First Peoples Literature provincial exam

Please go to the following link:

https://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/exams/search/

If you are in grade 10 or 12 , you must do a practice e-exam.

I will not count the mark for the exam but your completion will result in participation marks.

45 marks for completion

Interesting quotes

Pick out a quote or poem.  Write a response in a paragraph, poem or any other creative method!



www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/indigenous_people.html

http://www.thefreshquotes.com/44-indigenous-peoples-quotes-with-images/

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/02/02/mary-black-quiet-poem-indigenous-women_n_9136020.html

http://www.sfu.ca/lovemotherearth/02poetry/tea_and_bannock.pdf

Literary Terms practice- crossword puzzle.

Pick ten words from the terms that we have covered or from the provincial exam list. 

Find ten examples to create a crossword puzzle.  

For example:  

Metaphor- She is the light of my life.  

This assignment is worth 15 marks.  

Here is the website:  

https://crosswordlabs.com/#

Here is an example:

https://crosswordlabs.com/pdf/cheyenne-puzzle?show_answers=1

You will print out two copies 

Topic/ Theme Poster for end of semester.

In groups of 3-4 , you will create a poster connecting themes, works, people etc in this course.

Pick the ten most important topics/themes from the list.  Create a web to place where they sit in importance to the theme of this class:  First Peoples Literature. 

Add it any people, themes, stories, poetry etc that connect to the topic/themes.

You may use material from this class (films,stories, poetry etc.) or anywhere else. 

This poster will be due at the end of next week. Marks given for creativity, design and content. 

Literary Terms

Use the following terms for your crossword puzzle:

1.imagery 

2.simile 

3. metaphor 

4. personification 

5.hyperbole

6.mood

7.juxtaposition 

8.oxymoron 

synedoche

10.metonymy

11.symbolism

12.alliteration 

13.assonance

14.consonance 

15. onomatopoeia 

Poetry terms & Analysis test

Grade 12 students-  know your terms and be ready to analyse a poem. 

This is prep for the provincial exam and will be worth marks for your grade in class.

Practice, practice, practice! 

Use the index cards that I gave you.  

Your test will be on Thursday, June 9. If you miss the exam, you must arrange a time to write. 

...speaking of resurgence

8^th Fire- At The CrossRoads

At the close of the series, we meet young Aboriginals preparing to change the future, determined to light the 8th Fire and build a new relationship with Canada.

A fascinating range of artists, activists and business people take us through ways to shed the colonial past, build new pathways in education and economic development. This is all in pursuit of a new relationship to replace 500 years of conflict and injustices.

For each of the following stories, answer the following questions:

Why are they interesting and important right now in history?

What has this person done to change the political and social landscape of Canada?

What Indigenous topics is connected to their work and lives? 20 marks

Teharihulen Michel Savard

Michèle Taina Audette

Angela Sterritt

 Ron E. Scott

 Stanley Vollant,

Chief Terry Paul

Elisapie Isaac  and Jessica Yee. 

Response to Education

Watch the video give by Donovan Livingston for his graduation with Harvard University.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XGUpKITeJM

Write a personal response to his talk.
Do you make any personal connection to his words and/or see similar themes in Canadian education?  How do you think the residential school system is similar or different to the plight of African Americans and slavery?

Start with a story from your own school experience.  Be very detailed and include sensory descriptions- sounds, smells, sights, tastes, touch etc.
You might have a very positive experience from school and can contrast to the themes in Livingston's speech.  Or you might have had experiences that resonate with his speech.

Write at least 300 words. I will use the gov't marking rubric for your response.

25 marks

Indigenous people & Resurgence in Canada.

Indigenous people & Resurgence in Canada.

http://www.cbc.ca/8thfire/profiles.html

On the Eighth Fire website is a list of Indigenous people who are making a social difference in Canada.

Individually or in partners, you will pick one person and create a presentation for the class.

1. Give a small biography on the person. Why has their life been interesting? Any challenges that they had to overcome? What are they currently doing in Canada to support Indigenous peoples, culture and land.

Why did you pick this person?

2. Pick out one or two Indigenous themes that somehow touch their life. Please research one of these themes in connection to this person.

For example: Tai Alfred is concerned with land and resources in Canada. You would find a project that he has supported or perhaps why this theme is so important to him.

3. Why is this person supporting resurgence and the resilience of Indigenous peoples.

What is admirable about these people?

Assignment

You will create a powerpoint or Prezi for the class.

Please include pictures and if possible, a small video.

