NDW4M Culminating Activity.docx
Contemporary Indigenous Issues
Culminating Activity
Preamble:
There is a tradition of prophecies (stories of wisdom which are seen by many to predict
the future events which will occur in our world) in many cultures around the world. The
Seven Fires Prophecies of the Anishinabe people will act as inspiration for you
culminating activity.
“The Seven Fires Prophecies of the Anishinabe was envisioned many many moons
ago, yet offers us great insight into both the wisdom of the Ojibwe people as well as
offers a solution to our cu
ent environmental, social, and spiritual crises.”
(http:
www.spiritofthe8thfire.com/the-prophecy.html)
Background Knowledge: The Seven Fires
1. The First Fire hails back to perhaps thousands of years, when the people could
not imagine life changing in any way. The prophets knew that the people would
not be safe unless their wisdom and their very lives were protected by moving
inland away from the Eastern shores of North America. The sacred shell (megis)
was found on what is now called Madeline Island in Lake Superior.
2. The Second Fire states that "You will know the Second Fire because at this time
the nation will be camped by a large body of water. In this time the direction of
the Sacred Shell will be lost. The Midewiwin will diminish in strength, a boy will
e born to point the way back to the traditional ways. He will show the direction to
the stepping stones to the future of the Anishinabe people."
3. The Third Fire talks about how the Anishinabe will find the path to their chosen
ground, a land in the west to which they must move their families. This will be the
land where food grows on water." The land where food grows on water refers to
the land around the Great Lakes where wild rice grew plentifully. The Anishinabe
people devised creative ways to harvest the rice using their birch bark canoes to
move through the rice without damaging it.
4. The Fourth Fire was originally given to the people by two prophets. They come
together as one teaching; tells of the coming of the Light Skinned race.
One of the prophets said, "You will know the future of our people by the face the
Light Skinned race wears. If they come wearing the face of
otherhood then
there will come a time of wonderful change for generations to come. They will
ing new knowledge and articles that can be joined with the knowledge of this
country, in this way, two nations will join to make a mighty nation. This new nation
http:
www.spiritofthe8thfire.com/the-prophecy.html
will be joined by two more so that four will form the mightiest nation of all. You will
know the face of the
otherhood if the light skinned race comes ca
ying no
weapons. If they come bearing only their knowledge and a hand shake."
"The other prophet said," Beware if the Light Skinned race comes wearing the
face of death. You must be careful because the face of
otherhood and the face
of death look very much alike. If they come ca
ying a weapon...beware. If they
come in suffering... They could fool you. Their hearts may be filled with greed fo
the riches of this land. If they are indeed your
others, let them prove it. Do not
accept them in total trust. You shall know that the face they wear is one of death
if the rivers run with poison and the fish become unfit to eat. You shall know them
y these many things." (http:
www.spiritofthe8thfire.com/the-prophecy.html)
5. The Fifth Fire predicted that there will come a time of great struggle that will grip
the lives of all Indigenous people. There will come among the people one who
holds a promise of great joy and salvation. If the people accept this promise of a
new way and abandon the old teachings, then the struggle of the Fifth Fire will be
with the people for many generations. The promise that comes will prove to be a
false promise. All those who accept this promise will cause the near destruction
of the people." This part of the prophecy refers to the coming of the missionaries
and the trader- merchants who set up a system of barter and trade, and began
ecruiting souls to organized Christianity.
6. The Sixth Fire prophet said, "In the time of the Sixth Fire it will be evident that the
promise of the Fifth Fire came in a false way. Those deceived by this promise will
take their children away from the teachings of the elders, grandsons and
grand-daughters will turn against the elders. In this way, the elders will lose thei
eason for living... they will lose their purpose in life. At this time a new sickness
will come among the people. The balance of many people will be distu
ed. This
prophecy talks about the influence of marginalization, segregation, the opening of
oarding schools and the bastardization of the traditional Anishinabe ways. Even
language and cultural everyday practices were considered suspects. Young
children were
utalized for doing anything that came naturally to them.
7. The Seventh Fire Prophet that came to the people long ago was said to be
different from the other prophets. He was young and had a strange light in his
eyes. He said, “In the time of the Seventh Fire, New People will emerge. They
will retrace their steps to find what was left by the trail. Their steps will take them
to the elders who they will ask to guide them on their journey. But many of the
elders will have fallen asleep. They will awaken to this new time with nothing to
offer. Some of the elders will be silent out of fear. Some of the elders will be silent
ecause no one will ask anything of them. The New People will have to be
careful in how they approach the elders. The task of the New People will not be
easy."
"It is at this time that the Light Skinned race will be given a choice between two roads.
If they choose the right road, then the Seventh Fire will light the Eighth and final Fire,
an eternal Fire of peace, love,
otherhood and sisterhood. If the light skinned race
makes the wrong choice of roads, the destruction which they
ought with them in
coming to this country will come back at them and cause much suffering and death to
all the Earth's people.” (http:
www.spiritofthe8thfire.com/the-prophecy.html)
http:
www.spiritofthe8thfire.com/the-prophecy.html
http:
www.spiritofthe8thfire.com/the-prophecy.html
It is this last quote by the Seventh Fire Prophet which has acted as
the inspiration for your culminating project. Your goal is to create a
project of your own design that is meant to “build a
idge” that will
guide all non Indigenous people in this country to take the right path,
the path that will lead to peace among all people in this country.
