First Nations Awareness and Traditional Ecological Knowledge

For thousands of years, First Nations sustained and nourished their cultures by harvesting what they needed on the land. They used plants and animals for medicine, for food, clothing and for building material. Their survival depended on having a positive relationship with the natural world. This ethic of stewardship became an important part of their belief system and culture. The land around Camp Kawartha is the traditional land of the Anishinaabe. In this program, we’ll explore some of the traditional foods, medicines and skills used by the Anishinaabe. We’ll suggest resources that will help you extend your First Nations awareness.

Curriculum Connections

• B2. Inquiry: The Impact of Land and Resource Use B2.1 formulate questions to guide investigations into some of the short- and/or long-term effects on the environment of different types of land and/or resource use in two or more municipal regions of Ontario (e.g., the impact of mining, forestry, agriculture, suburban land development) and measures taken to reduce the negative impact of that use
• B2.5 evaluate evidence and draw conclusions about some of the short- and long-term effects on the environment of different types of land use in municipal regions of Ontario and about key measures to reduce the negative impact of that use 
• B3.7 construct print and/or digital maps that show some different land uses, landform regions, and/ or municipalities in Ontario, using appropriate elements of a map, including standard units of measurement
• B3.6 compare some aspects of land use in two or more municipalities (e.g., … the size and number of parks and other recreational spaces; space for waste disposal; the amount of agricultural land in the area; …)
• B1. Application: Land Use and the Environment B1.1 describe some major connections between features of the natural environment of a region and the type of land use and/or the type of community that is established in that region (e.g., ports on lakes or major rivers; farming on flat land with fertile soil; resource towns in areas with ore, trees, or other natural resources) Sample questions: “What type of community might be established in an area that is heavily forested?” “Why are many towns and cities located near lakes and rivers?” “What are some of the characteristics of the natural environment in regions of Ontario that are recreational destinations?”

Pre Visit to Camp Kawartha

Geography: Where are the closest Indigenous communities to you

• Map them
• Visit them
• Invite members into the classroom

An Elder’s Tale https://www.nccie.ca/lessonplan/an-elders-tale/#

Description: Students will learn about moose hunting from an Elder’s perspective, and how the five human senses are used to hunt. 

A simple breakdown of treaty vs inherent rights: https://learningtheland.ca/ 

The Anishinabe Way of Life Lesson: https://www.renaud.ca/public/Aboriginal/Algonquin-Language/plan-lesson-3-e.pdf

Measuring Sweet Water and Maple Syrup

https://www.nccie.ca/lessonplan/measuring-sweet-water-and-maple-syrup/#

Description: The focus for this lesson plan is the measurement and the amount of sweet water that is required to produce maple syrup or maple sugar. It is written as one lesson plan but it could easily be developed into multiple shorter lessons as the children explore the different activities and aspects of learning about maple trees.  

Read books outside!

• Craft, Aimée. Treaty Words: For As Long As the Rivers Flow (FNCR 2022). Illustrated by Luke Swinson. Annick Press, 2021.
• Crawford, Kelly. Alex Shares His Wampum Belt. Illustrated by Don Chretien. North Bay: Union of Ontario Indians, 2017.
• Crawford, Kelly. Dakota Talks About Treaties. Illustrated by Don Chretien. North Bay: Union of Ontario Indians, 2017.
• General, Sara and General, Alyssa M. Treaty Baby. Spirit & Intent, 2016.
• Lynxleg, Betty. Treaty Tales (Set of 3). Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre, 2015.
• Misiak, Zig. Wampum: The Story of Shaylyn the Clam. Illustrated by Jennifer Bettio. Brantford: Real Peoples History, 2015.
• Robertson, Robbie. Hiawatha and the Peacemaker. Illustrated by David Shannon. New York: Abrams Books, 2015.
• Willett, Mindy, Zoe, Philip and Zoe, Therese. The Land is our Storybook: Living Stories: Godi Weghaa Ets eeda -hc. Fifth House Publishers, 2009.
• Rose, Simon. Indigenous Life in Canada: Governance. Beech Street Books, 2018.
• Rose, Simon. Indigenous Life in Canada: Treaties. Beech Street Books, 2018.
• Rose, Simon. Understanding Canadian Government and Citizenship. Beech Street Books, 2020.
• Switzer, Maurice. We are all Treaty People. Illustrated by Charley Hebert. North Bay: Union of Ontario Indians, 2011.

Robertson, Joanne. Nibi Emosaawdang / The Water Walker. Translated By Shirley Williams and Isadore Toulouse.