Page 194 - THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 9 to 12 | First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Studies

THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 9–12 | First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Studies
C. Community Perspectives
Students examine various political, economic, and social issues relating to the governance, administration, and development of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities. Through their investigations, students develop an appreciation and understanding of community aspirations and leadership approaches.
D. National and Regional Perspectives
Students develop their understanding of political, constitutional, and legal issues affecting First Nations, Métis, and Inuit relations with non-Indigenous governments across Canada.
E. The Global Context
Students learn to situate issues facing First Nations, Métis, and Inuit individuals and communities in Canada within the context of current global cultural, environmental, and social justice trends. They compare responses to these trends in Canada with responses in other countries, and explore strategies to raise awareness of issues of concern to Indigenous peoples around the world.
POLITICAL INQUIRY AND THE CONCEPTS OF POLITICAL THINKING
Educators are encouraged to refer to the general discussion of the research and inquiry process that appears in the introduction to this document (see page 24) for necessary information relating to all First Nations, Métis, and Inuit studies courses. What follows
is a brief discussion of the political inquiry process, and the concepts of political thinking, in the context of the present course. For further information on these topics, teachers may wish to consult The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: Canadian and World Studies, 2015, p. 510.
In this course, students use the political inquiry process to investigate existing and emerg- ing issues of local, regional, and national importance to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit in Canada; to gather, analyse, assess, and evaluate evidence from a wide variety of sources, including Indigenous knowledge sources; to make informed judgements and reach viable conclusions; and to communicate these judgements and conclusions effectively.
As in all courses that consider events, developments, and issues from a political perspec- tive, it is crucial that students not simply learn various facts but that they develop the ability to think and to process content in ways that are most appropriate to the material. To that end, this course focuses on developing students’ ability to apply the following
concepts of political thinking: • political significance
• objectives and results
• stability and change
• political perspective
In the context of the present course, the concept of political significance requires students to determine the impact on First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities and individuals of political, social, and economic actions, policies, and issues. When students apply the concept of objectives and results, they determine the factors that lead to events, policies,
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