First Nations, Metis & Inuit

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First Nations, Metis & Inuit

Attawapiskat's New School

At last the people of Attawapiskat are getting a new school. It's been 14 years since the former elementary school there was condemned for toxic contamina-tion. As It Happens speaks with Chelsea-Jane Edwards, one of the people who campaigned hard for the school. Chelsea co-founded Shannen’s Dream, a cam-

paign for safe, comfortable schools and equitable education on reserves across Canada. The campaign was named in honour of Shannen Koostachin, a tireless youth activist from the Attawapiskat First Nation who tragically passed away in 2010.

Billion Dollar Caribou

Everyone has seen a woodland caribou on a quarter but very few of us have ever seen one in the wild. They’re known as the grey ghosts of the boreal forest. They move around in small groups and are notoriously hard to find. It’s even more diffi-cult since their numbers are declining across the country, especially in Alberta,

where prime caribou habitat also happens to have prime lumber resources and oil and gas deposits. Big oil wants to expand and they feel damage to the boreal forest ecosystem can be addressed by habitat restora-tion. They're proposing massive fenced in exclosures that would protect caribou but allow oil development to continue. Environmental organizations and First Nations argue that too much damage will be done. The Atha-basca Chipewyan First Nation has produced their own stewardship strategy to protect caribou habitat and their way of life, but industry and government seem uninterested. The battle over the future of the boreal forest and caribou in Alberta is raising tough questions about the place of wildlife in our world.

Canadian History: Our Evolving Identity—SERIES

Since the earliest days of contact between Aboriginal peoples and the first European arrivals, the country that came to be known as Canada has been shaped by an ongoing (and safe to say, imperfect) process of ne-gotiation. Multiple viewpoints and values, changing tensions and accommodations – this bundle of CBC docu-mentaries, dramas and re-enactments explores the individuals, communities and events that make up the many facets of Canada's history. The collection includes the following titles:

1. *Canada: A People's History (17-part series)

2. War of 1812: Been There, Won That

3. The National Dream (eight-part series)

4. *John A: Birth of a Country

5. *8th Fire (four-part series)

6. *The Mystery of the Bell

7. Aboriginal Education Then and Now (six-part collection)

Discussion guides (in print or PDF) are available as indicated (*).

First Nations, Metis & Inuit continued

First Nations Teen Told Not to Smudge Before School

"I smudge just to make myself feel good and to hope me and my family have a good day... I use it to send prayers out and to stay positive." An Aboriginal teen challenges his school's policy over a sacred aboriginal tradition. The 17-year-old Manitoba teen lost a younger brother to suicide last year and he says smudging — the practice of burning traditional medicines — is one way that helps him cope with his grief. When he explained his spiritual practice, Bunn was asked to stop to respect his school's scent-free policy.

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An Introduction to First Nations Culture & Tradition

In An Introduction to First Nations Cuture and Traditions, students are provided with a broad overview of First

Nations life and culture. Your host, Cedar Smoke, introduces students to some important aspects of First Na-

tions life - regalia and dance, food, drumming, powwows and the importance of the environment. Elders share

their wisdom regarding cultural practices, laws and traditional values.

An Overview of Residential Schools : Elementary Version First Nations people have lived in this country for many thousands of years. They were here long before anyone else. In the 16th century, European explorers and missionaries began making their way to Cana-da. Many of these people worked with the native people, learning from them and helping them. How-ever, the Europeans also brought with them diseases like smallpox, tuberculosis and measles. Native people had never been in contact with these germs and many thousands died as a result.

Community Character : Rules & Responsibilities As a citizen of a community, we all have rights and responsibilities. In this program, students will join our hosts Kirstie and Sean to learn how and why communities make and enforce laws. The program reveals how rules are linked to safety and designed to support fairness, and explains why there must be consequences for breaking community rules. Students will also discover how rules in a classroom and at home are just as important as the rules in a town or city. Students also hear from the delightful coast Tsminshian First Nations Elder and Educator, Shannon Thunderbird who tells children of the Seven Sa-

cred Teachings - love, respect, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility and truth. Shannon shares her wonderful storytelling ability in sharing with children how each of these rules from our First Nations culture can help us be better people.

Discovering Canada : Our Early Explorers Early explorers and navigators expanded the influence of their empires as they ventured across oceans and borders in search of territories to colonize. This program brings to life many of Canada's earliest explorers. Beginning with the arrival of people across the Beringia Land Bridge, students will learn about the explorers who first came to and explored Canada. Along with learn-ing about who these explorers were, we explain the reasons they came, what they were hoping to find here, and their early contact and interaction with

Canada's aboriginal societies. Students will meet Leif Ericsson, John Cabot, Jacques Cartier, Martin Frobisher, Samuel de Champlain, Henry Kelsey, George Vancouver, Simon Fraser, David Thompson, and of course, our original explorers, the First Nations people.

National Symbols of Canada Every country has its own set of unique symbols. These establish an identity that sets the country apart from other nations in the world. Symbols also tell a story of a nation, its people, environment and history. More important, symbols embody what a nation represents, both to other nations and to its citizens. They represent the values, goals and aspirations that are shared by all its citizens. Our symbols tell us stories about the Inuit who have lived in Canada for a very long time and the French and English who were the first Europeans to establish permanent settlements in Canada and the many different nationalities who have helped settle this vast country.

