Rosella Carney Birch Bark Biting Artist Aboriginal Perspectives

+ Rosella Carney Birch Bark Biting Artist Aboriginal. Perspectives. uregina. ca

+ Instructions n Show students Video 1: Birch Bark Biting n Take some time to discuss what students thought of while they watched the video clip. n Lead them through the following slides that explain how to do a birch bark biting (or an alternative to birch bark biting). n There is also some informational slides for them to see.

+ Creating a birch bark biting n In the video clip, Rosella explains that you can fold your piece of birch bark 1, 2, 3 or 4 times. n Once this step is done, you bite your design/shape on one side. n When you open up your folded birch bark you will have a symmetrical design. n What other things in our environment are symmetrical? Take a look around the classroom or browse around in nature.

+ Don’t have birch bark handy? Try one of these alternatives. n Patty paper (patty paper is what is put between hamburger patties when they are frozen and can be purchased at the grocery store) n Carbon paper (try an office store) n Wax paper (easiest to find and very cheap)

+ Biography Break: Rosella Carney n Rosella is from Molanosa, Saskatchewan; which is just north of Montreal Lake. n She is one of a handful of people who still practice the art of birch bark biting. n She learned this form of art from a cultural resource teacher. n Rosella also is talented at the art of moose-hair tufting. n She teaches the Cree language. n She currently resides in La Ronge, Saskatchewan.

+ Choosing a design/shape for your birch bark biting… n When Rosella creates a birch bark biting she first imagines her ideas and shapes out how she wants it to look in her mind. n She finds that circles are the easiest. She creates triangles to represent things like skirts or tipis. n Her favorite designs are of geese, ducks, chickens and other birds. n She is talented at what she does. In the video she shows us a biting she made that represented 8 girls dancing!

+ Take a look at some examples of her birch bark bitings

+ Now let’s look at the lines of symmetry found in birch bark bitings

+ Other Aboriginal art forms where you can find symmetry: n Star blankets n Parfleche bags n Beaded arts n Moccasins

+ What are two new things you learned today?