Overview
We are Still Here, Fix the World People: Lesson 4 - Resilience and Healing
Author:
Maggie Peters, Yurok/Karuk Educator, Traditional Basket Weaver, Cultural Preservationist, Native American Studies Model Curriculum Learning Specialist at Humboldt County Office of Education
Lyn Risling, Karuk/Yurok/Hupa Artist, Author, Illustrator, Ceremonial Leader
Julian Lang, Karuk Linguist, Artist and Ceremonial Leader
- Video support provided by Joanna Galicha, Graphics & Communications Specialist at Humboldt County Office of Education
Grade(s): 7
Suggested Amount of Time: 50-55 minutes (designed for multi-period schedule typical of middle schools)
Curriculum Themes
- Cultural Strengths
- Relationship to Place
- Cross Curricular Integration
Learning Goals
Understand how language is deeply connected to cultural identity, worldview, and traditions.
Foster empathy toward the historical impact of colonization on Indigenous languages and how language revitalization is cultural survival and healing.
Experience how art reflects resilience, survival and cultural values.
Engage in Karuk language immersion.
Lesson Overview
This lesson explores the significance of language revitalization in Indigenous communities, featuring the Karuk Language of northwestern California. Inspired by Lyn Risling’s painting “We Are Still Here, Fix the World People”, students will explore themes of resilience, survival, and cultural identity. Julian Lang, Karuk Linguist, describes the painting in the Karuk language providing students an experience to better understand how language serves as a critical tool for preserving culture and world view. This lesson emphasizes that language, once nearly lost due to violent colonization, was kept and has continued to be the focus for revitalization by the Karuk people as a pathway to healing and cultural reclamation. Students will gain an appreciation for the power of language in maintaining connections to heritage and+ the importance of supporting language preservation efforts. Ultimately, this lesson fosters an understanding of how language revitalization is not just about communication, but about reclaiming identity, community resilience, and promoting healing from the historical trauma of assimilation and systematic cultural erasure.
Teacher Background
This lesson focuses on the power of language revitalization in Indigenous communities, using the painting We Are Still Here, Fix the World People by Lyn Risling as a key visual entry point. The lesson underscores how language preservation serves not only as a means of communication but as a crucial tool for healing, cultural identity, and resilience in the face of historical trauma. The Karuk, along with other Indigenous peoples, have faced the systematic erasure of their languages and cultures due to colonization, but through language revitalization efforts, they are reclaiming their identity and power.
As an educator, it’s essential to approach this topic with sensitivity and respect, understanding that the history of colonization, forced assimilation, and language loss is deeply painful for many Indigenous communities. Language revitalization is part of a larger movement of cultural reclamation, and it provides a pathway to healing and empowerment. Research shows that language plays a significant role in the mental and physical well-being of Indigenous peoples. According to studies like Healing, Support, Empowerment: How Language Revitalization Can Mitigate Trauma (Tribal College Journal), Indigenous language revitalization can serve as a form of emotional and psychological healing. The act of reclaiming language helps individuals connect to their cultural roots and community, fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment, and mitigating the trauma caused by generations of forced displacement and cultural erasure.
Additionally, the Health Effects of Indigenous Language Use and Revitalization (International Journal of Equity and Health) highlights the connection between language use and health, demonstrating how the revitalization of Indigenous languages can enhance well-being, reduce stress, and create a sense of pride and continuity. This is particularly important in Indigenous communities, where historical trauma has had enduring effects on mental health. The act of preserving and teaching Indigenous languages helps mend intergenerational wounds, allowing younger generations to reconnect with their heritage and the values that sustain it.
When teaching this lesson, it’s important to emphasize that language is a way for Indigenous peoples to express worldviews, histories, and relationships to land, ancestors, and each other. It fosters resilience, empowering people to reclaim their place in the world after centuries of oppression. By approaching this lesson with a deep sense of cultural respect and an understanding of the trauma involved, students will appreciate the boader significance of language preservation, not only as an academic exercise but as a tool for cultural resilience and healing.
