Odaminmaatig means
‘To play under a Tree’
in Anishinaabemowin.
Odaminmaatig Play Items share Anishinaabe culture, teachings and knowledge with children of all ages. Odaminmaatig play items are interpreted by multidisciplinary artist and Nipissing First Nation band member, Tessa Shank.
www.tessashank.com | www.Instagram.com/tessashank
We have developed a customizable play platform to share culture and teachings that reflect First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We work with Elders and Knowledge Keepers of a desired territory, to create meaningful and impactful learning experiences through play.
Products
Odaminmaatig Tree and Medicine Wheel Teachings
Represented by four colours and four directions, there are many teachings within the Medicine Wheel. Odaminmaatig Tree has four sides. Each side of the tree represents a direction of the Medicine Wheel and shares teachings, and knowledge rooted in each side.
The Medicine Wheel helps us to understand that everything in life is cyclical. This cycle can be the cycle of a single day, of the seasons, of the sun and the moon. It is a reminder that everything in life is connected.
Odaminmaatig Tree requires set-up. Call for more information and quote
Odaminmaatig Cube
A more compact version of Odaminmaatig Tree, the cube has four sides – each side representing a direction of the medicine wheel.
Age appropriate for children three to seven years of age. 85cm square x 150cm high. Ships in pallet crate and requires assembly. Assembly hardware and instructions included.
Animal Trax - Winter
Exploring animal tracks in the snow. By spinning the activity, children ‘plunk’ the animal track disc into corresponding animal pocket. Mapping, matching, patterning. A great game to help young readers develop early literacy skills and learn about the animals that stay active during winter.
Age appropriate for children three to seven years of age. 60cm dia, sits 6cm proud from wall, comes with wall mounting plate, mounting hardware and instructions
Animal Trax - Summer
Exploring animal tracks in the forest. By spinning the activity, children ‘plunk’ the animal track disc into corresponding animal pocket. Mapping, matching, patterning. A great game to help young readers develop early literacy skills and to learn more about the animals that live and forge in our forests during summer.
Age appropriate for children three to seven years of age. 60cm dia, sits 6cm proud from wall, comes with wall mounting plate, mounting hardware and instructions
Grandfather Teachings Flip Box
Children flip the blocks to match and interpret the Seven Grandfather Teachings – shared values practiced by many First Nations peoples across Turtle Island. Odaminmaatig is an interpretation from the Anishinaabe perspective. These teachings are VERBS, considered as actions that you do and act out. In no particular order: the teachings are: courage, love, humility, wisdom, honesty, respect and truth. Truth is representation of all the teachings together.
Age appropriate for children three to seven years of age. 45cm x 70cm, sits 10cm proud from wall, comes with offset wall mount frame, mounting hardware and instructions.
Pollinators Maze
Who are the helpers that plants need to grow? An a-maze-ing game for kids of all ages. Children rotate this activity one way or another to navigate the ‘pollinators coded discs’ through the ‘Plinko-field’ and ‘hairpin-turn track’, to land into their colour coded pocket plants destinations. Manual dexterity, hand-eye coordination, mapping, matching, and patterning.
Age appropriate for children five to nine years of age. 65cm x 80cm, sits 7cm proud from wall, comes with wall mounting plate, mounting hardware and instructions.
Three Sisters Pinball
The Three Sisters – squash, beans and corn. Children move the seeds through the pinball maze and plant the seeds into the ground. Two paths are easy enough to get through, the other – not so easy! Manual dexterity, and hand-eye coordination.
Age appropriate for children five to ten years of age.
65cm x 79cm, sits 5cm proud from wall, comes with wall mounting plate, mounting hardware and instructions
