Date: March 10th, 2020

Name of Centre

First Nations, Metis, and Inuit

Rationale for Centre of Learning

-Students will learn about the differences between First Nations, Metis, and Inuit
people, and practice Metis dancing.

5.2 talk about events and retell, dramatize, or represent stories or experiences
that reflect their own heritage and cultural background and the heritage and
cultural backgrounds of others

26.2 understand that different groups/communities may have different ways of

being and working together

31.1 explore different elements of drama (e.g., character, setting, dramatic

structure) and dance (e.g., rhythm, space, shape)
Centre Description

 Who are the First People?

o Review students prior learning about the First People.
o First Nations people are the original inhabitants of Canada who lived
here for many thousands of years before explorers arrived from
Europe. 
 The name First Nations includes a lot of groups of people that
are very different from others.
o Compare Anishinaabe and Haida
 Who are the Inuit?
o The Inuit are one of many groups of First Nations who live in very cold
places of northern Canada, Greenland, the Arctic, and Alaska.
 Who are the Metis people?
o The Métis are people who are the children of First Nation people and
European settlers.
o Métis culture is a mixture of cultures of the First Nations, French
Canadian, English, and Scottish.
 Inquiry
o What happened to the First Nation, Métis, and Inuit people?
 They continue to live all across Canada.
 Introduce Metis items
 o Sash
o Medicine bag
o Smudging bowl
 Perform Metis dance
 Show students 2 steps (walking step and fancy step)
o Have students perform the 2 steps
o Place painters’ tape on the floor to give students a path to follow.
o Have music slower and transitions prompted verbally.
Accounting for Learner Diversity

Instruction is done in a verbal, visual, and kinesthetic manner.

Connections to religion and prior learning.

Dancing can be modified to different levels of ability.

Materials Needed/Provocations Questions

 Smartboard Who are the First People of Canada?

 Tape
What do we know about them?
 Red River Jig audio
o Slowed down Red River Where did they go?
Jig audio
 Metis Objects
o Sash, medicine bag,
smudge bowl

Expectations

Students will be able to understand who the First Nations, Metis, and Inuit people of
Canada. Students will