Unit Background
This unit explores the intersection of art, culture, and language revitalization through the work of Lyn Risling, a Karuk, Hupa, and Yurok artist of northwestern California. Centered around Risling's painting We Are Still Here, Fix the World People, this unit incorporates Indigenous art and language as tools for understanding the themes of resilience, survival, and cultural identity. By engaging with these subjects, students will gain insight into the impact of colonization on Indigenous peoples, while also exploring how art and language serve as pathways to healing and cultural revitalization.
Exploring Lyn Risling’s Artwork
In the first lesson, students will experience the visual world of Lyn Risling’s We Are Still Here, Fix the World People. Using the "Notice, Wonder, Feel" strategy, students will reflect on the symbolism present in the painting, which features a multigenerational family surrounded by powerful symbols like animals, plants, and the river. These symbols are deeply connected to the culture and heritage of the Karuk, Hupa, and Yurok peoples, representing life, resilience, and connection to the natural world. Through this exploration, students will begin to understand the layers of meaning within Indigenous art and how it communicates themes of cultural survival and community strength. Students will reflect on their own thoughts and emotional reactions to the artwork, building foundational skills for analyzing symbolism in art and connecting it to broader themes of identity and history.
Understanding the Life and Work of Lyn Risling
The second lesson provides students with a deeper context for understanding Lyn Risling’s work. Through a short film and a reading about Risling’s life and artistic journey, students will learn how her art reflects the traditions, struggles, and resilience of Indigenous communities in northwestern California. The lesson emphasizes how Risling uses her artwork to celebrate cultural continuity and the connection between her community's past, present, and future. Students will engage in partner activities to discuss the video and biography, reinforcing their understanding of Risling’s artistic contributions and the cultural values embedded in her work.
The Impact of Colonization on Indigenous Peoples
The third lesson addresses the historical impact of colonization, particularly focusing on the Gold Rush, the timber industry, indentured servitude, and boarding schools, which significantly disrupted Indigenous communities in the 19th and 20th centuries. Students will watch the History and Hope video, which provides a powerful account of the violence, displacement, and suffering endured by Indigenous peoples during this period. Through guided discussion and reflection, students will explore the concept of genocide and its emotional and social impacts on Indigenous communities. This lesson encourages students to think critically about the legacy of colonialism and its lasting effects on Native peoples, while also fostering an understanding of the importance of advocacy for justice, healing, and cultural preservation.
Language Revitalization and Cultural Identity
In the fourth lesson, students will focus on the importance of language revitalization, specifically exploring the Karuk language. Students will learn from Karuk linguist artist and ceremonial leader, Julian Lang, as he describes Lyn Risling’s painting in the Karuk language, offering a unique opportunity to connect language to the artwork’s symbolism. This lesson emphasizes how language is essential for preserving cultural identity and worldview, especially in the face of violent colonization. Students will gain an appreciation for the role of language in healing and reclaiming cultural practices, as well as its importance in fostering resilience within Indigenous communities. The lesson highlights the vital work of language revitalization and encourages students to support efforts to preserve Indigenous languages.
Experiencing Karuk Language through Art
Building upon the previous lesson, the fifth lesson provides students with the opportunity to practice the Karuk language by engaging with Lyn Risling’s artwork. Through audio recordings and interactive activities, students will learn key Karuk words and phrases related to the components of the painting. This hands-on approach deepens students’ understanding of how language is intricately tied to cultural identity and community. By learning the language in the context of Risling’s art, students will better appreciate the connection between language, culture, and art. The lesson emphasizes the importance of language revitalization as a tool for healing and cultural continuity.
Creating Artwork Inspired by Risling’s Painting
In the final lesson, students will create their own artwork inspired by Risling’s We Are Still Here, Fix the World People. This lesson encourages students to incorporate their personal and cultural expressions into their designs, reflecting on themes of family, community, and personal interests. Drawing from the symbolism explored in the previous lessons, students will integrate symbols that hold personal or cultural significance, allowing them to express their unique connections to community and heritage. After completing their artwork, students will write an artist statement that explains the symbolism and personal reflections behind their creation.
Through this unit, students will develop a deeper understanding of the power of art, language, and culture in preserving identity and promoting healing. They will learn how Indigenous artists and communities use these tools to resist cultural erasure and continue the work of healing from historical trauma. By the end of the unit, students will have a greater appreciation for the resilience and cultural vitality of Indigenous peoples, as well as the role they play in advocating for justice, equality, and cultural preservation.