • women had their own entrance
  • women wore hood/long hats because light-like beams came from their eyes. Hoods discouraged the light beams which could explode and cause hunger to arrive
  • never placed wood in the fire
  • broken rules would result in illness when they became old
• Eat for the right reasons - not out of idleness.
• Do not sleep long.
• Rat root protects you from disaster.