First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Studies · Grade 9

Active learning ideas

Language and Identity

Language is the heartbeat of culture, carrying the unique history, values, and ecological knowledge of a people. In this topic, students explore the vital link between Indigenous languages and identity, examining how colonial policies like the Indian Act and residential schools systematically targeted language to sever cultural ties. This aligns with Ontario standards by highlighting the resilience of Indigenous communities in their revitalization efforts.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• NAC1O A2.1
• NAC1O A2.2

• 15–50 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Formal Debate
• 50 min · Whole Class

Formal Debate: The Impact of Language Laws

Students are assigned roles representing different stakeholders (community leaders, youth, government officials) to debate the necessity of official Indigenous language legislation in Ontario. They must use evidence regarding the link between language, mental health, and community well-being to support their arguments.

Why is language revitalization crucial for Indigenous communities?

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Decision-Making

Activity 02

• Inquiry Circle
• 40 min · Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: Language Revitalization Tech

In small groups, students explore modern tools like the FirstVoices app or Indigenous-led social media campaigns. They evaluate how these technologies are being used to bridge the gap between Elders and youth, then design a mock proposal for a school-based language awareness initiative.

How does language encode cultural knowledge?

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Activity 03

• Think-Pair-Share
• 15 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Verb-Based Thinking

Provide students with examples of Indigenous words that describe actions or relationships (e.g., 'to be a hill' rather than just 'hill'). Students reflect on how seeing the world as a series of actions changes their view of nature, discuss with a partner, and share one 'aha' moment with the class.

What impacts did colonial policies have on Indigenous languages?

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• Indigenous languages are 'dying out' and cannot be saved.

  Many languages are in a state of 'sleeping' or are being actively revitalized through immersion programs and technology. Active research into successful revitalization projects helps students see the agency and persistence of Indigenous communities rather than a narrative of disappearance.

• Language is just a tool for communication, not identity.

  Indigenous languages encode specific cultural knowledge and ways of being that are lost in translation. Using comparative language exercises allows students to see how different languages prioritize different values, such as community over the individual.

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Methods used in this brief

• Formal Debate
• Inquiry Circle
• Think-Pair-Share