Seminar: Contemporary Native American Art
Program: DINÉ
Subject Area: Other
Grade Level: 4th
Year of Publication: 2019
Abstract
This curriculum unit focuses on my students’ creation of self-portraits that explain their identity
as Diné. It will promote awareness of how Diné children themselves would like to be viewed.
This curriculum unit will provide the history of how the Diné people were given their clans,
discuss what a clan’s purpose is and explore how the people have created their self-identity.
My students will create art works that motivate them to freely explain themselves. They will
research information about their clans and look at how artists of the twentieth century have
created self-portraits to express themselves and express their identities. Students will use the
examples they are shown to gain ideas on how to create their own work. The research that is
collected will be used to create their portraits. The projects will be assessed to see how students
incorporate their clans.
This curriculum will tie Arizona Content, State World and Native Language and Navajo Nation
standards. This project’s goal is not simply to create self-portraits. It also aims to lead students to
recognize that we live in a diverse society and it is okay to be different from other nationalities.