Lesson

Water: The sacred relationship Documentary Date November 27th

Title/Focus
Subject/Grade Time
Grade 5 Social Studies 60 min
Level Duration

OUTCOMES FROM ALBERTA PROGRAM OF STUDIES

General 5.1: Physical Geography of Canada
Learning  Students will demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of how the physical geography
Outcomes: and natural resources of Canada affect the quality of life for all Canadians

5.2: Histories & Stories of Ways of Life in Canada

 Students will demonstrate an understanding of the people and the stories of Canada and their
ways of life over time, and appreciate the diversity of Canada’s heritage.

Specific 5.1.1: Value Canada’s physical geography and natural environment:

Learning  Appreciate the environmental significance of national parks and protected areas in Canada
Outcomes:  Appreciate how the land sustains communities and the diverse ways that people have of living
with the land
 Appreciate the influence of the natural environment on the growth and development of Canada
 Demonstrate care and concern for the environment through their choices and actions

5.1.2: Examine, critically, the physical geography of Canada by exploring and reflecting upon the
following questions and issues:
 How do landforms, bodies of water and natural resources affect the quality of life in Canada?
 How are Canada’s national parks and protected areas important to the sustainability of
Canada’s environment?
5.2.1: appreciate the complexity of identity in the Canadian context:
 Acknowledge oral traditions, narrative and stories as valid sources of knowledge about the land
and diverse Aboriginal cultures and history
5.2.2: examine, critically, the ways of life of Aboriginal peoples in Canada by exploring and reflecting
upon the following questions and issues:
 What do the stories of First Nations, Metis and Inuit peoples tell us about their beliefs regarding
the relationship between people and the land
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Students will:
1. Understand how Aboriginal peoples’ relationship with the land shapes who they are and their place in the world
2. Explore how reconciling the relationship between Aboriginal people and the rest of Canada can lead to healthier
water
ASSESSMENTS (How I will know students have achieved the objective(s))
 Circle sharing

Prior to the Lesson MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

  Water: The sacred relationship documentary

PROCEDURE
Introduction Time
15 min
Explain:
 The knowledge that Aboriginal people have comes from science
 It comes from a long experience of science that has been built and passed down through generations
 This documentary: Was made over three years with a team of 39 research participants, and they
traveled and researched over 10,500 km around Alberta, interviewing traditional knowledge holders,
Adapted from a template created by Dr. K. Roscoe 1
 elders and scientists.
 The research was based on three questions:
What is the relationship between Alberta’s Aboriginal peoples and water?
What is the science behind the Aboriginal viewpoint on water?
What is the common ground between Western science and Aboriginal perspectives?

 A lot of Western-trained scientists would not opening admit that the indigenous science is worth
considering
 When the scientists and indigenous people worked together, they found common ground and agreed
on their scientific findings
 This project gives credit to Aboriginal viewpoints and shares that recognition with the public
 There are many ways to do science and to understand the world around us

Instruct students to take notes and to write down any important information because the teacher will ask
them about it later.

Written instructions on the board will be placed at the front throughout the documentary:

Write reasons why the water and nature are important to indigenous people?
What environmental issues are mentioned in the documentary?

Body Time

Watch half documentary:

26 min
https://www.sacredrelationship.ca/documentary/

Closure Time

-Meet at the carpet and have students sit respectfully in a circle

-Discuss what they learned about in the video
-Go around the circle and have everyone share something that they wrote down 20 min

Reinforce:

Sponge Activity/Activities

Reflections:

Adapted from a template created by Dr. K. Roscoe 2