Welcome to this curriculum resource on Treaty Education.
This unit is part of a Treaty Education resource for Grades 3 – 6 sponsored by the Three Nations Education Group Inc. (TNEGI) and the New Brunswick Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. It provides opportunities for students, their teachers and the public to explore the following issues:
- A shared history that includes culture, traditions, and beliefs
- The contributions that Indigenous peoples of New Brunswick have made to contemporary society
- The Peace and Friendship Treaties that serve as the foundation of present-day inter-relationships among Indigenous people, New Brunswick and Canada
- An Educational Response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action
This teaching resource has been created so that young people throughout New Brunswick can better understand the treaties that were agreed to by the Indigenous people of New Brunswick and the British Crown. These treaties are called Peace and Friendship Treaties and were signed in the 18th century. Representatives of the British Crown and the Waponahkiyik (Wabanaki) Nations — the Wolastoqewiyik, Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, and Abenaki — signed the treaties. The intent of the representatives who signed them was to maintain peace and friendship between the English and Indigenous parties and allow both to maintain their ways of life. Unlike in other treaties signed in Canada, there was no mention, much less surrender of land in any of the Peace and Friendship Treaties. They were renewed and ratified during times of British conflict with the French — Indigenous people had supported the French during their wars with the British — to secure Indigenous neutrality. Treaties were also renewed at the end of wars that the Waponahkiyik fought to prevent the theft of their land. The Peace and Friendship Treaties have endured over the centuries and remain relevant today.
With the benefit of advice from Elders on language, stories, research, selections from previously printed material and photographs, we present content and teaching strategies organised according to three overarching themes:
- Mi’kmaw, Passamaquoddy and Wolastoqey culture and beliefs — Ta’n Teli-wlo’ltimk aqq ta’n Kɨpnno’l Ta’n Teleyuksi’kw – Identity – Tan Wetapeksi
- Past history and how it affects the present — Tan Tel-mimajultimk, Mawo’ltimk aqq Kipnno’lewey – Economic, Social and Political Life – Wetawsultiyeqpon, Mawehewakon naka Litposuwakon
- Contemporary issues and taking positive action — Kiskuk Ta’n Teliaq – Contemporary Issues – Tokec Weskuwitasikil Eleyik.
In this curriculum resource, we have used the Mi’kmaw (Francis-Smith writing system) and Wolastoqey (formerly Maliseet; Robert M. Leavitt writing system) languages wherever possible. We have also used Mi’kmaw and Wolastoqey terms alongside English terms. This is, in part, an effort to encourage all young people to try to learn these languages. In each case, Mi’kmaw (blue) is above or before the English term and Wolastoqey Latuwewakon (red) is below or after it.
The content and strategies are presented in nine lesson plans. There are three lesson plans for each of the themes. Each lesson plan includes:
- Global competencies and Curriculum outcomes matched to appropriate disciplines
- Background notes for the teacher
- Materials to complement the assigned textbook
- A historical quote from or about Indigenous people of the Maritimes
- A range of activities based on the needs of the classroom (like keeping a logbook)
- Vocabulary in Mi’kmaw and Wolastoqey Latuwewakon
- Additional online resources
It is not necessary that you complete all these activities. Depending on the makeup of your class — Indigenous, non-Indigenous, a blend of both or multicultural — you may select whatever is appropriate. We have designed the material to resemble Mi’kamawe’l Tan Teli-kinamuemk, the curriculum material designed by the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq in Nova Scotia, and we have sometimes drawn from this work when creating this curriculum resource. An online copy of this curriculum is available at: www.mikmaweydebert.ca/home/sharing-our-stories/education-and-outreach/school-curriculum. Sharing these resources demonstrates how First Nations’ borders extend beyond present-day provincial borders, just as the Peace and Friendship Treaties do. These treaties serve as the terms of the initial relationship between First Nations and the Federal and Provincial Governments and are discussed throughout the units of study for Grades 3-6.
Summary and Themes of Lessons
Alsumsuti Ujit T’an Teli-l’nuimk
To be Indigenous is to be free
Topelomosu Wen Skicinuwit
| Ta’n Wenin Identity Tan wen Wetapeksit | Ta’n Tel-mimajultimk, Mawo’ltimk aqq Kɨpnno’lewey Economic, Social, and Political Life Wetawsultiyeqpon, Mawehewakon naka Litposuwakon | Kiskuk Ta’n Teliaq Contemporary Issues Tokec Weskuwitasikil Eleyik |
|---|---|---|
| A Ta’n tel-pilu’-nmitoq wen wskwitqamu Different worldviews Piluwamsultuwakonol | D A’tukwagn Our stories have meaning Tatkuhkakonol wolokimqotul | G Ta’n koqowey elwi’tmasimkɨpp Akukumkeweyiktuk What was promised in the Treaties Keq kisi spi-wolamuhusimok |
| B Msɨt ta’n koqowey etek wskwitqamuk na teluaq ta’n tl-mimajultiten How environment influences life Tan wetawsultiyeq elapetomeq naka eli ‘sossenomeq wiciw okamonuhkewiyik | E Kmitkinu aqq Wabanaki Confederacy Homeland and the Wabanaki Confederacy Waponahkewi Mawuhkahticik | H Ikanpukultijik aqq Ankukumkewe’l Leaders and Treaties Kci-skicinuwok naka Lakutuwakonol |
| C Ta’n mimajuaqn tel-sa’se’wa’sikek ta’n tujiw pejita’titek aqalasie’wk How life changed with the arrival of Europeans Tan Pomawsuwakon ksi-acehrasik tuciw petapasihtit okamonuhkewiyik | F Wejiknemkewe’l Challenges associated with treaty-making Sikeyuwol ahcuwi assihkomeq | I Mawi-espi-mlkiknamk Sovereignty Tpelomosuwakon |
The nine lesson plans at each grade level represent a total of about four weeks of work if a teacher were to teach the lessons in a social studies setting. Where possible, we have also related the lessons to outcomes in other disciplines so that the class time for this unit could be expedited. The kits of books containing First Nations Lesson Plans K-5, which were introduced in 2015 by the New Brunswick Department of Education and Early Childhood Development for use at the Grade 4 level, include both books and lesson plans addressing the Social Studies and Language Arts outcomes. We have incorporated some of these in our lesson plans. This Grade 4 program is part of a continuum addressed in Treaty Education Gr.3-5 contained in the Handbook on Approaches to Teaching about Treaty Education.
