Jessica Diemer-Eaton
Jessica Diemer-Eaton is a historical interpreter of Native American lifeways, and owner of Woodland Indian Educational Programs (www.woodlandindianedu.com). She provides educational programs for students, public programs for museums, Powwows, and historical events, as well as interpretive workshops for museum staff.
Her articles revolve around historic Northeastern Woodland Indian cultures, and the interpretation of this subject to the general public by educational organizations.
Jessica holds a Commercial Art certification and illustrates Native American subjects for educational publications. She is a craftswoman who recreates historical materials and demonstrates cultural processes (building Native homes, woodworking, fingerweaving, wampum loom work, hot-stone cooking, hominy making, etc.). Jessica also studied anthropology at Indiana University, and has experience as a museum interpreter, educational director, educational event coordinator, and Native American Studies Instructor, as well as volunteering as a Boy Scout Indian Lore merit badge councilor and 4-H group leader. She has received grants from the Indiana Humanities Council for her educational events. Originally from New Jersey, Jessica resides with her husband Mark in Southern Indiana in the round, cordwood home they hand-built together.
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Her articles revolve around historic Northeastern Woodland Indian cultures, and the interpretation of this subject to the general public by educational organizations.
Jessica holds a Commercial Art certification and illustrates Native American subjects for educational publications. She is a craftswoman who recreates historical materials and demonstrates cultural processes (building Native homes, woodworking, fingerweaving, wampum loom work, hot-stone cooking, hominy making, etc.). Jessica also studied anthropology at Indiana University, and has experience as a museum interpreter, educational director, educational event coordinator, and Native American Studies Instructor, as well as volunteering as a Boy Scout Indian Lore merit badge councilor and 4-H group leader. She has received grants from the Indiana Humanities Council for her educational events. Originally from New Jersey, Jessica resides with her husband Mark in Southern Indiana in the round, cordwood home they hand-built together.
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Education/Experience
Former Positions as Museum Interpreter, Native American Studies Instructor, & Director of Education. Studied Anthropology at Indiana UniversityInterests
Woodland Indian Lifeways, Native American Women s Culture, Woodland Indian Gender Roles (Including 3rd, 4th, and 5th Genders), Woodland Indian Family Life, Woodland Indian Diets/Foods, Woodland Indian Homes/Structures, Public Outreach & Interpretation.Motto
"History is a trail that was walked by our ancestors. For us to know it and them, we must retrace it, look at it honestly and perceive it realistically, then tell it factually" -Joseph Marshall IIIAffiliations
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Displaying Results 1 - 77 (of 77) for All Content
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Making Maple Sugar with No ThermometersMaking maple sugar in historic manner with kettle evaporation over an open fire, and no modern tools. -
About Maple Syrup & Maple SugarOrigin of, nutritional value of, and some historical facts of maple syrup and sugar. -
Maple Sugar Vs. Salt in Native American Food CultureThe use of maple sugar over salt in historic Northeastern Native American cuisine. -
Terminology Wars: The "Indian" WordSome thoughts about using the term "Indian" to identify Native Americans. -
The Treaty of Greenville Solidifies Little Turtle’s AuthorityThe 1795 Treaty of Greenville propelled Little Turtle’s authority until the 1809 Treaty of Fort Wayne. -
Historic Northeastern Native American GovernmentsIncludes general information as an introduction to the role of village or civil leaders, war chiefs, councils (including women's councils), and spokespeople. Examples are taken from the Iroquois, Delaware (Lenape), Miami, and New England tribes.
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Food Nuts of the Northeastern Native AmericansWhat nuts were used, how they processed them, and in what dishes were they enjoyed. -
Preserving Berries in Northeastern Native AmericaHow berries were preserved for later use during historic times.
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Native American Foods Classroom Learning KitA creative resource for Native American lesson plans - actual foods like deer, shellfish, and hominy, dried as they would have been by the Native Peoples for storage.
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Food Revolution Day: A Day to Consider the Culinary Contribution of Native Americans to the World (Part II)More Native American culinary contributions to the world.
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Native American Corn & Beans: A Complimentary Pair from Cultivation to ConsumptionCombining corn and beans was a practice carried from garden to plate, with great cultivation and nutritional benefits.