You are to create either a visual, multimedia, or written piece which describes what
needs to be done to lead all people in a country of your choice on the right path to work
together and end the legacy of colonization for the Indigenous group.
You should try to address all of the topics discussed in class this quad as well as any
additional knowledge that you have gained on your own research.
Topics discussed in class in case you forgot:
● Issues of identity (stereotypes, lack of cultural knowledge, etc.)
● Cultural practices
● Legalized racist practices
● Land claims
● Education
Requirements:
-All rough notes
ough drafts
-List of sources/citations (if additional research was done)
-Final Product
Ru
ic Categories Not achieved Level XXXXXXXXXX% Level XXXXXXXXXX% Level XXXXXXXXXX% Level XXXXXXXXXX% Level XXXXXXXXXX%
Knowledge and
Understanding
There is no clea
understanding of
the topics
covered in class
Student can not
identify the
causes that are
hidden from view
Student is beginning
illustrate the
understanding of
the topics covered
in class and what
they mean for the
Indigenous
community both
past and present.
Student can identify
the causes that are
hidden from view
and discuss if
change always
means progress.
Student can clearly
illustrate the
understanding
some of the topics
covered in class
and what they mean
for the Indigenous
community both
past and present.
Student can identify
some of the causes
that are hidden from
view and discuss if
change always
means progress.
Student can clearly
illustrate the
understanding of the
topics covered in
class and what they
mean for the
Indigenous
community both past
and present.
Student can identify
the causes that are
hidden from view and
discuss if change
always means
progress.
Student can clearly
and accurately
illustrate the
understanding of
the topics covered
in class and what
they mean for the
Indigenous
community both
past and present.
Student can identify
the causes that are
hidden from view
and discuss if
change always
means progress. In
an effective manne
Student can clearly
illustrate the
understanding of the
topics covered in
class and what they
mean for the
Indigenous
community both past
and present, and
successfully analyses
them
Student can identify
the causes that are
hidden from view and
discuss if change
always means
progress In a highly
effective manner.
Thinking and
Inquiry
There are no
personal
Student is beginning
to make personal
Student can make
personal Student can make
Student can make
highly successful
Student can make
extremely successful
connections
made to the
topics studied in
class
There is no
attempt to decide
what and whose
stories to tell and
discuss what the
historical
injustices mean
for us today
connections to the
topics studied in
class.
Student is beginning
to decide what and
whose stories to tell
and discuss what
the historical
injustices mean fo
us today
connections to the
topics studied in
class with some
success
Student can decide
what and whose
stories to tell and
discuss what the
historical injustices
mean for us today
with some success
personal connections
to the topics studied
in class.
Student can decide
what and whose
stories to tell and
discuss what the
historical injustices
mean for us today
personal
connections to the
topics studied in
class.
Student can decide
what and whose
stories to tell and
discuss what the
historical injustices
mean for us today in
a highly successful
manne
personal connections
to the topics studied
in class.
Student can decide
what and whose
stories to tell and
discuss what the
historical injustices
mean for us today in
an extremely
successful manner.
Communication
There are no
examples or life
experiences
given
There are many
mechanical
e
ors that
distract the
eader from the
content
Student supports
their project with a
few examples and
eal life
experiences.
most sentences are
well constructed,
There are many
e
ors in gramma
or spelling e
ors
that occasionally
distract the reade
from the content
Student supports
their project with a
some examples and
eal life
experiences.
sentences are well
constructed, There
are some e
ors in
grammar or spelling
e
ors that
occasionally distract
the reader from the
content
Student supports
their project with
examples and real
life experiences.
All sentences are
well constructed,
grammar or spelling
e
ors do not distract
the reader from the
content
Student supports
their project with
quite a few
examples and real
life experiences.
All sentences are
well constructed,
grammar or spelling
e
ors do not
distract the reade
from the content
Student supports thei
project with a large
than expected
number examples
and real life
experiences.
All sentences are well
constructed, gramma
or spelling e
ors do
not distract the reade
from the content
Application
No notes and
ough work was
submitted
The product is
not attractive,
neat or visually
appealing
there is not
original thought
or creativity
no notes and rough
work is submitted
Presentation of
product is
attractive, neat, and
visually interesting
to the reade
viewe
with some success
Product
demonstrates little
original
thought/creativity
Most notes and
ough work is
submitted
Presentation of
product is relatively
attractive, neat, and
visually interesting
to the reade
viewe
Product
demonstrates some
original
thought/creativity
All notes and rough
work is submitted
Presentation of
product is attractive,
neat, and visually
interesting to the
eade
viewe
Product
demonstrates original
thought/creativity
All notes and rough
work is submitted
Presentation of
product is attractive,
neat, and visually
interesting to the
eade
viewer with a
high degree of
success
Product
demonstrates a
great deal of original
thought/creativity
All notes and rough
work is submitted
Presentation of
product is attractive,
neat, and visually
interesting to the
eade
viewer and
goes beyond
expectations
Product demonstrates
original
thought/creativity
eyond expectations
Grade