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On the Trapline

Elementary

Description

Nature's colours and Cree language set the atmosphere for this powerful story about a young boy and his “Moshom” travelling on a Northern journey of memories and discovery.  At each stop along the route to the mysterious “trapline”  his grandfather describes how he spent his childhood foraging, playing and living in the natural world.  Reaching their destination where Moshom helped his family harvest muskrats, the young child learns that living in harmony with the land holds special meaning for his grandfather and their family.  As the pair head back to the city, the boy now understands that learning comes in many different forms and knows that he and his grandfather will be always connected by this extraordinary trip “home”. This special story teaches students about Cree oral and cultural traditions, while imparting a sense of wonder and respect for all that Mother Earth provides her people.

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

This story complements Grade K-3 Social Studies and Indigenous Studies lessons exploring the oral traditions and way of life of Canada's First Nations people.  Students also learn about traditional ecological knowledge and cultural respect for the natural world.  The book includes a glossary of the Swampy Cree words used in the story, which strengthens pupils vocabulary skills while developing cultural awareness. 

The story would make an excellent introduction to an Earth Day activity in which students go on a "sensory hike" with an Elder from a local First Nations community and use the experience to create posters about "Mother Earth".  The posters could be used as the centrepiece of a school educational display that informs students, teachers and community members about ways of "living lightly" when they are interacting with nature.

Relevant Curriculum Units

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  • Alberta
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        • Comprehension: Text comprehension is supported through applying varied strategies and processes, and considering both particular contexts and universal themes
        • Oral Language: Listening and speaking form the foundation for literacy development and improve communication, collaboration, and respectful mutual understanding.
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        • Time and Place: Exploring the dynamic relationships between people, place, and time supports understanding of perspectives and events to make meaning of the world
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        • Text Forms and Structure: Identifying and applying text forms and structures improves understanding of content, literary style, and our rich language traditions
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      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Our communities are diverse and made of individuals who have a lot in commo
        • Identity and Families
    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Everyone has a unique story to share.
        • Stories and other texts can be shared through pictures and words
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Local Communities: Healthy communities recognize and respect the diversity of individuals and care for the local environmen
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Everyone has a unique story to share.
        • Stories and other texts connect us to ourselves, our families, and our communities
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Regional and Global Communities: Canada is made up of many diverse regions and communities
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us.
        • Stories can be understood from different perspectives
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Global Indigenous Peoples: Indigenous knowledge is passed down through oral history, traditions, and collective memory.
        • Global Indigenous Peoples:Indigenous societies throughout the world value the well-being of the self, the land, spirits, and ancestors

Themes Addressed

Ecosystems (2)

  • Appreciating the Natural World
  • Interdependence

Indigenous Knowledge (1)

  • TEK -- Traditional Ecological Knowledge