Turtle Island Assignment; Colonization of Indigenous Territories

For People who do NOT identify as First Nations/Aboriginal/Indigenous to Turtle Island
Value: 25%

Objective:
The objective of this assignment is to examine the effects of both historical and contemporary colonization on Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island (North America) and explore the dynamics of immigrant and settler identities within a colonial state.
This assignment is associated with objectives #1, 2, and 4 from the course outline.

Resources to use for this assignment:
1. Film: My Name is Kahentiiosta (1995). Produced by: Alanis Obomsawin
a. Available online on the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) website – link: http://www3.nfb.ca/enclasse/doclens/visau/index.php?mode=theme&language=english&theme=30662&film=32864&excerpt=620221

2. Utilize the resources from the 8th Fire Documentaries Section of the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC).
a. Available link: http://www.cbc.ca/8thfire/

3. Utilize what you know of your own family’ journey.
4. Utilize resources available through Week 7 of the GRC course.

Directions:
1. Answer the following questions (Q& A format).
2. Provide a reference page of the resources you used.
3. See the answer guide (rubric) attached.

Questions: (5 points each)

1. What are effects of colonization on the Mohawk Nation and the people living in Kahnawake Territory? (Hint: discuss economic, culture, tradition, identity).
2. Where did your ancestral family originate?
3. When did your ancestral family come to Turtle Island? Did they move by choice or force? Is it hard to tell?
4. How was your ancestral family’s new life influenced by social location factors like class, gender, race and others.
5. How is your present family’s life influenced by social location factors like class, gender, race and others today?
6. How would you say that you and your family/ancestors have benefited from the colonization of First Nations people of Turtle Island?

Turtle Island Answer Guide/Rubric

Responses should include:
Question 1 Identifies and explains the effects of colonization on the cultural, economic, traditions, and identity of the Kahnawake Mohawk people.
Question 3 Identifies and explains:
family dynamic
politics/climate of home country
reasons for leaving/moving
identifies myths/untruths surrounding this move
Question 4 Identifies social locations/intersections
Provides examples of privilege and marginalization
clearly articulates the links around these issues and choice
identifies whether expectations were met or were changed based on reality and experience

Question 5 identifies social location/intersections
Provides examples of privilege and marginalization
clearly articulates links around these issues and “new life”
explains whether expectations may have changed based on reality and lived experience

Question 6 Able to identify ethno-cultural issues as well as one or more of these issues.
Land
Resources
Culture and traditions
Race and ethnicity
Economic and political influence
Personhood and identity issues
Land
Resources
Culture and traditions
Race and ethnicity
Stereotypes
Total 25