The biggest challenge in regards to sources will be in collecting and framing the discussions and assignments of Onondaga oral traditions and material culture in the form of wampum belts. Historical methods and thinking in an Indigenous American context are different from what students already struggle with. I am already familiar with some good video sources online, and we also have a nearby Onondaga Heritage Center that will be useful for students, but how this will look in the final puzzle is still TBD.

Of course, the Jesuit Relations are no easy source for students to grasp either. They LOVE 17th century writing, she types with an eyeroll. So do I pick the excerpts I want them to focus on or do I have them search? Maybe a little of both? More TBD.

I am wondering about activities for students. I am considering the idea of a “scavenger hunt” of sorts early on where they would find and identify references to the Onondaga/Jesuit encounter on campus. That would include names on dorms, statues, a tree of peace, the college seal, the land recognition statement, etc. I am thinking of ways to for students to report on their findings which would not be reports. Maybe I’d have them do short films for social media.

Next I also need to think of the platform. I will be experimenting with Google sites as a possibility as well as WordPress. I also need to really focus on my goals for the students. What are the real skills and knowledge I want them to take away? This puzzle seems to be acquiring more pieces as I continue!