One of the areas the Alberta Social Studies Program asks teachers to address in the classroom is the teaching of multiple perspectives. Specifically, the program asks students to “appreciate and respect how multiple perspectives, including Aboriginal and Francophone, shape Canada’s political, socio-economic, linguistic and cultural realities” (Alberta Education, 2012, p.2).
The focus of this unit will be on reflection and
rich in-class discussion. To help us better appreciate seeing history from
multiple perspectives, we will use the following throughline question (den
Heyer, 2005, 2009) to guide our study:
How might we understand our present differently if we emphasized more diverse historical perspectives, including Aboriginal perspectives?
How might we see ourselves differently if the history in our textbooks emphasized more diverse perspectives, including Aboriginal perspectives?
Essential questions (Wiggins &
McTighe, 2005) needed to help respond to the above throughline question include:
What is history?
What is the difference between history and the past?
What is historical perspective?
What are some ways we can determine from whose perspective a story is
being told?
How do particular historical perspectives make some groups seem
invisible or as objects of someone else’s history?
The Project
Over the course of the next few weeks you
will be presented with a series of readings, mini-lectures, and activities to
help us think through these questions. To represent what you have learned, we
will borrow a practice from the Blackfoot community known as the Winter Count. According to Hugh A. Dempsey at the
Glenbow Foundation, a Winter Count
“were simple but effective
methods of reckoning time. One outstanding event was recorded for each year
and, if nothing occurred which affected the whole tribe, a local or personal incident was recorded. Thus, winter counts kept
by different men - varied in some years but were identical in recording
epidemics, treaties and other significant events” (1965).
Similar to the Winter Count, for each
activity or reading we do, you will be asked to provide one hand drawn or digitally created (i.e., through fireworks) picture/image/symbol representing a significant idea or thought that spoke to
you that day, along with a 175-200 word personal reflection related to
questions and discussion topics taken up in each period.
In this unit you will not be evaluated on
right or wrong answers, but rather, your willingness to contribute and
participate in class discussions along with your willingness to deeply reflect
on these difficult topics.
The six readings, activities, or
mini-lectures that we will be engaging in include:
1.
What is history?
a. To better answer this question will begin by watching a clip from the TV
show The Sopranos where Tony and his son argue about how Christopher Columbus should be remembered. To better
understand the nature of history and perspective we will discuss portions of
this document: Introduction
to historical thinking (to access this file download original).
Reflection question: What was your understanding of history before encountering this presentation? How do you now understand the concepts of history and the past? Why do you think we study the past?
Include a drawing or design that signifies a main theme in your reflection.
Due: Hand written in class Monday, April 23rd
Reflection question: What was your understanding of history before encountering this presentation? How do you now understand the concepts of history and the past? Why do you think we study the past?
Include a drawing or design that signifies a main theme in your reflection.
Due: Hand written in class Monday, April 23rd
2.
What is historical
perspective?
a. To engage this question we will look at The story of the Three Little Pigs, told from the Wolf's perspective. and Same facts; two historical perspectives. As well, we will look at the short story The Sentry by Fredric Brown along with this image to better appreciate the nature of historical perspectives.
Reflection question: Drawing on examples from the image, the two stories of the Dust Bowl, and the Wolfs version of the Three Little Pigs, what are some ways we can determine from whose perspective a story is being told? Provide multiple examples to support your response.
Include a drawing or design that signifies a main theme in your reflection.
Due: Hand written in class Tuesday, April 24th
Reflection question: Drawing on examples from the image, the two stories of the Dust Bowl, and the Wolfs version of the Three Little Pigs, what are some ways we can determine from whose perspective a story is being told? Provide multiple examples to support your response.
Include a drawing or design that signifies a main theme in your reflection.
Due: Hand written in class Tuesday, April 24th
3. In this lecture you will be exposed to the ideas of Dr. Dwayne Donald, a Cree scholar at the University of Alberta who taught on the Blackfoot reserve for seven years.
Reflection question: What were some of the main ideas Dr. Donald explores in his talk? Notice that he uses
story as a way to communicate a greater message. Drawing on one of his stories, why do you think he told this
story and what do you think about this?
Include a drawing or design that signifies a main theme in your reflection.
How can the stories of “exploration” and Columbus “finding the New World” be remembered differently?
Reflection question: What were some of the main ideas Dr. Donald explores in his talk? Notice that he uses
story as a way to communicate a greater message. Drawing on one of his stories, why do you think he told this
story and what do you think about this?
Include a drawing or design that signifies a main theme in your reflection.
Due: Hand written in class Thursday, April 26th
How can the stories of “exploration” and Columbus “finding the New World” be remembered differently?
a. Here, we will look at some clips on how Columbus’ story is often remembered and taught in schools versus clips from contemporary
movies to show how Colombus and his men treated Indigenous populations when
“settling” this continent. The movie Even The Rain will help us here.
Reflection question: How might we think about the "Age of Exploration" differently if we were exposed to more stories like this that explore the impact of Columbus and Europeans in the Western Hemisphere? Rather than "The Age of Exploration", what are some other names we could call this historical period?
Reflection question: How might we think about the "Age of Exploration" differently if we were exposed to more stories like this that explore the impact of Columbus and Europeans in the Western Hemisphere? Rather than "The Age of Exploration", what are some other names we could call this historical period?
4.
How might an
Aboriginal perspective view the story of Christopher Columbus?
a. In this segment we will look at Thomas
King’s A Coyote Columbus Story.
Reflection question: What message do you think Thomas King is trying to communicate in telling this story?
How might his story reflect Aboriginal ways of telling the story of Columbus?
How might his story reflect Aboriginal ways of telling the story of Columbus?
5.
How might an Aboriginal
perspective retell the story of the settling of this continent?
a.
To look at this
question we will read John Marsden and Shaun Tan’s (illustrations) story
The
Rabbits. A so-so video reading of this story can be found in the following
YouTube clips:
The Rabbits Part I:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTvXe84UqIQ The Rabbits Part II: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZaROIWniN8&feature=relmfu
6. General seminar discussion around our throughline questions:
6. General seminar discussion around our throughline questions:
How might we understand our present differently if we emphasized more diverse historical perspectives?
How might we see ourselves differently if the history in our textbooks emphasized more diverse perspectives?
In order to create a place where your Winter Count images and reflection will be stored, we will be using a Prezi which will allow you to display your six images and six reflections. Here are some examples of Prezi's to give you an idea of what you could create:
