About the Project
Winds of Change, Nimi'ipuu Sacred Will simulated curriculum was designed to be immersed in literacy, social studies and science as an interactive simulation curriculum for fifth grade students. Nimi'ipuu is the original name of the people known more recently as Nez Perce. To convey honor and respect for their sacred ways, Nimi'ipuu will be used whenever possible in this curriculum. Interactive simulation curriculum allows learners to open new perspectives to the process of learning. Students become active participants in the curriculum making decisions based on their role. In this curriculum, the learner takes a role in a simulation in which every class period a historical event is played out. For instance, if one student takes the role of Chief Joseph, he researches his role with expository text and takes on characteristics of Chief Joseph. The student who took Chief Joseph's role must decide how he\she will convince his band and the other four bands to join him as he refused the U. S. Calvary's demand to move off the reservation. Several literature selections will be used for the simulation. For whole class instruction, the literature includes the following: a novel entitled Rolling Thunder in the Mountains written by Scott O’Dell, oral Nez Perce creation stories, topics selected from The Sacred: Ways of Knowledge, Sources of Life, "I Will Fight No More Forever" Chief Joseph and The Nez Perce War, Nez Perce Summer of 1877, and various websites appropriate for the grade level. The Winds of Change Nimi'puu Sacred Will curriculum will combine what students read and analyze for knowledge with opportunities to participate by sharing and communicating knowledge in simulated Nimi'ipuu councils and simulated Nimi'ipuu Battles from the Nez Perce War of 1877. In addition students will learn the basic physics of simple machines and build a travois for the science unit component. This simulation is about 6 weeks of integrated and interactive instruction in literacy, social studies, and science. This unit is aligned with Montana Common Core Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects.
The Nez Perce Flight from the United States Government in 1877 took place mostly across Montana’s prairies and plateaus and demonstrated a campaign driven by governmental greed, anger, and domination. The tragic journey marks the end of free land for the Nez Perce Tribe and opened their lands to the westward settlement of the United States. In the Winds of Change, Nimi'ipuu Sacred Will simulation curriculum, students work cooperatively, role play, and stage actual historical events as they travel via technology on the historic trail across Montana by demonstrating authentic simulated battles through interactive smartboards. Students communicate their learning with daily electronic journals based on actual occurrences of the time period. Through the Winds of Change, Nimi'ipuu Sacred Will simulation curriculum students acquire a deeper understanding and appreciation for the difficulties the Nimi'ipuu and Four Bands had to face and overcome for their land. Many of the Nimi'ipuu ancestors and Great Leaders were destroyed in this flight across Montana and students of Montana should be given the opportunity to learn and honor the strength of the Nimi'ipuu and these sacred places.