CBC Archives

Pose the following scenario to students: Imagine that you moved somewhere only to find out that your culture and skills were worthless in society.

Have students write or draw the way they would feel, what challenges they would have, and ways they might try to cope.

Direct students to the topic Davis Inlet: Innu Community in Crisis on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site. Have students browse Clips #5, 8, and 9, and the Additional Clips “Davis Inlet: Canada's third world” and “We don't do anything... we are lazy.” They should also read the text for these clips. As they work, students should take notes identifying the ways that the Innu are working toward healing their community.

Have students work in small groups to create a poster for the community hall in Natuashish. The poster should describe all of the strategies that the Innu are using to try to heal their community and should inspire other community members to join in the effort.

Gather students and have a representative from each group present its poster.

Allow students to discuss and question each group’s poster. Ask students to consider and explain whether they think the strategies will work.

Assessment Tip
Ask individual students to explain the rationale for his or her group’s poster.

Gas-sniffing was an issue for the youth of the Papunya community in Australia. Students can investigate the similarities and differences between the two communities and show them in a Venn diagram. What measures has the Papunya community taken to try to curb the problem?