Two Old Women

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What are some of the struggles Indigenous peoples might face living in interior Alaska? What resources might be used? What foods might be available? How might the importance of family be characterized? How might lifestyles be influenced by the resources of where a tribe lives?

Teaching Suggestion: Two Old Women is the story of Sa’ and Ch’idzigyaak, who are members of an Athabascan tribe. The women are forced to survive in the interior of Alaska following the chief’s decision to abandon them due to their frailty and lack of contribution to the tribe. Consider analyzing the Athabascan culture and how they survived the Alaskan interior.

• This article describes the culture and beliefs of Athabascan tribes.
• This article offers information on Athabascan lifestyle and interactions between Athabascan tribes.

Short Activity

Complete an investigation to determine the climate in which the Athabascan tribes lived. Describe the average temperatures at different times of the year, the plant and animal life, and resources that may have been used by the Athabascan people.