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Summary: Westward Migration of the Lenape-Delaware PeoplesA few cultural basics plus short overview of the historic Lenape-Delaware trek west to Indian Territory.
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Food Revolution Day: A Day to Consider the Culinary Contribution of Native Americans to the World (Part I)Food awareness should start with the origin and history of the foods we eat today. So what foods do we owe to Native Americans?
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The Alleged "Beads that Bought Manhattan" Reveals More About Us Than HistoryThe myth of buying Manhattan for $24 worth of beads revealed, and why it continues to be so popular may have less to do with history and more to do with continuing bias views.
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Grease, Fat, & Oil: Historic Native American CondimentsHistoric northeastern Native American cuisine heavily relies on animal fats and nut oils for flavoring.
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Hominy: An Original Native American DishHominy, an original dish of the northeast, the term "hominy" is derived from the Virginia Indian People. Learn the history, process, and nutritional value of hominy.
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Traditional Native American CornbreadThe Native American origin of cornbread, and the many ways it was historically prepared.
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The Traditional Coverings of Wigwams & LonghousesHow and why bark sheets and reed mats were utilized to cover and insulate pre-colonial and historic Northeastern Native American homes.
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Delaware-Lenape Wigwam FramesHow, when, and with what traditional Delaware-Lenape barrel longhouse and domed wigwam frames were constructed.
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My Personal Revelation: The Agenda of Our School's History CurriculumsQ. "Why do we learn history?" A. "So we don't repeat our mistakes." --- A noble goal to learn our past, but who's mistakes are highlighted, and why are these events focused on more than others?
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Squash: The Prized “Ground Fruit” of the Northeastern Native AmericansThe historic cultivation and traditional applications of squash and pumpkins by the Woodland Indian Peoples of North America.
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Native American BeveragesFlavored water, teas, and juices noted historically to be consumed by the northeastern Woodland Indian Peoples.
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Baby Formula Among the Native AmericansHistory points out that Native Peoples, who didn't consume cow's or goat's milk, did create nutritious substitutes for breast milk.
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Exposing the Myth “Indian Babies Don’t Cry”A short explanation as to the role the cradleboard may have had in the formation of the early myth "Indian babies don't Cry."
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The Importance of FeastingThe custom of feasting in the Woodlands, with examples from the Micmac, Montagnais, Ojibwa, and Iroquois Peoples.
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Native American Hot-Stone CookingPractical applications of hot-stone cooking methods demonstrated historically by Native Americans.
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Selling Honor: The New Warrior Culture in the Era of TecumsehHow White-Colonial Influences Commercialized Native American Warfare and Created a Militant Warrior Culture Among the Woodland Indians (revised 2/13/12).
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Native American Ghosts: Ghost Lights of Southern New EnglandNative stories tell of disembodied souls that glow, either going about their own business or maliciously leading unsuspecting victims into the forests and swamps.
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Native American Ghosts: Stonecutter and the AnthropologistBy far, my favorite historic ghost story: a scholar studying the local Native folklore finds himself a witness to what he has been warned, a humbling experience for the college-educated doctor.
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Native American Ghosts: Tales from Black BrookGhostly encounters of the Gay Head Wampanoag Native Americans. Tales of ghostly abandoned boots, a headless man, and a hard-breathing horse from Black Brook.
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The Native American Interpreter's Booklist: 2011 Fall Reading AssignmentsEvery season, Woodland Indian Educational Programs suggests books just for museum interpreters and docents who teach about Native American cultures.
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Acting WILD in Native American-Themed Halloween CostumesWhat is the message we endorse by wearing "sexy squaw" costumes and encouraging our children's wild behavior while dressed in Indian costumes?
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Teaching the Past to Move ForwardWhy Teaching American Indian History Aids Contemporary Native American Cultural Awareness Agendas
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The Sport of Shinny: A Native American PastimeGenerally regarded as a women's sport, shinny is truly a wide-spread game enjoyed historically by Native American men and women, boys and girls.
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Native American Doubleball: The Woman's Ball GameDoubleball, (the Woman's Ball Game) was played by many Native women of the Western Great Lakes and Plains regions. It has been referred to as the female version of lacrosse.
