Teaching Our Children

Finn is a lucky boy. Not only does he have three grandfathers (Pa,
Racing Tiger & Grandad) but he also has his Native Apa or Native
Grandfather, Tim Wonhola. I just got back from Lewis Point, which is a
Yup'ik summer fishing camp on the Nushagak river and also where Finn's
Native Apa lives June and July. Tim shared many, many stories with me
on this most recent trip. I wrote many of them down so I can share the
with Finn as he grows and begins to explore the beauty of nature and
culture. But for now there is one story, or perhaps custom, I would
like to share. It involves observation and teaching.

Yup'ik people do not teach their children in the same way as us
westies do. Instead Yup'ik people teach through observation "watch son
this is the way it is done". Never will a child be told he is doing
something the wrong way, never. First they are only allowed to
observe, perhaps, like splitting salmon, they my watch for several
years never actually performing the task they are learning. When ready
the child is allowed to try and will never recevie any form of
criticism. If they make a mistake they will simply be shown again and
in turn allowed to practice again. In Yup'ik culture there is "never a
wrong way only a better way".

I know that my patience wears thin when watching others do something
"the wrong way". And I know my patience will be taxed when Finn begins
to learn how to handle objects and do things with tools. But now I can
think of Finn's Native Apa and be still as Finn enjoys his own journey
of observation and learning. I can't wait!