They need to know that First Nations people had their own sense of technology, and they used materials around them to create gadgets and devices that provided them with their basic needs. Also the students need to understand that First Nations people did not waste any part of their resources, that they used each part for something different. These lessons trace the historical significance of place names. One lesson looks at a primary source and develops two different perspectives from the work. This lesson is intended to demonstrate an awareness and appreciation for written as well as oral traditions.
Additional lessons explore geographical terms and the interplay of language and place names.
These lessons focus primarily on places and names within the Nanaimo area, but they can easily be adapted to other areas. These lessons look at the relationship that existed between the gold miners and the Aboriginal people they encountered. They were intended to be part of a unit on the Gold Rush for a grade five class. The class these lessons were prepared for were also studying the novel Cariboo Runaway , which goes along well with these lessons. The first lesson, Culture Clash , was created and looks at the similarities and differences between the two cultures.