Colors and Culture

Where did the Native Americans come from? One theory is that they followed game over the ice bridge, now the Bering Strait, 15,000 years ago. These tribes have their own creation myths and trickster tales. One such trickster is the Raven who stole the sun to bring people light. After reading the Caldecott award winning book Raven, by Gerald McDermott, the girls studied the meaning of colors in various cultures like Kenya, China, Mexico, and the Navajo nation.

Did you know that in Kenya blue represents the Indian Ocean, but in Navajo culture blue represents blue corn? Similarly China uses red to express joy and good luck, yet the Navajo think of the Red Ant People.

After researching many cultures and colors, the girls began to fill in their ravens with colors and designs at their weekly art lesson with Mrs. Henry.

The ravens will be cut out and attached to a background to give this trickster depth.

Now the Ravens are free to fly!