LessonSummaryIndigenousContributions

WelcometoanotherIndigenousJourneylesson.Thissummarywillguideyouthrougheverythingyouneedtoknowbeforedeliveringthislessontoyourclass.1. KeyConceptsThroughaninteractivegameofJeopardy,studentslearnaboutmanyIndigenouscontributionstosociety.Categoriesincludeinventions,history,literature,sportsandthearts.2. TimeAllotmentThislessonrequiresatotalof45minutestocomplete.Thefollowingisabreakdownofsuggestedtimeallotmentsperactivity:3. MaterialsRequired

• Projector&speakerstorunthelessonpresentation• IndigenousContributionProfileswillneedtobeprinted;onesetpergroup.Youwilldividetheclassinto3-4groupsdependingonclassside.SeeAppendixI.

Activity Time

JeopardyGame 30minutes

Discussion 10minutes

4.AdditionalActivities • IndigenousContributionsResearchProjectSincethisactivitymayrequirematerialsnotlistedaboveandadditionalpreparationtime,itisimportanttoreadthroughthedocumentbeforedeliveringtoyourclass.WehopeyouenjoythisIndigenousJourneylesson.Ifyouhaveanycomments,questions,orconcerns,pleasecontactusthroughthewebsite.

Indigenous Contribution literature

https://quillandquire.com/awards/2014/11/18/thomas-king-and-michael-harris-give-harpercollins-canada-

governor-generals-double-win/

Thomas King: 1943Cherokee/Greek/German, Guelph, ONwriter, activist, comedian, professor

Thomas King is man of many talents. His creativity led him to write a series of successful novels, including The Inconvenient Indian andThe Back of the Turtle. His many accomplishments include winning the Canadian Authors Award for fiction, as well as receiving membership to the Order of Canada. He is considered to be one of the most recognized Indigenous writers in North America.

http://musagetes.ca/artist/lee-maracle/

Lee Maracle: 1950-First Nations Coast Salish, B.C.poet, novelist, scriptwriter, actor

Lee Maracle is one of the most prolific authors in Canada. Amongst the Stó:lō Nation she is celebrated for her strong voice that speaks out against many injustices, especially in defense of women’s issues. Her feminist perspectives are reflected in her writing, speeches and activism.

https://nac-cna.ca/en/lifereflected/ilostmytalk

Rita Joe: 1932-2007Mi’kmaw, Nova Scotiapoet, songwriter

Rita Joe was a survivor of the Shubenacadie Indian Residential School. Ironically, one of her most famous poems is called I Lost My Talk. Her voice was not lost. In fact, she published six books in total. In 1989 she was made a member of the Order of Canada. Her legacy has inspired many First Nations youth to write and sing songs about their Indigenous experiences.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/12/15/tomson-highway-residential-schools_n_8787638.html

Tomson Highway: 1941 - Cree, Manitobaplaywright, novelist, musician

Tomson Highway was recognized by Macleans magazine as one of the 100 most important people in Canada. He received much praise for his play, The Rez Sisters and his novel, The Kiss of the Fur Queen. Creative in many arenas, he does credit his writing and musical skills to his attendance at residential school. Although he recognizes the injustices, he also sees the advantages it brought for his career.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b4IZTH2w3E

Sheila Watt-Cloutier: 1953 -Inuit, Nunavutauthor, activist, politician

A winner of many awards, Sheila Watt-Cloutier has been actively promoting environmental and human rights issues, such as climate change, that deeply affect her people and the northern landscape. This led her to write her famous book, The Right to be Cold: One Woman’s Story of Protecting Her Culture, the Arctic and the Whole Planet.

Indigenous history Profiles

Annie Mae Aquash: 1945-1975Mi”kmaq, Nova Scotiamother, wife, social worker, day care teacher

First Nations and Native American civil rights activist in the 1960’s. She joined the American Indian Movement and participated in the Trail of Brokent Treaties occupation and Wounded Knee incident at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. She was murdered in 1975 but it took decades before charges were laid.

Francis Pegahmagabow: 1889-1952Ojibway, Wasauksing First Nation,Ontariosniper, scout, Chief

The most highly decorated Indigenous soldier in Canadian military history. He was credited for killing 378 German soldiers and capturing 300 more during WWI. His bravery and skill was quickly forgotten on his return to Canada. Later in life he served as a Chief and a councilor for Wasauking First Nation.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SYLCGwDMO8

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Tecumseh: 1768-1813Shawnee, Ohio Valley, AmericaChief, warrior, activist

Tecumseh became a Canadian hero for his heroic efforts in the War of 1812 against the American’s. He fought alongside General Isaac Brock. He sided with the British because he thought they were the less of two evils. He main focus was to unite First Nations and protect his own people against Settler Nation.

Buffy Sainte-Marie: 1941 - Cree, Plains Cree First Nation, Canadasinger-songwriter, artist, social activist

Buffy continues to have a powerful impact, both as a musician and social commentator. Her list of accomplishments are immense, including her involvement with the American Indian Movement, film soundtracks, Sesame Street and the founding of the Nihewan Foundation for Native American Education. During the 1960’s her political music was blacklisted and suppressed.

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Louis Riel: 1844-1885Métis, Red River Settlement, Canadapolitician, prophet

A political leader to the Métis of the prairies and instrumental in the foundation of the province of Manitoba, he led two resistance movements against the Canadian government, Red River and North-West resistances. He was executed for high treason in 1885 for trying to protect his people from Canadian encroachment on Métis territory.

