Lesson 1: Aboriginal Leaders, Heroes, and Role Models Lesson 2: Historical Leadership Roles in Aboriginal Societies Lesson 3: Resolving Conflict Lesson 4: Leadership and Government in Iroquois Society

Aboriginal Leaders, Heroes, and Role Models

All of us have had a hero, role model, or an influential leader at some point in our lives. Some of these may have been Aboriginal. However, the reality is that in many cases Aboriginal individuals are often overlooked as being positive leaders, role models, and heroes. The purpose of this lesson is to introduce students to a variety of Aboriginal individuals who fit the description of being a positive influential leader, a hero, or a positive role model.

It is important to provide young students with examples of positive leaders, heroes, and role models so that they may realize their own potential and develop their own paths. Recognizing how someone overcame adversity and has displayed courage, honour, and tenacity is vital to young students.

Continuing from the Introductory Activity in which students identified qualities of a good leader, ask students to define a hero and role model. It is important that they realize there is a difference amongst the two terms.

A hero is an individual who is idealized or admired for superior qualities, deeds, or actions of any kind. Words that may describe a hero are: determination, courage, honour, and excellence.

A role model is someone who is emulated because they have set an example for the behaviour of others – usually in a positive way.

Using the following list of esteemed Aboriginal people, students will research and create a short biography on three of the individuals. They will need to determine if that person is a leader, role model, or hero and include their choice with an explanation as to their decision in their report. Students will use the Biographies section of the Student Zone for their research.

Note: As an alternative to this exercise if you have young students who cannot read is to print off a variety of the biographies and read them aloud to students and then have them verbalize if they feel that person is a role model, hero, or leader.

The following list contains a range of people, from historical to present-day figures:

• Mary Two-Axe Early
• Ted Nolan
• Joseph and Josephine Crowshoe
• Walking Buffalo
• Angela Chalmers
• Matthew Coon Comb
• Waneek Horn
• Bill Reid
• Tom Longboat
• Tomson Highway
• Crowfoot
• Buffy Sainte-Marie
• Allen Sapp
• Tantoo Cardinal
• Tom Jackson
• Susan Aglukark
• Sharon and Shirley Firth
• Elijah Harper