Aboriginal Beliefs, Values, and Aspirations in Contemporary Society

Course Overview
Aboriginal Beliefs, Values, and Aspirations in Contemporary Society,
Grade 11, College Preparation, NBV3C
Course Description
This course is designed as a study of how beliefs and values shape Aboriginal peoples’ history, culture,
and aspirations. This course elaborates on how values, beliefs, and spirituality form Aboriginal peoples’
identity and how colonial experiences have threatened and impacted on Aboriginal peoples. Students
examine how Aboriginal peoples understand their natural and cosmological environment and explore
how their world views and philosophies have had an impact on relationships with EuroCanadian society
both historically and in the present. The relevant topics of this course are representation, colonialism,
world views, accomplishment, renewal, reconciliation, and revitalization. The question “Who defines
Aboriginal identity?” is rigorously explored for the purpose of understanding how identity is related to
colonialism.
The history of the relationships among the Aboriginal peoples themselves, then later with Canadian
society, provides insight into issues of ethnocentrically-biased representation of another culture and the
response of Aboriginal peoples to reclaim their voices in matters of representation. Through this process,
students examine how and why it is critically important for Aboriginal peoples to represent their own
values and beliefs. Through Aboriginal peoples’ own voices, students learn of significant contributions
that Aboriginal peoples have made not only to their own cultures, but also to Canada as a whole.
Students understand how collective peoples’ experiences have shaped their beliefs, values, and
aspirations. Knowledge about Aboriginal peoples promotes student understanding of contemporary
renewal and reconciliation initiatives that Aboriginal peoples are currently engaged in with the
governments and people of Canada. By redefining their relationship to the country as a whole, and to
their own communities, students learn how Aboriginal peoples are pursuing new ways to articulate
historical aspirations of self-reliance, self-determination, and self-governance.
While the priority is given to local Aboriginal peoples, it is expected that students explore beliefs, values,
and aspirations of Aboriginal peoples throughout Canada. This course also pays special consideration to
the unique experiences, contributions, and aspirations of Aboriginal women. The exploration of
Aboriginal women’s historical role as well as their contemporary realities is critical in the study of
Aboriginal peoples given Aboriginal women’s unique experiences as women in this country.
Examination of the impact that the Indian Act has had and continues to have on Aboriginal women
allows for a richer understanding of gender issues relevant to Aboriginal peoples. The subtext of the
course is an understanding of the historical and contemporary aspirations of Aboriginal peoples in their
attempt to self-determine their future goals and aspirations.
Course Notes
Developing a methodology to teach about Aboriginal beliefs, values, and aspirations in contemporary
society requires structured preparation by teachers and establishing clear parameters for investigation by
students. The diversity of cultural, linguistic, racial, and religious groups is a valuable characteristic of
Canadian society, and indeed of Aboriginal people within Canadian society. Teachers may wish to focus
on local cultural groups, on regional studies of Aboriginal peoples, or on case studies of specific cultural
and spiritual practices within Canada. Focus could be on First Nation communities, on Inuit beliefs and
experiences, or on Métis. Individuals and organizations who represent Aboriginal peoples, elders within
communities, grandmothers, aunts, healers, writers, artists, and performers who exemplify and celebrate
Aboriginal identity, beliefs, values, and aspirations provide sources of information and inspiration for
students and teachers.
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• Aboriginal Beliefs, Values, and Aspirations in Contemporary Society - College Preparation