Harold Cardinal: 1945-2005Cree, Sucker Creek First Nation, CanadaChief, lawyer, author, activist, educator

Famous for drafting a response to the Federal Government’s 1969 White Paper, which proposed eliminating special status to Indigenous people and thereby eliminating their treaty rights. His response was called the “Red Paper”, where he rightly criticized the government’s unjust treatment of Indigenous rights. He was awarded with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

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Indigenous Contributions The Arts

Daphne Odjig: 1919-2016Odawa-Potawatomi-English, Manitoulin Island Indian Reserveartist

Odjig founded the Professional Native Indian Artists Association, alongside Alex Janvier and Norval Morrisseau in 1973. Odjig said, “We acknowledged and supported each other as artists when the world of fine art refused us entry...Together we broke down barriers that would have been so much more difficult faced alone.”Professional Native Indian Artists Inc.- Daphne Odjig". mcmichael.com. Retrieved 2016-10-03.

Wab Kinew: 1981-Ojibway, Onigaming First Nationbroadcaster, musician, author, politician

A First Nations activiist and public intellectual, Wab started off as a hip hop artist. He won the award for best rap/hip hop album at the Indigenous Music Awards in 2009. He then moved on to television and become the host of 8th Fire, which explored the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. The Reason You Walk, his memoir, was published in 2015.

A Tribe Called Red: 2007-Mohawk Six Nations, Nipissing First Nation, Cayuga First Nation: musicians

This Canadian electronic music group blends hip hop, reggae, moombahton and dubstep alongside elements of First Nations music like pow wow, chanting and drumming, Their sound is truly unique and they have been described as “a modern gateway into urban and contemporary Indigenous culture and experience, celebrating all its layers and complexity.” http://atribecalledred.com/bio/

Alanis Obomsawin: 1932-Abenaki Nationfilmmaker, visual artist, musician

Alanis Obomsawin is renowned for many artistic accomplishments, most especially her film work, including the infamous Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance, a documentary about the 1990 Oka Crisis in Quebec. All of her work has focused on crusading for Indigenous rights, while at the same time celebrating Indigenous culture and heritage. She has won multiple awards and worldwide recognition for her vital contributions.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Tanya Tagaq: 1975-Inuk, Nunavutexperimental vocalist, throat singer, musician

Tanya Tagaq is a bold and fearless performer who places feminist and Indigenous perspectives in the forefront, most especially around contemporary Inuit culture. She has mastered throat singing and has weaved this vocal into contemporary music. Tagaq has worked with Björk, who is a huge fan.

Indigenous inventions Profiles

Chewing gum candy originated from spruce trees. Indigenous peoples in what is now know as North America would chew on the resin created from spruce trees.

Mayans and Aztecs would also chew on a resin extracted from the Sapodilla tree found in Mexico and Central America.

Sugar was added to it in 1800’s.

The active ingredient in Asprin pain reliever was known to Indigenous peoples for centuries. It is found in 15 to 20 different species of the willow tree.

Indigenous peoples would boil the bark and needles of an evergreen tree, such as hemlock or pine to make a vitamin C rich drink.

This drink was used to cure Scurvy, a disease caused by a lack of vitamin C.Vitamin C is found in foods such as fruits, vegetables, and the skin of some marine animals.

The canoe is watercraft invented by Indigenous people. For handmade canoes, birchbark is the most commonly used tree due to its waterproofness, resiliency, and lightness. Where birch trees are not prevalent, spruce bark can be used as a replacement.

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Petroleum Jelly is a type of skin ointment that is used to moisten and protect animal and human skin. It is also used to stimulate healing. A common brand of petroleum jelly is Vaseline.

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Indigenous Contribution Sports

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=72046

Carey Price: 1987Ulkatcho First Nation/ Canadian, Vancouver, B.C.NHL goaltender

Carey Price’s hockey life started in a small town in northern B.C. His father, Jerry, passionate about hockey, taught his son how to skate on a frozen creek when he was only three. Today, Price is the highest paid goaltender playing for the Montreal Canadiens. He encourages Indigenous youth to be proud of their roots.

https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/tom-longboat.html

Tom Longboat: 1887- 1949Onondaga First Nation, Six Nations Reserve, ON.distance runner

As a teenager Tom Longboat twice ran away from the Mohawk Institute Residential School. He started to train at the Toronto’s West End YMCA and began breaking all kinds of local and provincial records. In 1907, he stunned everyone by winning the Boston Marathon.

https://www.nhl.com/player/jordin-tootoo-8469547

Jordin Tootoo: 1983Inuit/Ukranian, NunavutNHL hockey player

Jordin Tootoo is both the first Inuk player and the first player to grow up in Nunavut to become a NHL player. This fact has inspired many Inuit youth to participate in the sport. He is famous for his role as an agitator, which means he distracts other players, so that his players will have the advantage to score. He has racked 64 goals and 96 assists

https://alwynmorris.weebly.com/

Alwyn Morris: 1957 - Mohawk/Canadian, Kahnawake, ONsprint kayaker

Alwyn Morris received a great deal of support and encouragement from his grandfather when he first started elite canoeing. Experiencing much success, he also started kayaking and teamed up with Canadian Hugh Fisher to win the Olympic gold medal in 1984. He held up an Eagle feather, which inspired both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities across Canada.

http://www.crrf-fcrr.ca/en/our-canada/150-stories/search-150-stories/item/25628-canada-22-150-waneek-

horn-miller

Waneek Horn-Miller: 1953 -Mohawk, Kahnawake, ONOlympic water polo team player

Waneek Horn-Miller become a competitive swimmer at the age of seven. At the age of 14 she participated in the Oka Crisis (when the town wanted to build a golf course on Mohawk land). While attending Carleton University she joined the water polo team. For three years straight she won the athlete of the year award. She was inspired by Alwyn Morris and continued to pursue her water polo career. Her team won the gold medal at the 1999 Pan Am Games.