Topic Four - The imagined Future
TOPIC FOUR: THE IMAGINED FUTURE, RECONCILIATION AND RECLAMATION
In this module, you will expand your reading comprehension strategies, and use literary analysis techniques to better understand Truth and Reconciliation. You will also write an essay.
Assignments:
1. To start this unit remember the teachings from the 7 Sacred Teachings unit. The turtle represents truth. Without the truth, we cannot move toward reconciliation. On a piece of paper write down the word TRUTH and the word RECONCILIATION. Find the definitions for these two words and write them down as well.
2. Watch THIS VIDEO and THIS VIDEO on Truth and Reconciliation. Read THIS HANDOUT.
3. Research the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Answer these questions: What is the TRC? Why was it formed? What are residential schools and were the survivors of these 'schools' involved in the TRC? Why is the TRC important to Canadians? What are the TRC's calls to action?
4. Now it's time to write an essay. Yep, that's right, time to get those writing skills going and pick a topic related to what you have learned so far about the TRC and the Calls to Action as well as the other learning from this course. First READ THIS on what an essay is and see THIS rubric on what the essay expectations are. Use THIS ORGANIZER to organize your thoughts and collect your quotes for your essay.
In your essay, you can choose to answer one of the following questions:
Question 1 - What makes communities strong? OR
Question 2 - What value does the TRC have and what are its limitations? OR
Question 3 - Choose a topic from THIS WEBSITE that you are passionate about.
In this module, you will expand your reading comprehension strategies, and use literary analysis techniques to better understand Truth and Reconciliation. You will also write an essay.
Assignments:
1. To start this unit remember the teachings from the 7 Sacred Teachings unit. The turtle represents truth. Without the truth, we cannot move toward reconciliation. On a piece of paper write down the word TRUTH and the word RECONCILIATION. Find the definitions for these two words and write them down as well.
2. Watch THIS VIDEO and THIS VIDEO on Truth and Reconciliation. Read THIS HANDOUT.
3. Research the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Answer these questions: What is the TRC? Why was it formed? What are residential schools and were the survivors of these 'schools' involved in the TRC? Why is the TRC important to Canadians? What are the TRC's calls to action?
4. Now it's time to write an essay. Yep, that's right, time to get those writing skills going and pick a topic related to what you have learned so far about the TRC and the Calls to Action as well as the other learning from this course. First READ THIS on what an essay is and see THIS rubric on what the essay expectations are. Use THIS ORGANIZER to organize your thoughts and collect your quotes for your essay.
In your essay, you can choose to answer one of the following questions:
Question 1 - What makes communities strong? OR
Question 2 - What value does the TRC have and what are its limitations? OR
Question 3 - Choose a topic from THIS WEBSITE that you are passionate about.
Topic Five - Strength from within
TOPIC FIVE: STRENGTH FROM WITHIN, SEARCHING FOR AUTHENTIC FIRST PEOPLES' VOICES
This module has 2 parts. First, you will look at the movie Reel Injun to discuss how Indigenous peoples were and continue to be represented in media across time. Second, you will examine poetry and create poems that focus on authentic voices through creative expression.
Part 1: Film Study
So why study Indigenous films? This module will help to dispel stereotypes of how Indigenous people are porttrayed in mainstream movies and pop culture. Very often these characters are flat and made to conform to narrow stereotypes like the noble savage, brave warrior, or maiden in distress. By watching movies with authentic Indigenous voices we can challenge these stereotypes and learn more about characters with greater depth and knowledge.
Required readings:
1. Reel Injun film
Assignments:
1. Read about and research the terms "authentic voice" and "authentic text". Write out your definitions of these terms.
2. Watch the film Reel Injun HERE (note you must be a SD19 student to access this link). Next you have a choice in what assignment you can do:
OPTION 1: answer questions #1-18 on these pages: PAGE 1, PAGE 2, PAGE 3. Hand these questions in.
OPTION 2: Answer THESE QUESTIONS. Hand these questions in (Big thanks to https://mslegault.weebly.com for these questions)
OPTION 3: write a film review of the movie. Guide to writing this can be found HERE
Part 2: Poetry
Poetry helps us to develop our analysis skills. By examining the use of language and structure in Indigenous poetry we can learn things about how stories are told. Identifying common themes and issues in contemporary poetry can help us to make connections to things that are happening in the world and how they apply to our own lived experiences. Lastly, there is a connection between Indigenous poetry and the history of oral tradition.