Please ask the class one to two questions about your person/theme topic.

The assignment is worth 35 marks! You have the next few days to work on the assignment and it will be due for Monday, June 6.

If you would like to research another Indigenous person, please let me know.   

Land and Indigenous people

Respond to one of the quotes that I handed out.
Pick the quote that you feel the most strongly about.

Do you agree or disagree with the quote?
Describe your opinion with evidence. Why do you agree/disagree with the quote?

What is your connection to land?  When you are outside, what senses are affected most?
Describe.   20 marks

leaks by Leanne Simpson

After we read and analyze the poem leaks by Leanne Simpson,

write a reflective paragraph on the following :

Think about someone close to you- parent, grand-parents, relatives or anyone who really see you, and your full potential.

How would they describe you and your future?
What parts of your life and culture would you take forward and would keep you strong?

I am looking for a thoughtful, descriptive paragraph that contains at least two poetic imagery devices or devices.

For a strong mark,  connect your experience to the poem.

If you are in Grade 12, I expect a longer paragraph, or two- at least 300 words, with at least two direct references from the poem.

Reel Injun Film

Reel Injun fits into current themes in our class.....resilience, stereotypes, how to identify strengths in face of adversity.

Watch and think of the following questions from the Reel Injun website:  

Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond, from northern Quebec (near the Arctic Circle), has made a documentary tracing the history of Hollywood’s representation of Native Americans. 

Reel Injun is a rich tool to examine the most serious issues regarding these depictions, including topics such as: 

. “Injuns” in Hollywood

 . What is the difference between an “Injun” and a human being?

 . The evolution of the image of Indians in westerns 

. Cowboy-and-Indian myths: What do they mean to North America?

 . What are the effects of negative stereotypes on Native people?

 . Native activism (American Indian Movement) 

. Identities and cultural exchanges

i am graffiti compare/contrast

Grade 12‐ Compare/Contrast Paragraph

Respond to one of the quotes below and compare to the poem, I am graffiti .

 How does the poem support the quote or contrast with Simpon's view of Indigenous people?

In a paragraph, compare/contrast the quote and poem.

You will be graded on the following (20 marks) :

Strong thesis statement
Include at least three lines of the poem, and the quotation in your paragraph
Your evaluation of the poem/quote is clear

This paragraph is due on Thursday, May 5. As you will have class time to write the
assignment, late work will accepted for 50%.

Pick one of the following:

​“We are seeing healing among the stolen generations, and initiatives which are enabling
Indigenous people to make their distinctive contribution to our national life”. Malcolm Fraser


“Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.”
“Don't believe the dark whisperings that invite you to walk backward. At any time in your life,
you have the power to turn forward.”  Anasazi Foundation



  “Life cracks us into unrecognizable shards of former incarnations. Slivers of our hurt and our
pain and our shame nestles next to fragments of our truth, our divinity, our fierce reclamation of
power.

It is this very brokenness that allows us to knit together, kaleidoscope style. And we spin and
shift and turn to the light until we appear brilliant, lit from within. Suddenly we are revealed;
unexpected beauty born directly from brokenness.

We have to be willing to break in order to become.”

― Jeanette LeBlanc

Stereotypes - past and present

To understand now, it is essential to understand how stereotypes have affected Indigenous peoples in history.  It is especially important to examine stereotypes so better understand Indigenous literature, where Indigenous writers will use irony, satire and sarcasm in their story telling, to blow apart stereotypes.

Please take a look at the question below and the learning objectives.  Tomorrow we will watch  Reel Injun and look at the stereotypes that have been perpetuated in history. 

On Friday, you will take on a creative project using media, to create a cartoon that mocks those stereotypes with a more truthful view of Indigenous peoples......

The question: 

 What are some Native American generalizations and stereotypes and have they changed much, 

if at all, from the early 1800s? 

For discussion:

What are stereotypes based on ? How do you change perceptions?

Are there characters now in media that shatter the stereotypes in film?

Assignment- choose one below:

1. Research a character in film, literature or real life that challenges stereotypes of Indigenous peoples. Write a paragraph on the character and how they challenge a stereotype.

2. Create a character. You may draw out a character on paper, use tools of technology. Include a few descriptive sentences on your character.

3. Write a short story. Maybe you could rewrite a film character's destiny? Be creative!

4. Write from a personal perspective. Have you faced a stereotype?
What was your experience, your feelings. How could you challenge the stereotype and how would you re-write the story?