First Nations In this series, the assignment is to learn as much as possible about this spe-cies is at risk, and what is being done to make sure it doesn't become ex-tinct. Each episode provides adventure and insights. Deep in the boreal forest Frankie and Tanner, adventurists, meet research scientists, and assist with field research. From an Aboriginal elder they learn about Cree lifestyle, and how Aboriginal traditional knowledge is helping protect the caribou.

In the final episode, Frankie and Tanner experience the high tech world of CSI where caribou genetics is the mystery to be solved in the "crime lab." Woodland Caribou—Series Discovering the Slate Islands:

On assignment to find out why the forest dwelling woodland caribou are a species at risk, Frankie and Tan-ner travel to the Slate Islands Provincial Park in northern Ontario to meet up with Steve Kingston, an Ontario Parks ecologist. From him they learn about woodland caribou biology and why the islands are an unusual habi-tat for them. Together, they kayak around the islands hoping to get their first glimpse of these illusive boreal forest dwellers.

Tracking the Caribou

Frankie heads north to talk with Dr. Art Rogers, a research scientist, about his field research into the habitat needs of woodland caribou. He is trying to find out how much human disturbance woodland caribou can toler-ate. Dr. Rogers introduces the latest technology used for tracking caribou and shows footage of a calf being born. Meanwhile Tanner stays behind and skypes Steve Kingston to learn more about the life cycle of wood-land caribou.

Sharing the Boreal

Frankie and Tanner meet Rick Groves, a forester at AV Terrace Bay pulp mill. He introduces them to modern forestry practices and gives them a tour of the mill. Here the team learns that caribou are not the only species that depends on the boreal forest. They start to realize that protecting a species like the woodland caribou will not be as easy as they thought.

On the Heels of the Predators

Frankie flies north to join research scientist Dr. Brent Patterson on a quest to locate dropped radio collars that he used to monitor wolves in the Nakina, Ontario region. Meanwhile Tanner skypes Dr. David Beresford, an en-tomologist, who introduces him to the variety of micro predators that torment and sometimes even kill cari-bou.

Seeking Aboriginal Knowledge

Tanner travels to northern Quebec to meet Cree elder Thomas Coon and his grandson Riley. Thomas introduc-es Tanner to Cree traditions. He talks about the changes he has seen to caribou habitat and what his people are doing to help protect them. Meanwhile Frankie meets Dr Cheryl Johnson, a wildlife ecologist at Environ-ment Canada. Dr Johnson shows Frankie how research data gets used to model the habitat needs of woodland caribou.

CSI to the Rescue

Frankie and Tanner fly north into the heart of the boreal forest in winter time. They assist Jennifer Shuter, a biologist, in gathering caribou pellets. Later they meet Dr. Paul Wilson at his "CSI" forensic lab where they learn how this state-of-the-art technology and "caribou poop" are helping in the recovery of woodland caribou populations.

First Nations, Metis & Inuit

Earth Day : How Can I Help

In 1963, Senator Gaylord Nelson from the United States began to worry about our planet. He noted

the increased litter, exhaust fumes, smoke from factories, the dangerous spraying of chemicals - all

things that were doing harm to the Earth and our health. Nelson had an idea and on April 22, 1970,

the first Earth Day was held. In this new Canadian production, you will learn about the history of

Earth Day and its vital importance to the health of our planet - the planet we rely on for our basic

needs - food, water, and shelter. Canada’s First Nations people have lived off this land for thousands

of years and understand how each part of the environment affected another. Their relationship to the Earth is one of respect.

We all have to learn to respect the Earth and to be responsible. So what can you do to help on Earth Day? Take a look at what

other kids, schools and communities throughout Canada have done. Ranging from the 3 Rs to planting trees and gardens to a

walking school bus, you’ll get some great ideas on how you can help. And remember, every day should be Earth Day. All of your

primary/elementary students should see this new program. It is vital they understand the importance of doing their part to pro-

tect the only earth we have.

A great video to use for your Earth Day school celebrations.

Structures : Man-made and Found in Nature

Structures are all around us. Take a look. Structures include bridges, buildings, chairs, shoes, spi-

der webs, beehives, anthills, tables and even your own body. Structures are made by man and

also found in nature. This program looks at various made-made and natural structures found all

over the world. They learn that both humans and animals build

specific structures with specific functions and that structures have many forms. Students are in-

troduced to the complex, yet intriguing honeycomb structure that bees build. We look at modern day structures as well as those

used by the First Nations people and other cultures around the world. In addition, students are introduced to the concept of re-

ducing, reusing and recycling, and how structures impact the surrounding environment.

The Whale

One summer in a fjord called Nootka Sound on the remote west coast of Vancouver Island,

British Columbia, a young killer whale whom people call Luna gets separated from his pod. Like

us humans, orcas are highly social and depend on their families, but Luna finds himself desper-

ately alone. So he tries to make contact with people. He begs for attention at boats and docks.

He looks soulfully into your eyes. He wants to have his tongue rubbed. When you whistle at

him, he squeaks and whistles back. He follows you around like a puppy. People fall in love with him -- a cook on an old

freighter, a gruff fisheries officer, an elder and a young man from a First Nations band. But the government decides that

being friendly with Luna is bad for him, and tries to keep him and people apart. This effort becomes hilarious and baffling,

because Luna refuses to give up his search for a social life.

Finally even the filmmakers get swept up in events that catch everyone by surprise and challenge the very nature of that

special and mysterious bond we humans call friendship. In the end, The Whale explores one of the greatest of mysteries:

Who are these lives who share the planet with us humans, and what are the connections between us that we do not yet

know?