Treaty 7 - day 1 the treaty nations

Trivia question: What was central to survival for any Indigenous persons living off the land?

a) Being able to make a fire
b) Being mobile to follow their food source
c) Being close to water
d) All of the above

Mindfulness Activity:

• Imagine that your pointer finger is a candle.
• Hold up your candle, take a deep breath in, then blow out the candle on your finger for as long as you can.
• Notice how your breath fills up your belly when you breathe in.

Supplies:

• Pretzels
• Grapes (cut in half)
• Cheese
• Any favourite snacks

Indigenous people traditionally use fire for all kinds of things. It could be to cook, to stay warm, to dry meats or for ceremonies.

Help your child build a pretend campfire out of snacks.

• Which snacks would help ignite the fire?
• Which snacks are the main wood source?
• How will you protect your fire from spreading to the rest of your camp?
• What types of things do you like to do at a campfire?

Supplies:

• Sidewalk chalk

The Seven Sacred Teachings, or "Seven Grandfathers", is a set of teachings about how to behave and treat one another and the world around us. In the Seven Sacred Teachings, the Eagle represents love.

Have your child use sidewalk chalk to draw an eagle and something that represents love to them. Share it with your family.

Elders in First Nations communities are greatly respected for their wisdom and life experience. Elders can help others deal with their problems in life. They bridge ancient traditions and beliefs of First Nations and the influences of today. Elders have many roles. They are teachers, philosophers, historians, healers, judges and counselors.

Have your child think about the people in their life.

• Collect photographs of people you think of as your elders. They don’t have to be old. They can be people who you respect for their wisdom and life experience. You can use pictures of grandparents and elders as children, young adults or as older people. If you can’t find photographs, draw pictures.
• Choose a place in your home to post the pictures. You can also post things that symbolize this person to you. For example, if the person plays card games with you, you can put a playing card next to their picture.
• Write a few sentences about each elder you have chosen. Post the descriptions below the pictures.

Source https://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/DAM/DAM-INTER-HQ/STAGING/texte-text/ach_lr_ks_clsrs_learningcircle_lc811_1316538072761_eng.pdf

Ask your child:

• How does it feel when you think about your Elders?
• Why do you think Elders are important?
• What is something you can do to show your own Elders that you appreciate them?

Answer: d) all of the above​​

Trivia question: True or False? In Canada, the word “Indigenous” is used to describe Inuit, Metis and First Nations people.

Mindfulness Activity:

• Put your palms together at chest height.
• Push them against each other as hard as you can.
• Which muscle gets tired first?

Supplies:

• Poster paper
• Markers/ Crayons/ Pencil Crayons

Treaties are agreements that define the rights, responsibilities and relationships between Indigenous groups and federal and provincial governments. Most of Southern Alberta is part of Treaty 7. The Nations of Treaty 7 are the Nations of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai), the Stoney Nakoda Nation, Tsuu T’ina Nation and The Metis Nation of Alberta Region 3.

Have your child practice saying hello in the languages of Treaty 7:

• Blackfoot: Oki! (pronounced "oh-kee")
• Stoney: Aba wathtech (learn about pronunciation)
• Michif: Tawnshi (pronounced "tawn-shay")
• Tsuut'ina: Danit’ada (pronounced "danidt-adah")

Have your child create a poster that includes each "Hi" word, pronunciation and language. Add images, colours and decorations.

Challenge your child to greet family members, neighbours or friends using the “Hi” word you learned today. The goal is to teach others about the language and the people that use it.

Learn more about the First Nations in Alberta.

Supplies:

• Slips of paper
• Small bag or cup
• Pen/Pencil

Play this game with someone in your house.

• Write the animal names below on slips of paper. Write them in Blackfoot and English.
• Fold the slips and put them in a bag or cup.
• Toss a coin to decide who goes first.
• Pull a word out of the bag and act it out without talking.
• When the other player guesses the animal, both players can practice saying the animal's name in Blackfoot.
• Then, it is the other player’s turn to choose a word and act it out.