Please include artwork (for bonus marks- 5)

 I welcome creative any other creative ideas.

If you need more ideas or missed the film, check out the cartoons in this website: 

http://www.eastconn.org/tah/1011SM1_NativeAmericanGeneralizationsStereotypelesson.pdf

20 marks. 

REDx Talks- Roseanne Supernault

https://vimeo.com/163754710

Roseanne opens up her talk by telling the meaning of her family name, 

as a journey of walking through heaven. 

Roseanne focuses on the greatness of our journeys, and the potential to reach our dreams. 

Think about the following questions: 

What is the greatness of your journey?  

What bites you?  Where do you feel most alive? 

How could the world see you in your true light and humanity?  

What journey would you need to take?  

What would you need?  

Your task: 

Either write a poem of at least five lines and begin with one of the following lines:

A journey walking through heaven

or 

The greatness of my journey begins......

Or write a "list" poem of ten things that you need to make your dreams come true

Or answer the questions above in a paragraph, six to eight sentences. 

Love and War

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3elpEYAAuY

i am graffiti by Leanne Simpson

Please see the following site for Simpon's powerful poem: 

http://thewalrus.ca/i-am-graffiti/

And an interview on Simpon:

http://www.poetryinvoice.com/poets/leanne-simpson

Read Simpon's interview after we analyze the poem.

Then add at least five lines to the line from Simpon's poem:

except, i am graffiti

You may write your lines as a poem and so create five lines of poetry, 

or you can write a small paragraph. 

Find a picture from the web or draw a picture.

Please don't put your name on this work but let me know it is your work.

You will post it around the school, where makes sense to you to make a 

statement about resilience 

and your reaction to the TRC, 

and Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Resilience/ Resurgence ....from the First Lady's point of view

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw3XH7OFgbg

Be ready to answer these questions:

Name one point that the First Lady makes that you've known already?

Name one point that you will take away from her presentation....

Check this out!!!

http://www.nativepeoples.com/Native-Peoples/March-April-2016/Making-Space-for-Indigenerds/

Residential Schools

What was the reasoning behind residential schools?  

What do you think was the bigger motive?  

How does the residential school system affect Indigenous people today?  

How do you think the following term applies to Indigenous people:

re·sil·ience

rəˈzilyəns/

noun

1. 1.

   the ability of a substance or object to spring back into shape; elasticity.

   "nylon is excellent in wearability and resilience"
2. 2.

   the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.

   "the often remarkable resilience of so many British institutions"

 Indigenous Resurgence:

Against this, an ancestral movement has re-emerged among some Indigenous thinkers and Indigenous and Settler ally activists in North America: Indigenous Resurgence. These people are dedicated to recasting Indigenous people in terms that are authentic and meaningful, to regenerating and organizing a radical political consciousness, to reoccupying land and gaining restitution, to protecting the natural environment, and to restoring the Nation-to-Nation relationship between Indigenous nations and Settlers. 

Indian Horse continued.......

Pages 31- 46 

Plot - 

• mother and grand-mother argue over how to bury Benjamin 
• Saul's parents leave and grand-mother is firm to stay in the wilds
• Saul and grand-mother load canoe,  Grand-mother dies saving Saul in the cold
• Saul is taken to St. Jerome's Residential school 
• Saul witnesses the abuse done to children in the name of "god" 

• Setting

Wilderness of Northern Ontario and Manitoba 

St. Jerome's residential school

Characters 

Saul-  protagonist of the novel, the narrator and told as an autobiography.  A boy in a family of three children.  Story opens with Saul's experience in an alcohol treatment centre.  

Saul's mother & Saul's father- leave Saul in the wilderness with his grand-mother 

Saul's grandmother-  died protecting Saul

Questions for you to answer: 3 marks each 

1. What does the argument over Ben's burial symbolize?  Why do the mother and grand-mother symbolize?  

2. Describe St. Jerome's Residential school in two- three sentences. Find a quote from the book that is rich with imagery and describes the atmosphere of the school.  

3. Why do you think the nuns and priests cut children's hair and change their names?  

4. Explain this quote-  "At St. Jerome's we work to remove the Indian from our children so that the blessings of the Lord may be evidenced upon them. "(pg.46) .  What is Sister Ignacia trying to prove? 

