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Connection to Local Land
An Elementary Lesson Incorporating Indigenous Perspectives
Elementary, Middle
Description
Connection to the Land is an engaging resource aimed at helping students understand the importance and relevance of the land acknowledgement of territory. It also helps students connect to where they live and to nurture and protect their local place.
The activity begins with the discussion of what a land acknowledgement is and an examination of the vocabulary that is used. The importance of the land acknowledgement is then illustrated by a beaded timeline to visually represent the length of time First Peoples have lived in a local place.
The beaded timeline is passed from student to student as they sit in a circle. A script is provided to explain each section of the timeline. Discussion questions help students to solidify their understanding of the importance of each part.
Students will then go outside and find a "sit spot" and use their senses to connect to the land. Afterwards they will come together in a sharing circle to share one thing that they noticed in their spot. Students are encouraged to return to their sit spot on a regular basis.
General Assessment
Recommendation of how and where to use it
Connection to Local Land is an engaging activity well suited for upper elementary and middle school students. It helps to achieve curriculum outcomes in Social Studies related to colonization, First Nations' relationship to the land and the impact of exploration.
Relevant Curriculum Units
The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.
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- Alberta
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- Grade 4
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- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Time and Place: Exploring the dynamic relationships between people, place, and time supports understanding of perspectives and events to make meaning of the world
- British Columbia
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- Grade 4
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- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- First peoples and European Contact: Interactions between First Peoples and Europeans lead to conflict and cooperation, which continues to shape Canada’s identity
- Grade 5
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- Social Studies
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- Canadian Issues and Governance: Canada’s policies and treatment of minority peoples have negative and positive legacies
- Manitoba
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- Grade 4
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- Social Studies
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- Manitoba, Canada & the North: Places & Stories - History of Manitoba
- Grade 5
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- Peoples and Stories of Canada to 1867: First Peoples
- New Brunswick
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- Grade 4
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- Social Studies
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- My Province, Exploration, History of the Atlantic Region: Wabanaki
- Grade 5
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- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- My Province, Exploration, History of the Atlantic Region: Wabanaki
- Newfoundland & Labrador
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- Grade 4
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- Social Studies
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- The Nature of Exploration
- Grade 5
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- Social Studies
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- Societies: Interactions
- Northwest Territories
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- Grade 4
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- Step 4Relevant matches
- First peoples and European Contact: Interactions between First Peoples and Europeans lead to conflict and cooperation, which continues to shape Canada’s identity
- Grade 5
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- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Canadian Issues and Governance: Canada’s policies and treatment of minority peoples have negative and positive legacies
- Nova Scotia
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- Grade 4
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- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Social Studies 4: Impact of Exploration
- Social Studies 4: The Nature of Exploration
- Grade 5
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- Societies: Interactions
- Social Studies 5
- Nunavut
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- Grade 4
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- Social Studies
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- Provinces and Territories: Our Places, Stories, and Traditions: The Land: Place & People
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- Our Northern Land and Its People: How Our Northern Territory Came to Be
- Grade 6
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- Social Studies
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- Our Place in the Nation: The Faces
- Ontario
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- Grade 4
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- Heritage and Identity: Early Societies, 3000 BCE -1500CE
- Prince Edward Island
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- Grade 4
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- The Nature of Exploration
- Grade 5
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- Investigating Past Societies: Interaction
- Quebec
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- Geography, History and Citizenship Education: Canadian Society in New France Around 1745
- Saskatchewan
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- Grade 4
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- Saskatchewan: Dynamic Relations
- Grade 5
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- Canada: Interaction and Interdependence of Nations
- Yukon Territory
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- Grade 4
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- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- First peoples and European Contact: Interactions between First Peoples and Europeans lead to conflict and cooperation, which continues to shape Canada’s identity
- Grade 5
- Step 3Select a subject
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Canadian Issues and Governance: Canada’s policies and treatment of minority peoples have negative and positive legacies
Themes Addressed
Ecosystems (1)
- Appreciating the Natural World
Human Rights (1)
- Cultural Diversity
Indigenous Knowledge (3)
- Etuaptmumk/Two-Eyed Seeing
- Rituals, Spirituality and Worldviews
- TEK -- Traditional Ecological Knowledge