Animal names in Blackfoot:

• a wa ka si (antelope)
• mi sins ki (badger)
• ki ya yo (bear)
• ii ni (buffalo)
• a sa yoh ko mi (bull)
• a pa ni (butterfly)
• oo nis tah si (calf)
• a poots kin a (cow)
• oo mah ko ka ta (gopher)
• po noo ko mi ta (horse)
• na ta yo (lynx)
• ii ma pi tsi (monkey)
• sii pis to (owl)
• ki to ki (prairie chicken)
• aa tsis ta (rabbit)
• a pi ka yi (skunk)
• mi kais si (squirrel)
• ma ko yi (wolf)

Supplies:

• 4 strands of embroidery thread of different colours. Each strand should be around 1 metre long.
• Tape

Indigenous people use weaving to make things like the traditional Metis sash.

• Help your child tie four strands of embroidery thread together at one end.
• Attach the knotted end to a table with tape.
• Lay the strands out flat, side by side.
• Make a knot with the first two strands (e.g. yellow and blue). Cross the yellow over the blue while gently pulling up the knot just enough to tighten it (don’t pull too tight).
• Repeat with the third strand (e.g. yellow and green) twice so there are two yellow knots on the third strand (green).
• Repeat with the fourth strand (e.g. yellow and red) twice.
• The first strand (yellow) should now be on the right end of the other three strands, and the second strand (blue) is the first one on the left. Repeat the steps with each of the strands in order (e.g. blue, then green, then red).
• Go through all the steps again until you get the length you want. For example, to make a bracelet 13 cm long, you will need to repeat all the steps four times. To make a wider bracelet, start with more strands of thread.

For more information on celebrating Indigenous peoples in Canada, check out this learning and activity guide.

*Photos by Calgary Neighbourhoods

Ask your child:

• How does it feel to speak a language that is new to you?
• What are some other things you would like to learn about Indigenous people?
• How can you encourage your friends to learn about Indigenous culture and the history of the land we live on?

Trivia answer: True​​​

Trivia Question: What invention lets you look right through a wall?

Mindfulness Activity:

• Sit down so you’re comfortable.
• Relax your forehead.
• Relax your jaw.
• Relax your neck.
• Relax your shoulders.
• Take a deep breath in and slowly let it out.

Supplies:

• Paper
• Pencil
• Markers, coloured pencils

Treaty 7 is one of the numbered treaties made between the Government of Canada and the Plains First Nations. The Treaty 7 boundaries cover Southern Alberta which extends through the city of Calgary. The Treaty was signed on 22 September 1877 by agreement between the five Blackfoot Confederacy Tribes.

Blackfoot Crossing is the Historic Site of the signing of Treaty No.7. It is a national Heritage Site and is recommended to be a World Heritage Site. Learn more about Blackfoot Crossing.

Read the creation story on Blackfoot Crossing's website.

Draw and colour four or more pictures to illustrate the creation story.

Supplies:

• Paper
• Pencil
• Markers

Search for and draw a map of Alberta. Outline the boundaries of Treaty 7. Hint, focus on the Southern Alberta area.

Mark on the map the major cities/towns and geographical features such as the Rocky Mountains and rivers.

If you need help, you can find a map of Treaty 7 on the Government of Canada's website. Explore the map of Southern Alberta to help you identify mountains, rivers and other geographical features of the land.

Supplies:

• 3-4 Sticks 6-8 inches long
• Rocks or bean bags
• String

This game was a favourite of Blackfoot boys who played it to improve throwing accuracy. This helped them be good hunters.

• Use a string to make a line across an open area.
• Put five sticks into the ground (one end sticking up) at different distances from the line. The closest stick is worth one point and the furthest away is worth five points.
• Stand behind the line and throw your rocks or bean bags at the sticks.
• If you hit a stick and "make it jump", you receive points. See if you can get to twenty points.

• What was something new you learned about Treaty 7 nations?
• What do you think Blackfoot youth did with their free time?
• What else can you do to learn about the history of the land where you live?

Answer: A window.