Notable language. Name the device and explain the importance.  2 marks each 

"Your grief has blinded you" pg. 32

Keewatin.  That's the name of the north wind. pg. 36 

The land around us was like a great being. p.37

Terms for Beat Nation

rhythm-    a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound.


repetition- consists of repeating a word, phrase, or sentence, and is common in both poetry and prose. It is a rhetorical technique to add emphasis, unity, and/or power.


tone-  Tone, in written composition, is an attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience. Tone is generally conveyed through the choice of words or the viewpoint of a writer on a particular subject. Every written piece (including songs and poetry) comprises a central theme or subject matter. The manner in which a writer approaches this theme and subject is the tone. The tone can be formal, informal, serious, comic, sarcastic, sad, and cheerful or it may be any other existing attitudes.

diction-can be defined as style of speaking or writing determined by the choice of words by a speaker or a writer

Denotation & Connotation: To do with words and the meaning of words. The are important words to understand diction.

Denotation : looking at the literal, dictionary meaning of the words

Connotation: looks at the other words that we connect with the literal meaning.  All the things that we connect to the word.

ie. Summer

detonation: the period of the year that is the hottest, closest to the sun

connotation: no school, swimming, beach, camping, sleeping, vacation

Think about the hurricane in New Orleans with a critical eye.  Think about how we view the people in the picture by the circled words. How do the circled words affect your view of the people? How is the news paper using these words?

Beat Nation

Beat Nation Assignment ( 20 marks) : Go to http://www.beatnation.org/

1. Read the front web page. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement about young Indigenous artists who creating new forms of art: hTh

“There has been some criticism over the years by older community members who see this influence as a break from tradition and the movement of the culture towards a pop-based mainstream assimilation.”

2. Go to curatorial statement. Answer the following questions in two to three sentences:

Read the curatorial statement?  Why is Hip Hop important for young Indigenous artists?     Where did Hip Hop originate?   

3. Go to music. Answer each point below with at least two examples:

Pick one song.  Listen and try to write down some of the words.

Write down at least three ​Images that stands out? 

What are the themes in the song? Important messages? 

References to Indigenous culture? 

Symbols? 

4. In your opinion what makes the song interesting (2-3 sentences) .....rhythm,  repetition, tone, diction, denotation, connotation? 

5. What words or phrases are repeated over and over?    Can you you tell me the story of the song? (2-3 sentences

Bonus Marks: Take a look at the artists....pick one piece of art work.....why do you like it?? 

(5 marks)

Thursday, April 7

Grade 12 

1. Independent Novel Reading -up to page 20.

If you have not brought your novel, please go and get it from your locker.  You will be doing silent reading for 20 minutes or more everyday and will receive marks for reading.  5 marks a day will add up to a substantial amount by the end of this semester.

If you have not picked a novel, please go to the library . Mr. Morrison will have a few waiting for you.

2. Please finish the guiding tools sheet.  Paste into your notebook and write out on the left side.

Grade 10/11

1.  Reading Indian Horse.  I will go over the chapters with you tomorrow.

2. Lit terms worksheet.  Please just tuck the terms in your notebook.

3. Please catch up with any unfinished assignments:  guiding tools , symbolism paragraph etc.

All Grades   IMPORTANT! 

Please leave your notebooks in the classroom.  The purpose is so I can mark assignments and keep student work for upcoming report cards.  If you do not hand in your notebook or do not hand in assignments,  you will receive a mark of incomplete on your report card.  Then if the work is not done within two weeks following the report card, you will receive an F the first term. Sorry to bear bad news but we need to stay on track, and I have to take in marks for report cards.   I must have report card marks in by the end of next week so please keep on track with your work. 

Novel Study notes so far

All grades have been given a novel reading assignment.  Please review the questions and look at the examples that I included from Indian Horse. You will be using this model through out the novel.

Each entry will be worth 15 marks.

Symbolism defined

Definition of Symbolism:

Use of an object, person, situation or word to represent something else, like an idea, in literature.

http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-symbolism-in-literature-definition-types-examples.html

In Indian Horse,

the horse symbolizes change in society brought about by the arrival of the white man.

In our society, tattoos have become a popular way to show important and very personal symbols:






Symbolism assignment:  On the left hand side of your notebook, draw out or paste the image of an important symbol to you. On the right hand side of your notebook, write a paragraph (at least 6-8 sentences) on the symbol. Consider the following questions:

What does this image symbolize to you?  Is it also an important image to other people, society or a community of people?

How did it become important to you?  Tell me the story.

Why do you like it? Describe.

Visit with Quechua Indigenous students from Peru

Describe 3 parts of your culture that are very important to you.  

Find one thing that is similar and one thing that is different between your cultures.

