ASSIGNMENT 1

These sites will help you do the following activities.

• Office of the Treaty Commissioner
• Virtual Saskatchewan - Aboriginal Stories
• The Plains Cree
• Saskatchewan Bands
• The Diverse Culture of the Metis Nation

ACTIVITIES

1. The Office of the Treaty Commissioner was set up to find common ground between the First Nations of Saskatchewan and the Federal government when it came to interpreting treaties between the two parties. The Statement of Treaty Issues, put out by the Office of the Treaty Commissioner, contains important information about the Creator and treaties.

a. In section 2.2 of the Statement of Treaty Issues, what did First Nations Elders mean when they say, "oral history begins with the Creator."
b. Why the Elders feel you need to understand Spirituality before you can understand the treaties.
c. What did the Elders mean by the concept of good relations.
d. According to the Elders, what concepts are the treaties really about?

2. A good source of information on traditional culture is the book called The Plains Cree. It is an ethnographic, historical, and comparative study of the Plains Cree nation. However is a great source of information for those who have limited knowledge about First Nations people. The book is also available on the Internet.

a. How does David Mendalbaum collect his information?
b. Describe two buffalo hunting methods.
c. Examine two reasons for the importance of the horse to Plains Cree culture.
d. Explain how one might acquire one's name in traditional Cree culture.
e. The Sun Dance is the most important ceremony for the plains nations. In a short paragraph describe the Pow-wow Dance.
f. When would a Vision Quest would take place?

3. Virtual Saskatchewan has put out some interesting information on Aboriginal people of Saskatchewan. Use the site to increase your knowledge base by answering the following questions.

a. Name four important pieces of information that you would find at the Wanuskewin site.
b. Explain the significance of the Medicine Wheels found at the Endangered Stones site.
c. Give one interpretation of the rock paintings found on the Churchill River.
d. Explain the importance of the Drum to First Nations ceremonies.
e. What does Elder Cathy Milne mean when she says, " her path was set out for her by the Seven Grandfathers."?
f. List four important events in Poundmaker's life.

4. Using an online map of Saskatchewan determine how many treaties cover the province and determine when these treaties were signed.

5. Metis people have made many cultural contributions to Saskatchewan's diverse cultural makeup. Given the Metis nations website, briefly describe three out of the ten cultural distinctions found on the site.

Once you have answered these questions you should be able to go on and tackle the course! Good luck with the course!

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