Aboriginal Successes in Alberta and Canada

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11-12

Aboriginal Successes in Alberta and Canada

Project type: Web Quest

Related topic:
Alberta @ 100

Subjects

History
Social Studies

Summary

Using a variety of web-based resources, students will write an essay to examine the challenges and successes of individual Aboriginal people in Canada, analyze their success, and predict the impact for the future of Aboriginal peoples and communities in Canada.

Duration

2 to 3 lessons

Purpose

To write an essay; to make and support predictions

Before Exploring

Canada’s Aboriginal peoples have experienced a range of challenges and issues over the past century. Despite these significant impediments to cultural sustainability, Aboriginals frequently rise to those challenges and achieve great things. What drives individuals like Lieutenant Governor Ralph Steinhauer and architect Douglas Cardinal? How did they overcome challenges to achieve success? What does this mean for the future of Aboriginal peoples in Canada? What can we learn from them to apply to our own lives?

Outline the Opportunity

Students will write a 300- to 500-word essay that examines successes of individual Aboriginal people in Canada. They will research several individuals, the challenges they and their communities have faced, identify characteristics of success, and apply the criteria to the achievements they have researched. They will examine how these successes, and the criteria for success, might impact the future of Aboriginal peoples and communities in Canada.

Revisit and Reflect

Students share their essays either with the whole class or in groups of three to four pairs. Ask each group to compile a list of success characteristics based on what they have heard in the essays. Have them search for commonalities among the essays in their groups. Students submit their essays for assessment.