Required readings:
1. History Lesson by Jeannette Armstrong
2. Runaway Dreams by Richard Wagamese
Assignments:
1. Read THIS INTRODUCTION to Indigenous Poetry.
2. Watch THIS VIDEO by Smokii Sumac reading from their book You are Enough. Think about these questions as you are listening to Smokii's poems:
a. What is the first emotional response to the poem? How did it make you feel?
b. What is the poet's main message? Who is the audience?
c. What is the tone of the poem?
d. How does it affect the mood of the whole piece? What words in the poem carry the tone and set the poem's mood?
e. Is the poet following a prescribed rhyme and rhythm structure, or are they writing free or blank verse?
f. Does the poem contain any major symbols that might convey metaphorical meaning?
g. Does the poet use specific tools of figurative language and rhetorical devices such as simile, allegory, allusion, hyperbole, rhetorical question, juxtaposition and/or alliteration?
3. Read THIS POEM called History Lesson by Jeannette Armstrong and THIS POEM called Runaway Dreams by Richard Wagamese and THIS POEM called I am Graffiti by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson . Choose one and answer the same 7 questions above for the poem you chose. Hand these into your teacher.
This module has 2 parts. First, you will look at the movie Reel Injun to discuss how Indigenous peoples were and continue to be represented in media across time. Second, you will examine poetry and create poems that focus on authentic voices through creative expression.
Part 1: Film Study
So why study Indigenous films? This module will help to dispel stereotypes of how Indigenous people are porttrayed in mainstream movies and pop culture. Very often these characters are flat and made to conform to narrow stereotypes like the noble savage, brave warrior, or maiden in distress. By watching movies with authentic Indigenous voices we can challenge these stereotypes and learn more about characters with greater depth and knowledge.
Required readings:
1. Reel Injun film
Assignments:
1. Read about and research the terms "authentic voice" and "authentic text". Write out your definitions of these terms.
2. Watch the film Reel Injun HERE (note you must be a SD19 student to access this link). Next you have a choice in what assignment you can do:
OPTION 1: answer questions #1-18 on these pages: PAGE 1, PAGE 2, PAGE 3. Hand these questions in.
OPTION 2: Answer THESE QUESTIONS. Hand these questions in (Big thanks to https://mslegault.weebly.com for these questions)
OPTION 3: write a film review of the movie. Guide to writing this can be found HERE
Part 2: Poetry
Poetry helps us to develop our analysis skills. By examining the use of language and structure in Indigenous poetry we can learn things about how stories are told. Identifying common themes and issues in contemporary poetry can help us to make connections to things that are happening in the world and how they apply to our own lived experiences. Lastly, there is a connection between Indigenous poetry and the history of oral tradition.
Required readings:
1. History Lesson by Jeannette Armstrong
2. Runaway Dreams by Richard Wagamese
Assignments:
1. Read THIS INTRODUCTION to Indigenous Poetry.
2. Watch THIS VIDEO by Smokii Sumac reading from their book You are Enough. Think about these questions as you are listening to Smokii's poems:
a. What is the first emotional response to the poem? How did it make you feel?
b. What is the poet's main message? Who is the audience?
c. What is the tone of the poem?
d. How does it affect the mood of the whole piece? What words in the poem carry the tone and set the poem's mood?
e. Is the poet following a prescribed rhyme and rhythm structure, or are they writing free or blank verse?
f. Does the poem contain any major symbols that might convey metaphorical meaning?
g. Does the poet use specific tools of figurative language and rhetorical devices such as simile, allegory, allusion, hyperbole, rhetorical question, juxtaposition and/or alliteration?
3. Read THIS POEM called History Lesson by Jeannette Armstrong and THIS POEM called Runaway Dreams by Richard Wagamese and THIS POEM called I am Graffiti by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson . Choose one and answer the same 7 questions above for the poem you chose. Hand these into your teacher.
Topic six - independent novel study
TOPIC SIX: INDEPENDENT NOVEL STUDY
In this unit, you are going to choose a novel written by an Indigenous author. You can find one by asking your local librarian or emailing your teacher. Then, you're going to do 4 written reader responses.
Activities:
1. Choose a book, written by an Indigenous author. Ask your teacher or look at THIS LIST or THIS LIST for inspiration.
2. Complete your 4 reader responses which can be found HERE. Hand these in to your teacher for marks.
In this unit, you are going to choose a novel written by an Indigenous author. You can find one by asking your local librarian or emailing your teacher. Then, you're going to do 4 written reader responses.
Activities:
1. Choose a book, written by an Indigenous author. Ask your teacher or look at THIS LIST or THIS LIST for inspiration.
2. Complete your 4 reader responses which can be found HERE. Hand these in to your teacher for marks.