Primarily Me 5: Symbols

The Primarily Me Challenge

How do we know about the past? Most of what we know comes from what people left behind. Everything from what they wrote to what they created is a record of life lived. Each record, or primary source, tells a story about people, how they lived, and the environment they lived in. What will people in the future know about how we live today? That depends on what we leave behind!

You can find each challenge and response by following along on social media using #WMNHSPrimarilyMe!

Flags and Other Symbols

A symbol is something that stands for or represents something else. Even though they may need some decoding, symbols can be useful primary sources. For example, if you visited Fort Walla Walla in the 1830’s, the flag that flew over the fort could tell you that it was a British company, Hudson’s Bay Company, that ran the fort. It also might remind you that this area was not a part of the United States yet. If you talked to people around the fort, you might notice different symbols representing their job or status, religious beliefs, or their nationality.

The historic flag of the Hudson's Bay Company and the modern-day flag of the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation are below.

Historical Hudson's Bay Company Flag

Current flag of the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation.

• What symbols do you see on the flags above?
• What do you think the symbols might stand for?
• Why might someone fly a flag? What purpose does it serve?

Activity 5: Create Your Own Flag

This week's Primarily Me challenge is to create your own flag to represent a group that you are a part of. You could create a flag for your family, your school, your friends, or a club you are in.

To get started on your own flag, ask yourself:

• What groups are you a part of?
• What brings everyone in your group together?
• What symbols could you use to represent those things?

Ready for the next challenge? Go to Primarily Me 6: Clothing.