The First Nations’ Parfleche
Artist
Grade Level
Val Moker
5
Subject
Social Studies
Topic
First Nations Culture - The Parfleche
Descriptive Sentence
The parfleche was made by the First Nations People of the Plains to transport items such as food, hides
and other domestic goods as they moved, following their food sources. This lesson provides an
opportunity for the students to learn about the First Nations People of the Plains and how a parfleche is
made. Students will also explore symmetry while designing their parfleche.
Curricular Outcomes or Expectations
Please see the lesson plan preview for the expectations/outcomes for your province.
Materials
• Transparency or wall map of North America
• Pictures of clothing of the Plains people
• Samples, pictures or slides of parfleches
• One sheet of newsprint per student
• Pencils, rulers, erasers and meter sticks
• 1/2 sheet of 22x32” watercolour or Mayfair paper per student (22x16)
• Assortment of ribbon, beads and feathers
• Scissors
• Brushes (small and large)
• Watercolour paint
• Watercolour pencil crayons (Crayola)
• Hole punch
• Sinew (fake) ribbon or leather strips for tying the parfleche together
• Water containers
• Paper towels
Space Requirements
The classroom or art room with a sink
Background Information
Parfleche is a French Canadian word. It literally means "to parry (or turn aside) arrows". The Native
Americans throughout the Northwest made the parfleche by folding, then painting the lye-soaked dried
buffalo hides. They were usually made by the women. The colourful symmetrical patterns painted on the
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varied and interesting travel cases held both aesthetic and spiritual significance for the whole tribe. The
following web-site provides excellent information:
www.getty.edu/artsednet/resources/Place/Core/parfleche.html
Getting Ready
Please take a moment to review
the “The Traditional Use of the
Parfleche” video
• On a map of Canada, locate the areas where the Plains People lived and traveled. Discuss the purpose
of their moving.
• Introduce the parfleche and its use. Discuss the importance of the parfleche to the people of the plains
and show various examples. Brainstorm and create a list of its uses.
Please take a moment to review
“The Symmetry of the Parfleche”
video
• Introduce how design was very important to the people (Sioux). Each tribe would have their own
symbol. Show examples of different patterns on parfleches. Notice the use of symmetrical designs.
Discuss what makes a design symmetrical.
• Discuss the difference between geometric designs and natural designs (designs taken from nature –
flowers, leaves, and animals).
• Demonstrate or explain the concept of symmetry and asymmetry. Show artistic patterns or designs
that demonstrate both concepts. Ask students to point out the lines of symmetry. Explain that some
patterns can have more than one line of symmetry.
Development
Please take a moment to review
“Measuring and Folding the Draft
Parfleche” video
• Give each student a sheet of newsprint to begin making a draft copy of the parfleche. They will need a
ruler and a pencil.
• Show the students how to fold the parfleche. Measure 6cm in along the long side of the paper then
fold in. Do the same on the other side. Now, fold the paper in half.
• Now that the halfway mark is clear, open the paper and fold each half in towards the center line to
form the envelope. Remind the students that what they do on one side must be done on the other to
create symmetry.
Please take a moment to review
“The Design of the Parfleche” video
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• Once the newsprint is folded, have the students consider the design. Show examples of the parfleche
and discuss the use of geometric shapes and how larger shapes can be broken down into smaller
different shapes.
• Ask the students to plan a design using only triangles, squares and rectangles. They could make other
shapes using these basic shapes (e.g. diamond and hourglass shape). Have the students plan their
design on the newsprint.
• As the students work on their design, remind them that symmetry needs to be kept. What they do on
one side, must be the same on the other to ensure the balance of their design. It might be easier to
lay the paper out flat and label each of the 4 parts A or B to make sure that the A parts are the same
as the B parts to create the symmetry on the front and back of the parfleche.
• Once the students have completed the design on their draft paper, they are ready to begin their
parfleche on the watercolour paper. Have the students write their colours on the shapes. Keep in
mind that the colours have to be symmetrical as well.
• Take some time to again show the students the completed sample parfleche. Discuss the symbols,
colours, and extra items they can add to decorate.
Application
Please take a moment to review
“Measuring and Folding the
Watercolour paper” video
• The students are now ready to make the good copy of their parfleche. Give each student the
watercolour paper (22 x 16”) and ask them to fold the paper as they did before, but this time being
aware that the paper is now thicker and needs more care.
• Have the students fold their paper according to the instructions given. They will mark 5cm on each
side, draw the line with a pencil, lightly score the line with a pair of scissors, and fold the paper
inward. Do this on both sides of the paper.
• Next, measure 14cm from each side, drawing a perpendicular line. These are the folding lines. Score
the lines, including the bent flaps and fold. Remind the students to measure carefully and apply
pressure when folding on the heavier paper.
• Once all the folds are made, it’s time to place the draft design onto the good paper. The students can
transfer the design by drawing the shapes, carefully following their draft plan. If they wish, they could
make a stencil of the shapes used in the design and trace around them onto the good copy. By using
the stencil, students eliminate erasing when the shape doesn’t line up.
Please take a moment to review
“Rawhide Colouring: The Wet ‘n
Wet Technique” video
• The students are now ready to paint the parfleche. They will need paint brushes, watercolour paint,
water, paper towel, watercolour pencil crayons and a ruler.
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• Start with the part that would represent the rawhide colour. To obtain this rawhide colouring, mix a lot
of yellow, a little of orange, red and brown or simply use Yellow Orche. To give the textural look, show
the students the “wet ‘n wet” technique. Add a small amount of water to the area they want to paint,
then take watery paint on the brush and fill in the shape. It should give an irregular surface to
represent the rawhide.
Please take a moment to review
“Painting the Design” video
• The students will now choose the 4 colours they wish to use to paint the design on their parfleche.
They will be using the colours found in the watercolour pencil set excluding black.
• When they have decided on the colours and where they will go, have them outline each shape with a
watercolour pencil crayon of the same colour using a ruler. This acts as a fence to keep the colour
inside the shape. With the pencil, colour in the shape very loosely.
• When all the shapes are outlined and penciled in, the water application starts. Take the brush and a
little water and fill in the shape. Have the students pat the paper towels with the brush before the
brush touches the paper. This eliminates the excess water. This is called the ungraded (all even-toned)
technique. You may wish to demonstrate this technique in small groups. Make sure each student has
paper towels.
• Have the students paint all their shapes, starting with the larger ones. Remind them not to paint
beside a freshly painted section as the colours will run.
Please take a moment to review
“Completing the Parfleche” video
• When the students have painted the parfleche and the paint is dry, ask them to outline their shapes
with black pencil crayon and a ruler. It gives a finished appearance to the parfleche.
• Look again at the sample parfleche, or pictures of parfleches. Draw attention to the closure, beads and
feathers. Discuss how the beads and feathers reflect the colours in the painting.
• To finish the parfleche, ask the students to make two holes with the hole punch near the centre on
each side, to bring the sides together. Have the students thread a strip of sinew (thread or twine)
through the holes and tie up the parfleche. Decorate the parfleche with ribbon threaded through the
punched holes. Add feathers and beads.
Closure
• Place the parfleches on display. Have the students look at the designs. Research and discuss
geometric designs from other cultures.
• Ask the students to think of what we use today that is taken from the idea of the parfleche.
• The students could use their parfleche to store their best work, and take it home at the end of the
term.
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Glossary
1. Parfleche - French word (turn arrow), rawhide
2. Wet on wet Technique - A watercolor technique where the paint is runny, the paper is wet and the
brush is wet. This gives a blurred or washed out effect.
3. Ungraded technique - A watercolour effect where the painted area is all even-toned.
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