Page 11 - THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 9 to 12 | First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Studies

Essential Understandings and Key Concepts
Essential Understanding
Key concept
Practice
Community
Relationships through family
Community involves close kinship ties with others and with creation (animals, plant life, sky, earth, spirit beings) The concept of family includes extended family members through marriage, adoption, clans, nations, and spiritual ties, such as the ties established through naming
Ancestral knowledge
Relationships with the spirit realm through past, present, and future
Spirit is a life force from which all things come, tying together all things past, present, and future, including human beings Because the past, present, and future are linked, ancestral knowledge – the original teachings the ancestors hold for us – is forever within reach of successive generations All life, not just human life, is imbued with spirit
Traditional knowledge
Identity through practices and protocols
Indigenous practices and protocols for transferring knowledge differ from Western protocols Because traditional knowledge is sacred, its transfer from one person to another is governed by strict protocols that depend on the context and the knowledge being shared
Land
Relationships with the natural world
The Creator gives us laws that govern our relationships with the natural world so that we can live in harmony with all creation
Interconnectedness of all things
Relationships with all of creation through life balance
All of creation is connected To live a prosperous life, one lives in balance with all life, including people, land, sky, animals, plants, and waters
Cultural diversity
Identity through cultural distinctions
Indigenous peoples and cultures have diverse and distinct ways of life, beliefs, values, languages, and traditions
Aboriginal and treaty rights
Self-determination and reconciliation through respect for rights and freedoms
Indigenous peoples hold Aboriginal and treaty rights that are protected by Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 Although nations are diverse, they share common historical experiences in their nation-to-nation dealings with the Crown over time
Cultural Safety
It is important to create a learning environment that is respectful and that makes students feel safe and comfortable not only physically, socially, and emotionally but also in terms of their cultural heritage. A culturally safe learning environment is one in which students feel comfortable about expressing their ideas, opinions, and needs and about responding authentically to topics that may be culturally sensitive. Teachers should be aware that some students may experience emotional reactions when learning about issues that have affected their own lives, their family, and/or their community, such as the legacy of the residential school system. Before addressing such topics in the classroom, teachers need to consider how to prepare and debrief students, and they need to ensure that resources are available to support students both inside and outside the classroom.
INTRODUCTION
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