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The Native American Origin of LacrosseExplore the true origin of lacrosse - born of Native America and considered a sacred game and a national pastime.
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Problems in Native Reenacting: White IndiansThe Indian wanna-be phenomena is nothing new, and as a trend it has steadily become more and more popular among non-Indian peoples. Why do they want to "play Indian?"
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The Native American Ethnic Make-Up of Prophetstown, 1808-1812Prophetstown's Native citizens' tribal backgrounds: Who lived at Prophetstown?
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Beware of Fallacious Native American Lesson PlansWhat online Woodland Indian lesson plans can you trust and why? Here are 10 red flags to watch out for.
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Introducing Students to Native Americans Through "Squaws" and Cannibalism: A True StoryThe story of how one school introduced students to Native American culture through hostility and female objectification.
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Cross-Curriculum Lesson Plans: The Native American Wigwam and LonghouseGrades 3-6. Includes Math Questions, Environmental Science Assignments, Archaeological Science Activities, Analogies, and more.
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Teachers: Get FREE Native American Coloring Pages and Activity Worksheets!Learn about one website where you can download quality Woodland Indian-themed coloring pages and activity worksheets for free!
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The Native American Interpreter's Booklist: 2011 Summer Reading AssignmentsEvery season, Woodland Indian Educational Programs suggests books just for museum interpreters and docents who teach about the Northeastern Native American People.
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Native American Recipes: Hickory Nut & Corn PuddingA delicious, historically recorded, Woodland Indian dish you can easily duplicate in your kitchen!
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Gender Roles in a Horticultural Society: The Lenape (Delaware) ManA Short Summery of the Economical Role of the Lenape (Delaware) Man in the Late Woodland Period (1000-1600).
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Common Misconceptions About Indiana's First Peoples5 common misconceptions of the Indiana's Native People and History: The Iroquois and Cherokee myth, "The Trail of Tears" vs. "The Trail of Death," nomadic assumptions and "walking wigwams."
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The 13 Native American Tribes that Resided in Indiana, 1650-1850Common demographic questions answered: Where did they come from? When were they in Indiana? Where did they go? Real answers from creditable sources teachers can trust.
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Delaware Indian Meals, Manners, and MisunderstandingsDelaware (Lenape) manners, and most Native American manners, dictated that guests, friends and friendly strangers alike, were to be offered the best upon visiting a home or camp.
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Understanding Western Perspectives of Native American Gender RolesLike to learn about Native American history and cultures - read this article. It may give you a different perspective of Native American gender dynamics.
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More Than Animal Hides: An Article for StudentsTeachers, make copies of this article for your class! This article is specifically written for students learning about the historic Northeastern Native Americans. Grades 4-7.
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Being a Man in Native America: A Good FatherPursuits, Duties, and General Character of the Woodland Indian Man, 1500-1800. Part III: A Good Father (Part I: A Good Citizen; Part II: A Good Husband; Part IV: A Good Provider).
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Native American Lesson Plans: Diplomacy and OratoryClassroom activity to illustrate how Woodland Indian governments worked. Grades: 5-10. Subjects: Social Studies (History, Government), Language Arts (Public Speaking, Debate).
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Native American Lesson Plans: 3-Sisters Cookout ActivityOutdoors activity for students to compliment Northeastern Native American school curriculum or Boy Scout, Girl Scout, or 4-H lessons on Native American culture and agriculture.
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Presenting Learning Programs to Students Ages 11-13From one museum interpreter to another: Tips on presenting interactive programs to students ages 11-13.
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Traditional Versus Historical: Pan-Indian Culture, the Modern Powwow, and the History MuseumWhat "traditional" and "historical" means when referring to Native American cultures. Originally written for museum interpreters, any student of Native subjects will appreciate this to-the-point explanation.
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Introducing Native Americans to Your Elementary StudentsShort article every Social Studies teacher should read. About the real pit-falls that teachers should avoid when presenting Native Woodland Indian history and cultural subjects in the classroom.
