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11-12
First Nations Reborn
Project type: Project
Related topic:
James Bay Project and the Cree
James Bay Project and the Cree
Subjects
History
Social Studies
Political Science
Social Studies
Political Science
Summary
Students collect and organize information concerning recent issues affecting Aboriginal peoples in Canada. Topics may include the recent history of Aboriginal peoples, the changes they have endured over the last 50 years, and the challenges they face as a result of their re-emergence as a collection of First Nations. Students then write an essay defining their position on the rebirth of Aboriginal nationalism, answering the question of how Canadian governments should support Aboriginal efforts to establish self-determination or of how Canadian governments and churches should acknowledge and redress historical Aboriginal grievances. Georges Erasmus: Native Rights Crusader The Oka Crisis Creation of Nunavut An Inuit Education: Honouring a Past, Creating a Future A Lost Heritage: Canada’s Residential Schools James Bay Project and the Cree
Students will explore the following topics on the CBC Archives Web site:
Duration
1 to 2 weeks
Purpose
To conduct Web-based research, to create and organize a research portfolio, to support a position in writing
Before Exploring
Consider launching this project in one of the following ways:
Show students the News In Review video “Nunavut: Birth of a Territory” (April 99) http://www.cbc.ca/newsinreview/apr99/nunavut/indep.html or “Renegotiating Rights: Native Rights: Sharing Resources” (Nov. 99) http://www.cbc.ca/newsinreview/Nov%2099/Native%20Rights/Renegotiate.html and generate a discussion concerning the issues raised. Read to students the “Legend of the Seventh Fire (Seventh Generation)” http://www.gnostic.ca/prophecy.htm#SeventhFire and discuss the implications for today’s young Aboriginals, who are the seventh generation. Have students search recent newspapers and create scrapbooks of articles concerning Aboriginal issues. Share these in class to set up the two primary research questions. Have students create concept webs focusing on Aboriginal issues. Ask them to group their current knowledge into themes.
Outline the Opportunity
Following the project launch, present and review the project outline (download sheet First Nations Reborn) carefully with students. Be sure that all parts of the task are clear.
This project includes the following worksheets that outline the task and provide tools for students to use as they work. You may wish to use all or only some of these sheets, which you can adapt to suit your needs and those of your students. For each sheet that you use, be sure that students understand how the sheet is to be used to support their work on this project.
- Project Outline
Hand out this sheet before beginning the project and review it carefully with students. - First Nations Reborn Worksheet A and First Nations Reborn Worksheet B
Students can use these tools to help focus their research as they browse and review the files on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site. - Research and Writing Tips
Review this sample list of research and writing tips with students. - Sample Research Log Sheet
Students can use this tool to maintain focus on their work. If you require it, students will include this sheet in their final submission. - Research Folder Checklist
Students can keep a copy of this sheet inside each of the research folders in their portfolios to remind them of the details of the research process. - Model Assessment Rubric
If you are using this rubric as part of your assessment procedure, review it with students early in the project so that they understand clearly how they will be assessed. - Talking About Aboriginal Issues Conversation Guide
Students can use this tool to discuss the results of their work with their peers before they finish their analysis. Discussion arising from this guide may lead to further reflection and refinement in students’ thinking and conclusions.
Revisit and Reflect
- Students can use their position papers as the basis for a formal or informal debate about government and church responsibility and Aboriginal issues and self-determination.
- Create a class list of the range of current Aboriginal issues that students believe governments or churches should address.
- Discuss as a class the responsibility of Canadians today for the transgressions towards Aboriginal peoples of past generations.
