Or, First Nations Peoples: Textbook Readings (write these down!): Introduction: Page 12 Background: Pages Government: Page 246 FN Rights: Aboriginal Identity:

Today: 1. Unit Introduction Using Statistics 2. How did Aboriginal Canadians become a Minority? Readings: Becoming a Minority

Warm-up: Turn to your partner, Use your best English, and ask: What do we remember about Aboriginal Canadians from Social Studies 10? History? Culture? Beliefs? Important events and people? Key terms? Of course, be prepared to share!

First: Using Statistics 1. We are going to look at different charts of information about Aboriginal Canadians. 2. Discuss them as a group and answer the questions. You will present your chart to the rest of the class. 3. As you listen to the other presentations, take notes on your handout! What do these charts tell us about the Aboriginal Canadian Minority and its relationship with the Majority of Canadians? Are they equal?

Average Canadian Life Expectancy

Proportion of dwellings (homes) in need of major repairs

Canadian Employment Rate

Postsecondary educational level, population aged 25 to 54, 2006

First Language Speakers

Follow-up: Turn to your partner, Use your best English, and ask: What do these charts tell us about Aboriginal Canadian Minority and its relationship with the Majority of Canadians? Are they equal? What conclusions can we make? Of course, be prepared to share!

Themes of this Unit: Minorities and Majorities (first!) Assimilation and its effects Multiculturalism and its effects Aboriginal Rights: Land, Government, Languages Aboriginal resistance against the majority

First: Becoming a Minority When Europeans first arrived (1604) in what would become called North America, there were an estimated million Aboriginal peoples living there (today’s Canada, the US and Mexico). In 2006: there are only 1.2 Million Aboriginal Canadians, 3.8% of Canadians are Aboriginal How did this happen?

Readings: * With your partner, Discuss yesterdays Reading about Becoming a Minority Potlatch Dancers. HOMEWORK: Worksheet – Native Resistance and Government Response