Anishinabek Nation launches interactive tool
The Anishinabek Nation, which represents thousands of Indigenous people in Ontario, is unveiling a new interactive online treaty education resource called 'Ezhi-nawending: How We Are Related.'
It's geared towards elementary students and new learners to help facilitate education on First Nations history, treaties and Indigenous rights.
"Understanding treaty is important. The whole online platform stemmed out of the whole COVID issue and children are spending more time online more than ever," said Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe.
When you start the program, you’ll meet an avatar named Alex, who will tell you more about the topics you will learn more about as you continue through the tour.
"There are seven avatars that walk you through a treaty journey," said treaty educator Kelly Crawford, who helped develop the online tool. "There’s different stops and a turtle map. You go to each area and learn about the importance of connections to land."
The tool is made up of 80 animations and videos, as well as trivia and games. Development began last summer to get it up and running.
"People can tell you what city they’re from, what province they’re from. But they can’t tell you what traditional territory they’re from or what treaty area they’re in. And I think it’s important to educate people on this," said Crawford.
The program builds on an existing elementary teaching kit called 'We Are All Treaty People.' That kit included an 800-piece LEGO replica of the Treaty of Niagara Wampum Belt.
"It’s an excellent resource for school and parents who want to teach their children a little more about treaty," said Niganobe.
It’s hoped teachers will implement the tool in schools across the Anishinabek Nation so more students will learn about history and gain a better understanding of the difficulties First Nations people have faced.
A link to the tool can be found here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.