Plateau Family  Memberships

last updated: 24 August 2017

The term used for your family (listed below) encapsulates an essential part of your identity during this course; much of the meaning of your ecological, social and spiritual life is derived from it.    Learn its correct pronunciation and its meanings, both literally and the geographical place that it refers to.    In addition, learn the oral traditions, ecological significance and historical events associated with this place.  And finally, learn the board kinship roles of a typical traditional family and apply them as you interact with other members of your “family.”

The family groups will be the basis for organizing several of the learning activities for this course.  The “headmen and headwomen” (selected graduate students) will have special responsibilities and lead by example.   All members will look after the well-being of all other members, as defined by the roles of a typical Plateau family.  The family (or subgroups within it) will play an organizing role in the “in the round recitations,” the storytelling, the participatory projects, providing a context for study and research groups, as well as performance roles.

Meet Regularly.  It is imperative that your family meet together on a regular, preferred weekly basis, throughout the semester.   To the extent your family cohesion and role playing are solidified, so too will your grade in this course.

FIRST Assignment:  Schedule a time very soon when all of your family members can meet with the class instructor.   It would be for about 45 minutes.  Consider immediately prior to or immediately after the regular class session; evenings and weekends also can be considered. Your "headmen and/or headwomen" will coordinate this meeting.  Select a first and second head person.  The intention of this meeting is to better get to know each other and see how each can best contribute to the success of the family as a whole and in each of the Learning Activities.

At this meeting share what you think are critical elements of your own personal and academic stories (that which you feel comfortable in sharing), and suggest how best you might contribute to the success of your family, what background interests and skills you can bring to the family.  If your family does not have two head people, also consider selecting a second “elder” from among your siblings, preferably of the opposite gender, to assist the designated elder.