Residential Residential

LESSON TITLE (LINE OF INQUIRY 2, C.C. 1):
SHI-SHI-ETKO: A GIRL SENT TO SCHOOL
What values are most important to Shi-shi-etko, a First Nation girl?
What might be the impacts on Shi-shi-etko of taking her from her home for a year?
Recommendation: Introduce mentor text in language.
BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE FOR TEACHERS/BOOK SUMMARY:
The fictional Shi-shi-etko tells the story of a young First Nation girl (Shi-shi-etko) who is about
to be taken from her home to spend at a distant school. In the four days before she departs,
Shi-shi-etko makes an effort to absorb the elements of the land she loves, sometimes in the
company of her family. She gathers what she sees and feels to keep as memories, and her
grandmother gives her a bag to keep those memories. We experience Shi-shi-etko’s strong
connection to the land and the value of keeping her memories to her world.
Although the type of school Shi-shi-etko plans to attend is not mentioned, students can gather
some clues about it. An introduction explains the background of Residential Schools.
MATERIALS:
• Copy of Shi-shi-etko by Nicola Campbell
• SmartBoard lesson: “Shi-shi-etko” in Line of Inquiry 2
• Student Thinking Journals
• Group copies of Cause and Consequence organizer, on
place-mat sized paper
• Paper for exit cards (optional)
GROUNDWOOD BOOKS, 2005
LESSON GOAL:
• Students will apply their background knowledge of First Nation relationship to the land
to predict consequences on First Nation children if they are removed from their land.
SUCCESS CRITERIA:
• I can predict reasonable consequences (impacts) on children and their families if they
are removed from their land using evidence.
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