Describe traditional ways of learning in your cultures.  

How are these ways different from modern, colonial schools?  

How has colonialism affected your cultures, traditions and lands?  

How would your parents or grand-parents answer this question.

What do you think your biggest challenges are today, as young Indigenous students? 

Indian Horse and Beat Nation......from there to here

Theme- 

behind-the-plot meaning, something less about events and more about significance, perhaps even a conclusion they’ve drawn from the book.

Plot is the events of story; theme is the meaning behind or revealed by story.

What themes stand out to you so far in Indian Horse?  

Beat Nation  

As we continue to read Indian Horse, a novel set in the tragedy of residential schools, we will compare the themes in Indian Horse to the writers, artists and musicians today.  My goal is to focus on the resilience of Indigenous communities in Canada, and how both resilience and resurgences are woven into the work of influential Indigenous youth, writers, musicians and artists today. 

I asked you to write about an important place. 

Watch the clip below and pull out some important themes in Favreau's clip. 

http://www.beatnation.org/index.html

One important theme in both Indian Horse and Favreau's story is the importance of home, and how the qualities of home can be found in many different ways.

Indian Horse so far, shows the loss of home.
Favreau shows how as an Indigenous musician from the West Coast, redefined home in the Mohawk Nation of Kanawake.

In both stories, family are a very important characteristic of home.  In Indian Horse, Saul looses his siblings and then his family splits from this pain and tragedy.  For Favreau,  having his son grow up on Kanawake territory cements where he belongs and calls home. 

Indian Horse....so far ....

A story isn't a story until you discover the problem driving characters to act.

Life is disrupted by the agents for the residential school system.  Indigenous families must flee to protect their children, from being stolen and taken to the schools.  Their entire way of living shifts as they move away from traditional ways of living and land. 

Plot -  up to page 30

• introduced to Saul Indian Horse, family and territory
• Flashes back to when the horse arrived to their culture, brought by Saul's great- grandfather,  the horse (first brought by Zhaunagush- white people)symbolic for great changes that will happen & people must rely on spirit teachings of the horse
• 1961 - threat of residential school, Saul's brother Ben and sister taken..
• parents and grand-parents on the move, working as transients 
• Ben escapes residential school, sick with TB and family goes to Gods Lake and traditional ways- then landslide (foreshadows tragedy) 
• Ben dies of TB pg. 30 
• 
  

• Setting

Wilderness of Northern Ontario and Manitoba 

Land- untamed thing of lakes, rivers, bogs and marshes 

sparkling water, citadels of bush and rock, labyrinthine weave of country. 

bush camp-  transient workers, alcoholism, rutted, muddy roads, desolate and sad 

Characters 

Saul-  protagonist of the novel, the narrator and told as an autobiography.  A boy in a family of three children.  Story opens with Saul's experience in an alcohol treatment centre.  

Saul's brother Benjamin- taken to residential school when Saul is four years old.  Escapes residential school and joins Saul's family then dies of TB.

Tall, thin, tough and resilient . 

Saul's sister- taken away to residential school. Unknown to Saul. 

Saul's mother- heart-broken by the loss of her sons.  Withdrawn and hard to know her true character.

Saul's father- heart-broken like mother and turns to alcohol.  

Symbolism

Indian Horse-  the coming of the change,  the arrival of Europeans  

Grade 10/11 - reflective writing assignment

In your notebook, write a paragraph to answer the following question:

Where is an important place for you?

Describe this place and tell me why it is important.

Grade 12- Reflective writing assignment

This assignment will give me an idea of your writing strengths and where you might need some support.

Write a multi-paragraph composition on the topic below. In addressing the topic, consider all possibilities. You may draw support from the experiences of others or from any aspect of your life: your reading and your experiences. You do not have to accept the basic premise of the statement.


Choose one of the following:

Humour can be important in our lives. 

or 

We can draw strength from our relationships. 

Please hand write or type, then paste into your interactive notebooks. 

Terms Review

In the next few days,  students will post terms and examples to better prep for the provincial exam.

Here is the list of terms for grade 10:

https://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/exams/specs/grade10/efp/13_terms.pdf

Here is the list of terms for grade 12:

https://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/exams/specs/grade12/efp/15_literary_terms.pdf


Grade 12s- 

 You will define at least 10 terms from the list in your notebook.
Then I will collect and create a list for you.

Final provincial exams

Here are the links for practice exams.
Please take a look when you have a moment.
You can find provincial exams for English 10 and English 12.

https://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/exams/search/