Digital Collections

Topic #3 Native People Today

Time: 1-3 period(s)

Objectives:

1. Students will recognize that Canada is a multicultural country made up of people with a variety of languages, religions, and customs.
2. Students will gain an appreciation of the importance of Canada's Native peoples in the cultural mosaic.
3. Students will learn to value the diverse, dynamic, and changing cultures of Canada's Native peoples, the founding peoples, and subsequent immigrants, which have shaped the Canadian identity.
4. Students should be able to explain the values and attitudes that underlie decisions made by Native Peoples about their lives and their futures.
5. Student will draw maps, sketches, graphs, and charts from large and complex maps and databases.
6. Students will learn to evaluate recorded information and assess the reliability of specific sources of information.
7. Students will become comfortable with interpreting and using information from the World Wide Web.

Resources:

1. Digital Collections: Our Elders: Interviews With Saskatchewan Elders. http://www.lights.com/sicc/index.html
2. Newspaper articles on Native issues, particularly on Nunavut.
3. Canadian Geography textbook

Purpose: To look at the different native cultures present in Canada today and the contributions they make to Canadian society.

Ideas:

1. Invite an Aboriginal speaker to the class to discuss their culture and lifestyle now and compare it to the past or to tell a legend/story.
2. Read newspaper articles that involve First Nations people or issues. Have students write their own thoughts and reflections about the articles. Discuss as a group. When discussing things as a group, it is nice if the students sit in a circle and each student has a turn going around the circle to express his/her ideas.
3. Have students keep their own scrapbook of articles with their responses (See Appendix). Have students use Critical Reading (See Appendix)
4. Read articles pertaining to Nunavut (Several have been published in both the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail.). Have students answer questions such as; What is the date of formation of the new territory, Nunavut? and Who will be responsible for Nunavut? Have students draw on a map of Canada where the new territory will be located. Have students discuss the pros and cons of the formation of the new territory. What are some of the concerns? Again the circle discussion is a good idea so that each student get to express his/her opinion.
5. Activity based on Internet site: Our Elders: Interviews with Saskatchewan Elders
   ( http://www.lights.com/sicc/index.html ). Have each student read a different interview with one of the Saskatchewan Elders. Have students write a response describing what it is like to be a Native Person living in Canada today. Possible questions might include: Who is the Elder?, What cultural area are they from?, What tribal group are they from?, What life experiences have they had?, What are some of the changes that are occurring for Native People in Canada?, etc. Have each student identify people who are 'elders' in his/her life.

• Discuss with students the social concerns, economic concerns, and land claims of the Native People living in Canada. Discuss with students the difference between Metis, Non-status Indians, and Status Indians.

Evaluation:

1. Evaluate Scrapbook.
2. Evaluate responses to Critical Reading.
3. Mark map.
4. Evaluate student's summary on the Elder Interview they chose.