True Wealth

Supplement for the Hands on Banking (HOB), High School Instructor Guide:

Topic 4, Lesson 5 - How to Build Wealth (pg 47 in HOB)

Lesson Narrative

Traditional Native American wealth can be thought of in several different ways.

Gift Giving or Give-aways are where status is given to individuals based on what they give to others as opposed to a commodity or exchange economy where status is given to those individuals who have the most. Gift Giving among the Plains tribes can be done in celebration of an achievement, memorial of one’s passing (both at the time of passing and one year following), or as a thank you. The entire community contributes to the ceremony and therefore shows the wealth of the entire tribe.

Potlatch is a Chinook adaptation of the Nootka word patshatl, which means “giving.” A Potlatch, much like the Give-Away, celebrates the giving and distribution of a portion of wealth among fellow tribal members. These ceremonies can also serve to mark transfers of power between generations, to memorialize important chieftains, and to celebrate the social initiations of heirs. The Potlatch ceremony is used up and down the West coast of the U.S. The Canadian Coastal people also used Potlatch.

Bartering is a form of trading where goods or services are exchanged for a certain amount of other goods and services. Usually no money is used in a barter transaction as bartering typically exists in cultures that have no monetary system. Although bartering still happens today, traditionally Native cultures used bartering to exchange for items needed.

Preliminary Work:

  1. Survey the students on their understanding of how to build wealth.
  2. Ask students if they have seen wealth building skills within their family and community.
  3. What knowledge do the students have on historical forms of trade and bartering?
  4. What knowledge do the students have of Potlatch?

Discussion:

Discuss with the students their understanding on traditional ways of building wealth.

  1. Was there a system of taking what their ancestors had and increasing the value of it? What was that?
  2. Why do they think investing is a good idea for their future?
  3. How would they handle per capita money if they received it?

Research:

Students should research:

  1. How did their own tribe historically gather and show wealth?
  2. How do they show their wealth now?
  3. What is the difference between historical ways of showing wealth and now?

Presentations:

Have students report out to the class their findings from their research.

Wrap-up Journaling

This journal entry will give the students a chance to reflect on what they have learned in this lesson.

  1. How do they see the information they have just learned fitting into their lives?
  2. How do they feel about traditional wealth and modern wealth?
  3. What did they learn from their families on this topic?
  4. How do they see wealth in their own community?
  5. Ask students what additional information they would like on the subject.

Sample Narrative Activities: