Honoring Our Matriarchs
55-60 Minutes
Guided Discussion
Tekona
Guided Discussion
On The Surface
Guided Discussion
Closing Thoughts and Evaluations
Participants will be able to:
Analyze how characters' matriarchal connections impact their mental health and wellness
Draw conclusions about characters and demonstrate empathy through reflection and discussion
Consider multiple perspectives to describe their view of the (biological or chosen) matriarchal relationship
This class is about honoring the wisdom and strength that is passed down through the women that came before us. In the first film, a man gains strength through feeling intertwined with his female ancestors. In the second, a mother finds strength within to support herself and her child. Students are asked to reflect on these films and respond to questions that consider how this matriarchal connection (which can be chosen or biological) supports wellness.
topics covered
Social Connections
aom nutrients
Empathy, Honest Self Reflection
casel sel
Social awareness
wellness wheel
Social
identities
Adult, Parent, Black, Indigenous, Man / male, Woman / female
film style
Animation, Poetry Film
Films Included
Tekona
Tekona reflects on his family’s teachings while he braids his hair in the early morning and makes deeper connections to his Indigenous identity. The film is a glimpse into the mental health of young indigenous men by way of treating emotional vulnerability with insight and compassion. Faced with feelings of isolation, toxic masculinity, and stereotypes of Native people, Tekona embraces the visceral connection to his mother and the matriarchs who inspire him to be strong.
film style
Poetry Film
identities
Indigenous, Man / male, Adult
On The Surface
Ada, a young Black woman, goes swimming in the Icelandic sea and reflects on her experience of having a baby in a country that feels nothing like home. As she enters the freezing water, she relives her traumatic pregnancy and postnatal depression. She tries to find ease and healing by facing her fears in the wild.
film style
Animation
identities
Black, Woman / female, Adult, Parent