Helpful list of tribes and regions for teaching the graphic novel, "Trickster: Native American Tales"

(Image source: Trickster ed. Matt Dembicki 2010)

Reasons to be excited about teaching literature and social studies this year: GRAPHIC NOVELS! I'll be researching how they can be used in the classroom to enrich and enhance learning, and integrating them through multiple content areas. I love this genre for the way it brings in multiple learning styles and draws in all sorts of readers, reluctant and ready alike. One novel in particular I have been enjoying exploring in preparation for the year is Trickster, compiled and edited by Matt Dembicki. It's a collection of 22 Native American trickster tales depicted by a variety of authors and artists. It is going to be an awesome supplement for exploring Native American cultures and comparing and contrasting the different regions. Kids will be able to use comprehension and inferencing skills to draw conclusions about the different cultures and their values and practices, based on the text AND the wonderful images. We can also discuss the differences between oral, written, and now graphic storytelling. There are just SO MANY exciting possibilities when dealing with this high-interest format! Let the planning frenzy begin!

One drawback to the text I quickly discovered, however, is a lack of a quick and easy reference for teachers to know which tribes and regions produced which trickster tales. It has been tedious googling the details of the different stories trying to figure out which tribes and areas they come from in order to use them as teaching tools. Thankfully with a little searching, I found this interview with Dembicki on BlueCornComics.com which includes a list of the authors, stories, and tribes each story in Trickster is sourced from. I used that list to compile my own, organized in the same order as the printed text with a few corrections and page numbers added.

List of Tribes and Regions in Trickster ed. by Matt Dembicki

1. (Washington) "Coyote and the Pebbles"— Dayton Edmonds, Micah Ferritor (p.5).

2. (Alaska) "Raven the Trickster"— John Active, Jason Copland (p.19)

3. Abenaki (New York) "Azban and the Crayfish"—Joseph and James Bruchac, Matt Dembicki (p.33).

4.Winnebego (Nebraska) "Trickster and the Great Chief"—- David Lee Smith, Jerry Carr (p. 47).

5. Laguna/Tewa/Hopi (Texas) "Horned Toad Lady and Coyote"— Eldrena Douma, Roy Boney (p.55)

7. (Massachusetts) "Moshup's Bridge"— Jonathan Perry, Chris Piers (p.71).

8. Choctaw (Texas) "Rabbit's Choctaw Tail Tale"— Tim Tingle, Patrick Lewis (p.79).

9. (Washington) "The Wolf and the Mink"— Elaine Grinnell, Michelle Silva (p.89).

10. Cowlitz (Washington) "The Dangerous Beaver"— Mary Eyly and Jimball (p.103)

11. (Texas) "Giddy Up, Wolfie"— Greg Rodgers, Mike Short (p.111).

12. Creek (Oklahoma) "How the Alligator Got His Brown, Scaly Skin"— Joyce Bear, Megan Baehr (p.123).

13. Catawba (South Carolina) "The Yehasuri: The Little Wild Indians"— Beckee Garris, Mark McMurray (p.137).

14. (?) “Waynaboozhoo and the Geese” – Dan Jones and Michael J. Auger (p.143).

15. (Oregon) "When Coyote Decided to Get Married"— Eirik Thorsgard, Rand Arrington (p.149).

16. (Hawaii) "Puapualenalena, Wizard Dog of Waipi`o Valley"— Tom Cummings, Paul Zdepski (p.161).

17. Ioway/Otoe (Kansas) "Ishjinki and Buzzard"— Jimm GoodTracks, Dimi Macheras (p.173).

18. (Montana) "The Bear Who Stole the Chinook"— Jack Gladstone, Evan Keeling (p.185).

19. Cherokee (North Carolina) "How Wildcat Caught a Turkey"— Joseph Stands With Many, Jon Sperry (p.194).

20. (Maine) "Espun and Grandfather"— John Bear Mitchell, Andy Bennett (p.203).

21. Navajo (Arizona) "Mai and the Cliff-Dwelling Birds"— Sunny Dooley, J. Chris Campbell (p.215).

?Seminole (Florida) "O-pa"— Moses Jumper, Allen Freeman

? (Alaska) "Box of Daylight"— Gene Tagaban, Ryan Huna Smith

*Mentioned in original source but not found in print copy

(Source for list: BlueCornComics.com)

Mapping these stories on actual maps with kids can give them yet another visual source from which to draw conclusions and formulate questions. Assign them each one of the five regions and have them choose a trickster tale from that region to explain and respond to. Note that several contributors identify as Native American themselves, which may be an interesting way to include some diverse voices in the classroom. Share any other ideas on how you'd use this text, or what other great texts you'd pair with it!