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English 12

First Peoples

Image by Paisley Town Photography, 2006

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English 12 First Peoples

• Is the academic equivalent of English 12.

• Is open to ALL students.

• Invites students to engage with Aboriginal creative expression and enter the world of First Peoples provincially, nationally, and internationally.

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How does English 12 First Peoples fit into graduation requirements?

• English 12 First Peoples fulfils the graduation requirement for students to earn four credits for Grade 12 English. 

• Other courses that meet this requirement are English 12 and Communications 12.

• Students may earn credit for one, two, or all three of the Grade 12 English Language Arts courses. Any course beyond the first counts as an elective. Students may also take English Literature 12 for elective credit.

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English 12 First PeoplesFocuses on the experiences, values, beliefs, and lived realities of First Peoples in BC, in Canada, and around the world as evidenced in various forms of text – including oral story, speech, poetry, dramatic work, dance, song, film, and prose.

Speaker and dancer images used with permission from the Gitxsan Wet’suwet’en Education Society.

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• Develop an understanding of Oral Tradition.

• Look at connections between worldviews amongst many First Peoples, through text.

• Experience texts through First Peoples‘ methods of teaching and learning.

• Examine local First Nations perspectives, through text.

Students are given the opportunity to…

Speaker and dancer images used with permission from the Gitxsan Wet’suwet’en Education Society.

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Worldviews and Themes amongst many First Peoples

seasonal cycle (relationship to

seasons) place and relationship to the natural

world relationality (interdependence) &

connectedness language & world view holistic family (extended family) geneology & lineage spirit, relationship with spirit world,

& spirituality dreams & visions sacred secrets sustainability & continuity rites of passage citizenship & service vitality resilience, & healing well-being addiction identity (incl. biculturalism) history and colonization (impact of

Christianity, institutionalization)

politicization conflict & conflict resolution peace, war, harmony community and collectivity racism, stereotypes, negative

labelling romanticization humour respect responsibility protocol balance rights & justice learning (how to learn; roles of

teacher & learner); schooling vs. education

nurturing sharing & generosity culture, tradition, and ceremony performance (song, dance, etc.) transformation transitions (with loss, gain) diversity

technology (trad. tech, hi-tech) art & functional art collaboration and cooperation roles, inclusivity, & belonging competition decision making governance diverse social structures structure and hierarchy time and place home wisdom reflective listening reciprocity ownership anger, rage grief & loss self-reliance love, hate knowledges (oral, vision, spirit

world) tradition vs. modernity

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First Peoples‘ Methods of Teaching and Learning

Experiential learning. For example, having Experiential learning. For example, having students:students:

• internalize, memorize, & present oral textsinternalize, memorize, & present oral texts

• create their own oral textscreate their own oral texts

• engage directly with the local First Peoples engage directly with the local First Peoples community through field studies, interviews, and community through field studies, interviews, and the involvement of guest speakersthe involvement of guest speakers

First Peoples Principles of Learning

• supports the well-being of the self, the family, the community, the land, the spirits, and the ancestors

• is holistic, reflexive, reflective, experiential, and relational (focussed on connectedness, on reciprocal relationships, and a sense of place)

• involves recognizing the consequences of one’s actions

• involves generational roles and responsibilities

• recognizes the role of indigenous knowledge

• is embedded in memory, history, and story

• involves patience and time

• requires exploration of one’s identity

• involves recognizing that some knowledge is sacred and only shared with permission and/or in certain situations

Students are given the opportunity to

• Learn through active participation.

• Learn through various teaching methods.

• Learn in both individual and group settings.

English 12 First Peoples Texts• Novels and Biographies: Half Breed, Keeper ‘n Me, Monkey Beach

• Films: Hank Williams First Nation, Rabbit-Proof Fence, Smoke Signals, Whale Rider

• Plays: The Witch of Niagara, Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth, Smoke Signals

• Essays from The Truth About Stories

• Poems from Native Poetry in Canada: A Contemporary Anthology and An Anthology of Canadian Native Literature in English

• Short prose works from An Anthology of Canadian Native Literature in English

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Instruction and Assessment Units• Unit 1: Introduction to EFP12

• Unit 2: The Oral Tradition

• Unit 3: Storytelling

• Unit 4: Lost People

• Unit 5: Residential Schools

• Unit 6: From the Heart – Poetry

• Unit 7: Drama

• Unit 8: Research Essay

• Unit 9: Identity

• Unit 10: Humour

• Unit 11: Trickster

• Unit 12: Métis Literature

Post Secondary Institutes1. BCIT 13. UNBC

2. NVIT 14. TRU

3. SFU 15. Langara

4. North Island College 16. College of the Rockies

5. NWCC 17. UBC

6. Douglas College 18. VCC

7. Vancouver Island Univ. 19. Okanagan College

8. Capilano University 20. University of Fraser Valley

9. Kwantlen College 21. UVIC

10. Camosun College 22. Trinity Western

11. Justice Institute of BC 23. Northern Lights College

12. College of New Caledonia 24. UBC - O

Thomas King Audio Clip

• http://www.cbclearning.ca/CBCEDS/shopping/product.aspx?CatalogName=CBCEDSBase&CategoryName=native_aboriginal_studies_all_native_aboriginal_studies_titles&Product_ID=AUD159&Variant_ID=AUD159-030101

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Interested in TakingEnglish 12 First Peoples?

Select it on your course selection sheet!

Ask your school counselor for more information.

Take an English 12 First Peoples flyer home!