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9-10
Role-Playing the Oka Crisis
Project type: Assignment
Related topic:
The Oka Crisis
The Oka Crisis
Subjects
History
Media Studies
Media Studies
Summary
Students answer questions in role as a major figure involved in the Oka crisis.
Duration
2 lessons
Purpose
To understand the views, motivations, and actions of the main figures involved in the Oka crisis
PDF
Before Exploring
Have students browse the Oka topic and prepare and present a list of the people they think were the most important figures involved in the Oka crisis of 1990. The list should include the following:
Jean Ouellette, mayor of Oka
Ellen Gabriel, spokesperson for the Kanesatake Mohawks
John Ciaccia, Quebec native affairs minister
Tom Siddon, federal Indian affairs minister
Ronald Cross (“Lasagna”), Mohawk warrior.
Outline the Opportunity
Explain to students that they will be working in groups to prepare and present a role-playing activity. Each group should choose one major figure from the Oka crisis, as defined by the class. Have students watch and listen to the clips that contain interviews, information, and other impressions of their chosen subject.
To begin the role-play, one member of the group will act in-role to present the views, motivations, and actions of that figure. The other members of the group will assume the roles of news reporters covering the Oka crisis, and will formulate and pose questions to that figure to find out more about his/her views, motivations, and activities during the event.
Revisit and Reflect
Gather the groups together and have one member of each group identify the figure the group will interview, and briefly present that person’s views of the Oka crisis, and how he or she was involved in it. Then students can present their role-play to the class. When they are finished, they can debrief what they have done and discuss what they learned from their role-play. In what way did it help them gain a deeper understanding of the views, motivations, and actions of the individuals involved in the Oka crisis? What did they learn about the role of news media in shaping public awareness and impressions of individuals involved in an event such as the Oka crisis?
Extension
Have students think about the role that individuals can play in shaping the course of an important historical event such as the Oka crisis. Ask them to think about whether or not this crisis might have ended differently if one or more of the figures involved in it had acted in a different manner. Who do they think played a positive role in the crisis? Who played a negative role? Why?
