Lesson 66

We talked about the necessity of passing on oral traditions - and the safety concerns related to them - as we read "Finding Direction" and "The Potential of Change."

We watchedt a video from Sweet Cree - an Indigenous content creator - discussed humour etc.We followed up with a response from another content creator - With this, we talked about how social media can be a way to teach language, and connect Indigenous youth.

After a quick review of the above two chapters, we read "The Other Indians" to the top of page 127, which is where we'll pick up next class. 

 

Lesson 65

 

 We began today's class by talking about the passing of the Pope. No matter one's faith, or upbringing, the position of Pope is a powerful one, and impacts global affairs. 

• We talked about Pope Francis's apology to the Indigenous Peoples of Canada - where it moved beyond past examples, and where it fell short. We looked at this news piece. 

We built on our previous discussion from "Haunted in the Bush" and Cherie Dimaline's interviews - and looked at this Reel (focused specifically on the reading of the text itself, not the comments before or after, nor the poster). We talked about ways in which this model of responsibility as a human differs from the current reality in the global economic system.

We talked about the necessity of passing on oral traditions - and the safety concerns related to them  - Next class we will read "Finding Direction" and "The Potential of Change."

Lesson 64

 We began today's class by looking at a series of articles (current events and past)   and then answering  a student question from the pile.

Articles:

• Ontario ends ties with StarLink
  
• Kashechewan First Nation evacuation
• The history of evacuations from Kashechewan
• The colonial religious divide near James Bay
• Wab Kinew taking some of the electricity once sent south and sending it North

 We talked about how Indigenous /Government relationships can support Canadian sovereignty - how standing together, and recognizing one another as humans (deserving of rights and services), can be a powerful way to unite against those who see to divide and conquer.

We read to the end of "Migwans' Coming-To Story" - students took notes on the chapter. 

*Many students were absent, or had to leave early. Work was handed back at the end of class, and reading and notes were completed - all who missed these pieces should be attending tutorial on Thursday/Friday to catch up. 

 

Lesson 63

 We opened today's class with two interviews:

• Cherie Dimaline talking to Shelagh Rogers
• Cherie Dimaline discussing the text with Jully Black for Canada Reads

Students read the chapter "Back into the Woods" - up to page 99

We talked through some aspects of the text, and briefly about an article on experiments on Inuit folks in the 60's and 70's before students continued their note work.  

Lesson 62

 We opened today's class with a  bit of discombobulation on my part (thank you, students, for your patience) but settled into the following:

We discussed the Michif "Rougarou" legend, and the term syncretism.

We talked about the importance of oral story telling - and the purpose of Minerva's story for the girls.

We reviewed the text, right through to page 90.

At the end of the class, students handed in their notes.

 

Lesson 61

 

Students were read part of today's reading, starting on pg. 75 - they had a handout of pages 74-90, and were asked to complete the final ten pages of reading on their own.

Students should have a complete understanding of  the stories told within the pages, and have taken down key quotations related to characters from said pages.

Lesson 60

We started today by taking  a look at the two following media pieces:

• Piece on Mark Carney's father - (and Sean Carlton's ask)
• Old propaganda piece + quote from P.E. Trudeau on assimilation and government policy
  

We read through neeeeearly to the end of “The Four Winds” to the top of 75

Anyone who missed today’s class should attend tutorial on one of the next two days, in order to ensure they are up-to-speed on their reading.