1. Canada’s Indigenous Peoples
All My Relations
Canada’s Indigenous Peoples

2. Note:
There are hundred of different Aboriginal cultural groups, each with their own unique history and traditions. The information presented here is a basic generalization to help you understand the background of the stories we will be reading.

3. Who are Canada’s Aboriginals?
Before the Europeans came to North America, there were already hundreds of ancient tribes here
Some people believe that the Aboriginals first came to Canada from Asia, thousands and thousands of years ago

4. Who are Canada’s Aboriginals?
First Nations
The various Aboriginal cultures in southern Canada and the USA
Inuit
Aboriginals in the Arctic (northern Canada)
Métis
A cultural group with both Aboriginal and European ancestors

5. Remember: Canada and the USA are European- made countries
Remember: Canada and the USA are European- made countries! This is what North America looks like from an Aboriginal point of view. Fun fact: the name “Canada” comes from an Aboriginal word meaning “village”

6. What was Traditional life like?
Hunting and gathering
Some were nomadic (moving to follow food)
Others stayed in one place to harvest crops like corn

7. What was Traditional life like?
Rich artistic & musical traditions blended with rituals (e.g. rain dances, Ojibwe dreamcatchers)

8. What was important in society?
Honoring the wisdom of elders
Matrilineal society: women as leaders
“Seven Grandfather Teachings”: wisdom, love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility, truth

9. The natural world
“All my relations”: a common Aboriginal phrase that represents the connection between humans, animals, and all parts of nature
Nature and animals play a key role in Aboriginal life
All the natural world has life that must be respected, not just humans and animals

10. Mythology
Origin stories to explain the symbolism of all the world’s phenomena and how humans connect to earth
Animals are often the main figures in the story, and have common personalities through many Aboriginal cultures
Coyote and Raven are usually tricksters

11. Mythology
Stories are set in a past time, before the world was as it is today
Can include shape-shifters: creatures who can turn into any form they want
Oral stories: they were not written down

12. The trickster A god/spirit/magic animal
Sometimes foolish, sometimes wise
Sometimes a hero, sometimes a villain
Causes mischief, but in the end order replaces chaos
Today’s trickster: Nanabush, the shape-shifter.
Left: A pictograph of Nanabush from a provincial
park in Ontario

13. “The Shivering Tree”: Vocabulary
Conjurer: a person who can make something appear from nowhere, as if by magic
Crystal: a precious stone 水晶
Juggler: throwing and catching 3 or more objects while always keeping one in the air

14. “The Shivering Tree”
What two natural phenomenon does the story provide an explanation for?
What moral (lesson) does the story provide?
What qualities of this story are similar to the story of Sky Woman?

15. Review: What are the 6 elements of literature?
Setting
Plot
Conflict
Character
Point of view
Theme

16. Plot The sequence of events in a story
A. Introduction: The start of the story. It introduces the characters and setting.
B. Rising Action: A conflict starts to develop and the story gets more interesting.
C. Climax: The highest point of action in the story. The conflict reaches its maximum. This is a turning point for the protagonist.
D. Falling Action: The conflict is resolved; either the protagonist or the antagonist wins.
E. Denouement: “Loose ends” are tied up and the story finishes.

17. Character Protagonist: the main character
Antagonist: the person who opposes the main character’s objectives
Often the “bad guy”, but: if the protagonist were evil, the antagonist would be good!
Static Character: a person who does not experience an inner change; he remains the same throughout the story
Dynamic Character: someone who learns and grows throughout the story (protagonist is usually dynamic)

18. Conflict
A struggle or problem between a character and another person or force
Person vs. Person: a person struggles with another character
Person vs. Society: a person struggles against traditions, laws, or culture 
Person vs. Self: a person struggles with right and wrong, or has a difficult decision to make
Person vs. Fate: a person must fight his station in life, his destiny, etc.

19. Theme The central idea or lesson that a story provides
The theme is an idea that is addressed frequently and in different ways throughout the story—there may be more than one!

20. Setting Where & When? Place Personal Time Weather Atmosphere
Location
Personal
What society/culture?
Time
Time of day/year/history
Weather
Time in history
Atmosphere
The feeling that is created at the start of the story

21. Day 2: Exploring Elements of Literature
The Shivering Tree
Day 2: Exploring Elements of Literature

22. Character Who is the protagonist? Who is the antagonist?
Nanabush
Who is the antagonist?
The Juggler
Do you think Nanabush is a static or dynamic character? Why?

23. Conflict Find an example for each theme: Person vs. Person
Person vs. Self
Person vs. Fate

24. Theme What themes are important in “The Shivering Tree”?
Hint: we talked about this yesterday!

25. Setting Place: where does the story happen?
In nature: there is a river, a forest, and they are close to the mountains
“No human being has come this far” (first page)
Personal: in what culture is the story set?
Aboriginal (mythology)
Time: when does the story happen?
Autumn & Spring
Time: is this story in the distant past, recent past, present, or future?
Likely the distant past, a time when humans had not yet found every place in the world

26. Point of View Author: the person who writes the story
Narrator: the character who tells the story
1st person: “I”
Narrator is the main character, describes his experiences
2nd person: “You”
Narrator speaks directly to the reader
3rd person (limited): “He/she”
The story describes characters actions as if the narrator is watching them, but we can only see the thoughts of one character
3rd person (omniscient): “He/she”
The story describes characters as if watching them, and the narrator can go in and out of any character’s life and feelings