My Teachings Through Corn Husk Dolls
by Ramon Shiloh
As an instructor of the arts, to be an Artist-in-Residence at Islandwood School on Bainbridge Island WA, was an incredible opportunity to expose children and adults to environmental concerns through the origins of storytelling.
The Artist-in-Residence program provides a gathering place for local, national and international artists who represent various disciplines, media, cultures, experiences and ages to work with visiting participants. The overnight school and community programs aim to expand the understanding and relationships with natural systems and cultural communities through experiential and inquiry-based exploration in the outdoors.
In order to expand the students’ knowledge and relationship with themselves, their peers and the world around them, I wanted to help them identify the process, structure and technique of storytelling. To achieve this goal, I provided models through the art form of storytelling to provide a connection on many levels: what is a storyteller, why storytelling is important and how to tell a story.
For over two decades, I have had the ability to explore creative outlets in diverse communities. With every place I have visited, children were my primary focus in offering insights that engages the importance of learning and playing with a sense of pride and accomplishment through the art of storytelling.
In February, I had the honor to teach a three-day workshop about the history and making of Corn Husk Dolls. This instruction tackled the beauty and history of corn husks in a variety of ways. Not only is corn a symbol of agricultural, alternative fuel and culinary importance, but the fiber remains of the vegetable itself, which can be handcrafted into dolls, also provides comfort for children all around the world.
While Native Americans have all produced dolls of varying styles, the corn-husk dolls are one of the oldest forms known in the Americas, primarily for cultures that harvest the versatile vegetable. Ornate costumes also provide an identity of the people’s history. Corn husk dolls are delicate in nature and are meant to describe the beauty of a child.
Traditionally, Native Americans did not identify facial expression on the head. The Iroquois from the Great Lakes Region has a legend about a “faceless doll.” The first corn-husk doll was made to be the companion for a little Native girl. The doll was so beautiful it spent all of its days gazing at itself in the clear pond in the woods. The Creator punished the doll for her vanity and removed her face forever. The lesson behind the story is to remind children that it is wrong to think they are better than anyone else.
My lesson was simple: to create a doll that represented each child’s power of imagination and to guide them through character development by decorating their dolls. Each child was able to find a story in their doll by creating a story that describes the child’s place in the world today. Though the process was simple, the results were staggering! These children were instantly engaged in this activity. Their references to the world about environmental concerns, friendship and community brought much joy to my life and their own.
My hope, efforts and accomplishments reflect a tradition that contributes to this nation. Who else but youth can carry on the teachings of oral traditions? During this time when storytelling is a lost art, we must do what we can to embrace children’s voices as a focus of their existence. When youth are not honored or praised, they walk away from who they are. My hope is to show children that there is a place for each of us to play and learn.
© 3/26/2009
by Ramon Shiloh
As an instructor of the arts, to be an Artist-in-Residence at Islandwood School on Bainbridge Island WA, was an incredible opportunity to expose children and adults to environmental concerns through the origins of storytelling.
The Artist-in-Residence program provides a gathering place for local, national and international artists who represent various disciplines, media, cultures, experiences and ages to work with visiting participants. The overnight school and community programs aim to expand the understanding and relationships with natural systems and cultural communities through experiential and inquiry-based exploration in the outdoors.
In order to expand the students’ knowledge and relationship with themselves, their peers and the world around them, I wanted to help them identify the process, structure and technique of storytelling. To achieve this goal, I provided models through the art form of storytelling to provide a connection on many levels: what is a storyteller, why storytelling is important and how to tell a story.
For over two decades, I have had the ability to explore creative outlets in diverse communities. With every place I have visited, children were my primary focus in offering insights that engages the importance of learning and playing with a sense of pride and accomplishment through the art of storytelling.
In February, I had the honor to teach a three-day workshop about the history and making of Corn Husk Dolls. This instruction tackled the beauty and history of corn husks in a variety of ways. Not only is corn a symbol of agricultural, alternative fuel and culinary importance, but the fiber remains of the vegetable itself, which can be handcrafted into dolls, also provides comfort for children all around the world.
While Native Americans have all produced dolls of varying styles, the corn-husk dolls are one of the oldest forms known in the Americas, primarily for cultures that harvest the versatile vegetable. Ornate costumes also provide an identity of the people’s history. Corn husk dolls are delicate in nature and are meant to describe the beauty of a child.
Traditionally, Native Americans did not identify facial expression on the head. The Iroquois from the Great Lakes Region has a legend about a “faceless doll.” The first corn-husk doll was made to be the companion for a little Native girl. The doll was so beautiful it spent all of its days gazing at itself in the clear pond in the woods. The Creator punished the doll for her vanity and removed her face forever. The lesson behind the story is to remind children that it is wrong to think they are better than anyone else.
My lesson was simple: to create a doll that represented each child’s power of imagination and to guide them through character development by decorating their dolls. Each child was able to find a story in their doll by creating a story that describes the child’s place in the world today. Though the process was simple, the results were staggering! These children were instantly engaged in this activity. Their references to the world about environmental concerns, friendship and community brought much joy to my life and their own.
My hope, efforts and accomplishments reflect a tradition that contributes to this nation. Who else but youth can carry on the teachings of oral traditions? During this time when storytelling is a lost art, we must do what we can to embrace children’s voices as a focus of their existence. When youth are not honored or praised, they walk away from who they are. My hope is to show children that there is a place for each of us to play and learn.
© 3/26/2009
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