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Native American Sociology: Introduction to Gender & Family RelationshipsShort introduction to the basics of historic Native American societies: gender, matriarchy vs. matrilineal, what is matrilocal and patrilocal residence, the role of maternal uncles among matrilineal peoples, etc.
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From a Native American Perspective: Proper Manners in Conversing and InquiringSometimes the best way to understand and sympathize with the societies and cultures we learn about or teach about is to care less of what we '‹Å"think of them,' and rely more on their observations of us.
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Woodland Indian Program at Historic Prophetstown, IndianaPhotos of Mark and Jessica of "Woodland Indian Educational Programs" at Historic Prophetstown in Battle Ground, Indiana, April 2009 - July 2011.
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The Culture & History of Maple Sugaring: General Information, Terms, and BasicsShort introduction to the basic terminology and history of Maple sugars. A must read for those teaching or interested in historic Native American Maple sugaring.
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Native American Lesson Plans: Make Maple Sugar ActivityFree Lesson Plan Student Activity from "Maple Sugaring Among The Delaware: Teacher Lesson Plans and Classroom Resource CD-ROM"
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Native American Lesson Plans: Tap a Maple Tree ActivityFree Lesson Plan Student Activity from "Maple Sugaring Among The Delaware: Teacher Lesson Plans and Classroom Resource CD-ROM"
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Hominy Making: The Historic Native American ProcessHow the Northeastern Native American People made hominy from Flint corn. This slideshow is meant to be used for educational reference only. Do not attempt to make and consume this dish, as too much ash residue (lye) can be poisonous.
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Historic Native American Hot-Stone Cooking Demonstration SlideshowMark and Jessica of "Woodland Indian Educational Programs" demonstrate the age-old technique of Native American cooking with hot rocks. Caution: Certain rocks treated in this manner can explode (especially when dropped into water).
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Historic Native American Maple Sugaring Demonstration SlideshowMark and Jessica from "Woodland Indian Educational Programs" demonstrates the steps of making Maple sugar in historic Woodland Indian fashion at museums and festivals in Indiana.
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Step-by-Step: Building a Historic Native American WigwamA sideshow especially informative for students - The Woodland Indian wigwam was a permanent structure, built of saplings (poles) that made the framework, and covered in cattail mats and bark sheet.
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Woodland Indian Torture: A Perspective for EducatorsStudying Native practices of torture in an unbalanced perspective only serves to villainize Native American Peoples.
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All Corn is Indian CornNortheastern Indian corn history and culture: varieties, processing, storage, and descriptions of Native corn dishes (hominy, husk bread, baked scraped green corn bread, corn and chestnut pudding, etc.).
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History Makes Little Attempt to Understand Native American WomenOriginally written for museum interpreters and re-enactors, this short article illustrates the prevailing bias that interfered with observations of Northeastern Native women's culture of the historic period.
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Native American Warfare in the ClassroomThis article insists that addressing the subject of Woodland Indian warfare in-depth in the classroom setting is inherently negative to the image of Native Americans in the eyes of young students.
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The European Wigwam MistakeWhen early pioneers couldn't emulate native technology correctly, like building a suitable wigwam, their biased opinions remain to be "factual" observations we blindly follow.
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Northeastern Native American Wigwams, 101A quick definition of the basic types of wigwams used by the historic Northeastern Woodland Indians.
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Native Lessons in Good MannersOften accused of being "uncivilized," this short article highlights the high manners historic Woodland Indians had and how they perceived a lack of manners among white culture.
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The Caveman Syndrome: The Negative Undertone in Many Native American-themed Museum ToursThe negative tone found in many Native American museum tours.
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Perceptions of Native AmericansAn overview of a few key points for educators of Native American subjects: History, Propaganda, and Native Americans; Early Anthropology and Native Americans; Popular Culture and Native Americans; Museum Interpretation and Native Americans.
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Native American Myths and Exaggerations Passed Off as FactsThree usual misconceptions of historic Woodland Indian life: Impact on environment, life of constant survival and wasting nothing of game animals.
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The Iroquois: Matriarchy or NotThis article examines why the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) are not defined as a Matriarchal society. Iroquois women had power, respect, and influence, but it's not enough to meet the "matriarchy qualifications."
