Activation Activity #1: We Are People Who Matter

(due date: Monday September 16, 2024)

This activation activity asks you to think about where we came from and where we are going. Active citizenship is important for a strong community and culture. We will explore ideas that include: beliefs, passions, important causes, personal talents and skills, and active citizenship.

We would like families to modify the amount of writing depending on the age of your child/children. You can scribe/print for your child if needed.

Grades K/1/2/3/4

  • Listen to the story, Gifts from Raven by Ḵung Jaadee. This book tells us about the special gift that Raven has given to each person to share with the world. The gift is a unique talent or passion.
  • Answer the following questions in one or two complete sentences:
    1. If you were to create your own feast like Raven’s, what food would you serve?
    2. What animals or people would you invite?
    3. What are your talents or passions?
    4. What other things could you get really good at?
  • Create a tree about yourself examining your own talents and passions.
    1. In the fruit and foliage, include aspects of yourself that others can see. These are things that you are good at, personal attributes, hobbies, favourite activities, skills, and talents.
    2. In the trunk area, include aspects of your personal wellness. These are things that you need for personal space, what makes you happy, ways that you self-regulate, and personal goals.
    3. In the roots, include your values and beliefs. What is your relationship to nature and animals? What is important to you and your family?
    4. Create an artistic representation of your tree. Use paint, collage, markers, sculpture, and words to show who you are.

Items to Hand-In: (due date: Monday September 16th)

  1. Questions from the online story
  2. Tree about yourself

Grades 5/6/7/8

    • Listen to the story, Go Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes by Wab Kinew. This book very briefly tells the stories of 13 Indigenous heroes. (The story begins at 2:07)
    • Answer the following questions in one or two complete sentences:
      1. Who is Wab Kinew? Why is Wab Kinew important?
      2. The last 3 lines of the book say, “We are people who matter. Yes, it’s true. Now let’s show the world what people who matter can do.” What do these 3 lines mean to you?
      3. What do you think are key characteristics of a hero?
      4. What does it mean to be an active citizen?
      5. Do you consider yourself to be an active citizen? Explain
      6. What causes are important to you?
    • Pick one hero from the story, see list below, (or another Indigenous hero that inspires you). Find out a little more about them. Do some research. Attempt to find a number of sources of information about the hero you chose. Write 1 to 2 paragraphs. Keep a list of sources.

Indigenous Heroes

Sacagawea was an interpreter, healer and guide for Lewis and Clark’s expedition westward from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Coast in 1805.

Little Jim Thorpe was a versatile athlete and won 2 medals for the US at the 1912 summer Olympics.

Susan La Flesche Picotte was the first Indigenous woman in the US to become a doctor.
Based on her own experiences in foster care, Beatrice Mosionier wrote the influential novel “In Search of April Raintree” which is about 2 Metis sisters who are separated and placed into the foster care system.

Francis Pegahnagabow was an Ojibwe soldier, politician and activist in Canada. He was the most highly decorated Indigenous soldier in Canadian history.

When being forcibly relocated in the 1800’s, Te-Wau-Ze Clear carried rocks to preserve her Ponca cultural heritage.

Evan Tlesla Adams is a Canadian actor, playwright and doctor.

John Harrington is a NASA astronaut and the first Native American to go to space. He is from the Chikasaw Nation

Carey Price is an NHL hockey player (goalie) who plays for the Montreal Canadians.

Waneek Horne-Miller was a member of the Canadian gold medal water polo team at the 1999 Pan American games. She also competed at the Olympics.

Tecumseh was a Shawnee chief and warrior who fought with the British against the US in the 1800’s.

Crazy Horse was a Lakota warrior who is famous for defeating US cavalry in the battle of Little Bighorn known also as Custer’s Last Stand.

Net No Kwa was an Ojibway chief in the 1850’s who adopted a non-indigenous boy (John Tanner) and raised him as her own. He wrote about the Ojibway way of life when he was an adult.

  • Try to tell your own life story in 4 lines. Write 4 phrases that describe your personal story.
  • The illustrator of Go Show the World: A Celebration of Indigenous Heroes, Joe Morse, works with watercolour. Follow his online tutorial about the use of watercolour and value scales. You can pick up a watercolor paint palette and paper from the learning centre for use at home.
  • Optional: create a watercolour painting of your choice

Items to Hand-In: (due date: Monday September 16th)

  1. Questions from the online story
  2. Hero research (one to two paragraphs)
  3. Own life story (4 lines)
  4. Watercolour value scales
  5. Watercolour painting (optional)