Aboriginal Experiences Lesson Plan

Unit Topic: Becoming a Sovereign Nation (1867-1931)

Lesson Topic: Numbered Treaties
Grade Level: 11
Lesson Duration: 75 minutes

Learning Objectives/Outcomes
o Students will work in pairs to generate a mind map that showcases their prior knowledge of the
Numbered Treaties (knowledge; social participation).
o Students will consult various online sources in an effort to understand why the Numbered
Treaties were negotiated between First Nations and the Canadian federal government
(knowledge).
o Students will also visit specific websites to learn about how the Numbered Treaties impacted both
First Nations and the Canadian government (knowledge).
o Students will use their new knowledge to determine which party (First Nations or Canadian
government) benefited most from the Numbered Treaties (skill).
Learning Resources
o Mind Map
o WebQuest composed by the teacher (see attached: Appendix B)
Lesson Procedures
Lesson Introduction (Activating Strategies) 10 minutes
o Teacher will put students into groups of two and provide each pair with a piece of poster paper.
o Students will be required to collaborate with their partners to create a mind map that showcases
their current understanding of the Numbered Treaties.
o Students will then hang their completed mind maps on the wall and conduct a short gallery walk
(allows them to see each others ideas).

Acquire and Apply 65 minutes

o Students will spend the majority of class completing a WebQuest in the computer lab.
o Teacher will provide each student with a hand-out that contains instructions, URLs, and
questions.
o Students will visit multiple websites and answer questions related to the Numbered Treaties.
o Students will complete the WebQuest independently.
Assessment/Evaluation
o Were students able to cooperate with their partners to create a mind map of the Numbered
Treaties? (Teacher Observation; Assess Mind Maps)
o Could students work on the WebQuest assignment independently and quietly? (Teacher
Observation).
o Do students understand why First Nations and the Canadian government negotiated and signed
the Numbered Treaties? (Assess WebQuest Questions)
o Do students understand how the Numbered Treaties affected both First Nations and the Canadian
government? (Assess WebQuest Questions)
o Could students use their new knowledge to determine which party benefited most from the
Numbered Treaties? (Assess Long Answer Question)

Homework
o Students will be required to complete the WebQuest activity (including the long answer question)
at home if they do not finish during class.

How are Multiple Intelligences addressed in the lesson?

o Interpersonal Intelligence (collaborative learning; brainstorming with a partner)
o Intrapersonal Intelligence (students individually complete the WebQuest activity)
o Verbal/Linguistic Intelligence (small-group discussion; reading information from websites;
writing)
o Visual/Spatial Intelligence (mind mapping, viewing images related to the topic)
 Numbered Treaties WebQuest
Tansi everyone. Our goal for today is to gain a better understanding of the Numbered Treaties that
were negotiated between 1871 and 1921. This assignment will serve as an introduction to the
Numbered Treaties, as we will be discussing these eleven agreements in greater depth this week.
After completing this assignment, you should understand:

1. Why the Numbered Treaties were negotiated.

2. How the Numbered Treaties impacted (positively and negatively) Canadas First Nations.
3. How the Numbered Treaties benefited the Canadian government.

Instructions
1. Click on the URLs listed below and complete the questions that correspond with each website.
2. Once you have visited all of the websites and answered the questions, you will use your new
knowledge to complete the long answer question (on the next page).
3. PLEASE WRITE YOUR ANSWERS FOR ALL QUESTIONS ON A SEPARATE PIECE(S) OF PAPER

Websites
1. Visit the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada website to learn why the Numbered Treaties
were negotiated, and how the terms affected both First Nations and the government.
http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1360948213124/1360948312708

Question: Briefly describe two reasons why the Canadian government desired to negotiate these
treaties with First Nations. What did the government gain from signing these treaties? (3 marks)

Question: Why did Big Bear finally agree to sign Treaty 6 in 1883? (1 mark)

2. Click on this URL to read about the first five Numbered Treaties. When you are navigating
through this webpage, be sure to click on the Read the Summary links for Treaties 1-5.
https://web.archive.org/web/20141221004629/http://www.canadiana.ca/citm/themes/aborigin
als/aboriginals7_e.html

Question: Briefly describe the main reasons why First Nations negotiated the surrender of their
land between 1871 and 1921. (2 marks)

Question: In your opinion, which of the first five Numbered Treaties had the most favourable
provisions? Why? (3 marks)
 Appendix B

3. Visit the Manitoba Museum website to learn about Chief Piapot and Treaty Four (QuAppelle
Treaty). Note: take some time to study the images that are highlighted on this webpage.
https://manitobamuseum.ca/main/chief-piapot-and-the-quappelle-treaty/

Question: Why did the Plains Cree of Piapots band have a contentious relationship with Canadian
officials long after they signed Treaty Four? (1 mark)

4. Click on this URL to read about Treaty Six and Treaty Seven. When you are navigating through this
webpage, be sure to click on the Read the Summary links for both of these treaties.
https://web.archive.org/web/20150316023517/http://www.canadiana.ca/citm/themes/aborigin
als/aboriginals8_e.html

Question: What provision was unique to Treaty 6? How did First Nations interpret this treaty
term? (2 marks)

Question: Why did Chief Poundmaker initially refuse to sign Treaty 6? Can you compare his
actions to those of Big Bears? (2 marks)

5. Click on this URL to read about the last four Numbered Treaties. When you are navigating
through this webpage, be sure to click on the Read the Summary links for Treaties 8-11.
https://web.archive.org/web/20150511193630/http://www.canadiana.ca/citm/themes/aborigin
als/aboriginals10_e.html

Question: Why were many First Nations bands not interested in signing Treaty Eight? List two
reasons. (2 marks).

Question: Similar to the preceding Numbered Treaties, what did First Nations covered by Treaties
8-11 have to promise the government? (1 mark)

6. Visit the Manitoba Museum website to read Hey- Whos that Mann? and view a historic image
of Chief Kakekapenais that was taken around the same time as the signing of Treaty One.
https://manitobamuseum.ca/main/hey-whos-that-mann/

Question: Who was William Mann? What significant role did he play in the events surrounding
Treaty One negotiations? (1 mark)

7. Now that you have read about the Numbered Treaties, have some fun searching through the
Treaty Image Gallery on the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada website.
http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1100100029181/1100100029182
 Appendix B

Long Answer- To be completed as homework after WebQuest

Now that you have a greater understanding of the Numbered Treaties, you should be prepared to answer
this question. In your opinion, were the Numbered Treaties mutually beneficial agreements? Or, did one
party (First Nations or Canadian government) reap more benefits? Be sure to support your answer with
specific examples from the websites that you recently visited. Please write no more than page single-
spaced. (6 marks)

Total = _____/24 = ______%