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Yukon Kings

Secondary

Yukon Kings from Go Project Films on Vimeo.

Description

Set in the remote Alaskan Yukon Delta, Yukon King follows Yup'ik fisherman Ray Waska as he teaches his grandchildren how to fish during the summer salmon run. With environmental and cultural forces threatening their subsistence way of life, Roy holds onto the hope that his grandsons will one day pass on the traditional knowledge to their children.

The video is accompanied by a lesson plan, Resiliency Among the Salmon People, that is intended to encourage student reflection on and discussion about this specific case of cultural loss and more generally the inevitability of change as society pursues "progress".

General Assessment

What skills does this resource explicitly teach?

Student viewing of the film and associated teacher questioning will help students identify those skills related to effective media messaging - telling a story that engages the audience. 

The lesson plan attached to the video suggests that students debate whether the cultural changes depicted in the film are an inevitable consequences of 'progress". Participation in such a debate would help students strengthen skills associated with clarifying, verifying, or challenging ideas and conclusions.  

Strengths

The issue of cultural survival is likely to demand more of our attention as technological and other changes weaken traditional lifestyles. The case study presented here -  the threat to the Yup'ik traditional fishing and hunting way of life - provides students with an interesting introduction to the larger issue and the use of a film supported by a lesson plan is an effective strategy in doing so.

Recommendation of how and where to use it

Teachers of Media Studies courses may find the film to be a useful study of effective messaging in film. The film would also have relevance for various courses in Native or Aboriginal Studies.The larger issue of cultural survival is also addressed in a number of Social Studies courses.

The video is perhaps best used as an introduction to a larger study of the struggle of indigenous cultures to survive. 

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
  • British Columbia
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    • Grade 10
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      • English/Language Arts
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        • Composition 10: Texts are socially, culturally, geographically, and historically constructed
        • English First Peoples - Literary Studies: First Peoples texts and stories provide insight into key aspects of Canada’s past, present, and future
        • English First Peoples - Literary Studies: The exploration of text and story deepens understanding of one’s identity, others, and the world.
        • English First Peoples - New Media: The exploration of text and story deepens understanding of one’s identity, others, and the world
        • New Media 10: The exploration of text and story deepens our understanding of diverse, complex ideas about identity, others, and the world.
    • Grade 11
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        • Composition 11: Texts are socially, culturally, geographically, and historically constructed
        • English First Peoples - Literary Studies + Writing: The exploration of text deepens understanding of one’s identity, others, and the world.
        • English First Peoples - Literary Studies +New Media: First Peoples texts and stories provide insight into key aspects of Canada’s past, present, and future
        • English First Peoples - Literary Studies: The exploration of text and story deepens understanding of one’s identity, others, and the world.
        • Literary Studies 11: The exploration of text and story deepens our understanding of diverse, complex ideas about identity, others, and the world.
        • New Media 11: The exploration of text and story deepens our understanding of diverse, complex ideas about identity, others, and the world.
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        • English First Peoples 12: The exploration of text and story deepens understanding of one’s identity, others, and the world.
        • English First Peoples 12:First Peoples texts and stories provide insight into key aspects of Canada’s past, present, and future
        • English Studies 12:The exploration of text and story deepens our understanding of diverse, complex ideas about identity, others, and the world.
      • Social Studies
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        • Contemporary Indigenous Studies: The identities, worldviews, and languages of indigenous peoples are renewed, sustained, and transformed through their connection to the land.
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        • Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: Specific Aboriginal Culture
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        • Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: Specific Aboriginal Culture
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        • Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: Cultural Diversity
        • Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: Specific Aboriginal Culture
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        • Citizenship and Sustainability:Area of Inquiry: Indigenous Peoples
        • Global Issues
  • Northwest Territories
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        • Composition 10: Texts are socially, culturally, geographically, and historically constructed
        • English First Peoples - Literary Studies: First Peoples texts and stories provide insight into key aspects of Canada’s past, present, and future
        • English First Peoples - Literary Studies: The exploration of text and story deepens understanding of one’s identity, others, and the world.
        • English First Peoples - New Media: The exploration of text and story deepens understanding of one’s identity, others, and the world
        • New Media 10: The exploration of text and story deepens our understanding of diverse, complex ideas about identity, others, and the world.
      • Social Studies
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        • Northern Studies 10: Module 1: Northern Identity
  • Ontario
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        • Native Studies 10: Economies: Aboriginal Perspectives
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        • Native Studies 20: Development
  • Yukon Territory
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        • Composition 10: Texts are socially, culturally, geographically, and historically constructed
        • English First Peoples - Literary Studies: First Peoples texts and stories provide insight into key aspects of Canada’s past, present, and future
        • English First Peoples - Literary Studies: The exploration of text and story deepens understanding of one’s identity, others, and the world.
        • English First Peoples - New Media: The exploration of text and story deepens understanding of one’s identity, others, and the world
        • New Media 10: The exploration of text and story deepens our understanding of diverse, complex ideas about identity, others, and the world.
    • Grade 11
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Composition 11: Texts are socially, culturally, geographically, and historically constructed
        • English First Peoples - Literary Studies + Writing: The exploration of text deepens understanding of one’s identity, others, and the world.
        • English First Peoples - Literary Studies +New Media: First Peoples texts and stories provide insight into key aspects of Canada’s past, present, and future
        • English First Peoples - Literary Studies: The exploration of text and story deepens understanding of one’s identity, others, and the world.
        • Literary Studies 11: The exploration of text and story deepens our understanding of diverse, complex ideas about identity, others, and the world.
        • New Media 11: The exploration of text and story deepens our understanding of diverse, complex ideas about identity, others, and the world.
    • Grade 12
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • English First Peoples 12: The exploration of text and story deepens understanding of one’s identity, others, and the world.
        • English First Peoples 12:First Peoples texts and stories provide insight into key aspects of Canada’s past, present, and future
        • English Studies 12:The exploration of text and story deepens our understanding of diverse, complex ideas about identity, others, and the world.
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Contemporary Indigenous Studies: The identities, worldviews, and languages of indigenous peoples are renewed, sustained, and transformed through their connection to the land.

Themes Addressed

Ecosystems (1)

  • Habitat Loss

Food & Agriculture (1)

  • Local Food

Human Rights (1)

  • Cultural Diversity

Indigenous Knowledge (1)

  • TEK -- Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Land Use & Natural Resources (1)

  • Fisheries

Water (1)

  • Marine Environments

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