First Nations - Student Activities

Divide the class into groups. Have each group look after one of the major aboriginal areas and indicate, by means of a web diagram, the various tribes associated with that particular area.

Explain the origin and meaning of the tribe name, Abenaki.

List the meaning of the many tribal names listed in the chapter.

Map the six different Pacific coast linguistic sub-groups.

On a map, indicate the location of the various linguistic aboriginal groups within Canada.

Several Canadian stamps commemorate Canadian aboriginal peoples. A few appear in these chapters. Research and find as many as you can. Assign one stamp to each student and have him or her discover its origin and meaning.

What is the difference between the Algonkian language group and the Algonquin tribe?

Account for the distinctiveness of the Northern aboriginal tribes.

Explain the divisions among the Iroquois peoples.

Divide the class into three groups. One group will be responsible for the First Nations of Eastern Canada. The second group will look after First Nations of Western Canada. The third group will be responsible for the First Nations of Northern Canada. Each group will create a comparison chart of Aboriginal Peoples of their area based on HCO data. The columns should include: tribes, location of tribes, approximate time of arrival, population, language spoken, economic basis, major distinguishing feature, and fate. Each group will record their findings on flip-chart paper and present it to the class.

Each student will select one tribe from each of the three regions, East, West, and North and do a comparison study about the early origins of the three tribes. Are there more similarities or differences? Explain? What in your estimation is the single most important explanation behind the differences? Present your findings to the class either visually and/or with a handout.

Look at a map of Canada today. How many place names have an aboriginal origin? Find as many as you can and then assign one per student who will investigate the origin and meaning.

Select one of the tribes mentioned in this chapter, research it, and present a PowerPoint presentation to the class.

What is the difference between "Eskimo" and "Inuit?"

What significant conclusions can you make from the opening map of the linguistic groupings of aboriginal peoples?

Explain the rationale behind the design of the Algonkian village.

Research major languages spoken by First Nations and attempt to discover some of the major terms used.

What were the similarities and differences among the Blackfoot, Huron, and Iroquois Confederacies? What was a confederacy and how did it operate? What significant conclusions derive from the existence of these confederacies?

Explain the rationale for grouping aboriginals along linguistic lines. Are there other ways of grouping them? Why is language the best?

If we use language to distinguish aboriginal tribes of centuries ago, what device do we most commonly use today to divide different peoples. Which makes more sense to you? Why?

Research the history of the Beothuk. What significant conclusion can you reach from that history?

What caution could you provide about the linguistic dividing lines on the Linguistic Aboriginal Maps?

What similarities can you detect about the meaning of many of the tribe names? Explain.