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

Instructional Plans

Outcomes and Intoductory Activities:

K.1.2 Appreciate the unique characteristics, interests, gifts and talents of others.
K.2.4 Examine the characteristics and interests that bring people together in groups.
K.2.5 Examine ways in which people create a climate of cooperation

1.1.2 Value the groups and communities to which they belong.
1.2.1 Appreciate how stories and events of the past connect their families and communities to the present.
1.2.2 Analyze how their families and communities in the present are influenced by events or people of the past.

2.1.3 Investigate the cultural and linguistic characteristics of an Inuit, an Acadian, and a prairie community in Canada.
2.2.1 Appreciate how stories of the past connect individuals and communities to the present.
2.2.4 Appreciate how connections to a community contribute to one’s identity.
2.2.7 Examine how their community has changed.

3.1.1 Appreciate similarities and differences among people and communities.

4.2.1 Appreciate how an understanding of Alberta’s history, peoples and stories contributes to their sense of belonging and identity.
4.2.2 Critically assess how the cultural and linguistic heritage and diversity of Alberta has evolved over time.

5.2.2 Critically examine the ways of life of Aboriginal peoples in Canada.

6.2.1 Appreciate the relationship between the values of a society and the model of government adopted within a society.
6.2.2 Value the role of participation by citizens in diverse democratic societies.
6.2.4 Analyze the structure and functions of the Iroquois Confederacy.

7.1.3 Compare and contrast diverse social and economic structures within the societies of Aboriginal, French, and British people in pre-Confederation Canada.

8.1.3 Appreciate how models of governance and decision making reflect a society’s worldview.

Rationale:

The following series of lesson plans focus on Aboriginal leadership. Aboriginal leaders are largely ignored by mainstream media. Recently, the educational sphere has begun to incorporate Aboriginal history into the curriculum. It is imperative that students are able to discover who were and are leaders in Aboriginal communities in Canada? How is leadership related to consensus building? Students need to understand the concept of consensus building, how it was utilized in Aboriginal society and how it can benefit us in everyday life.

Introductory Activity:

Ask students to define qualities of good leadership and write these key words or ideas on the board. Some of the qualities that you want to make sure are recognized are: generosity, honesty, honourable, trustworthy, stands up for needs of others, develops rules on merit, fairness, and equality.

Discuss with students examples of people in their school who they feel are good leaders. Expand the discussion to people in their community, province, and country. Encourage them to think of Aboriginal examples as well.

If you wish, this activity can easily be expanded into a full lesson. After students have identified a leader in the community, province, or country they could create a profile of that individual and present it to the class in a mock “Number One Leader” campaign.

Students may choose to use the Student Zone Biographies section to begin their profile as a number of different Aboriginal leaders will be highlighted.