My PowerPoint:

Curricular Competency Reflection

a. How did reading a First Peoples text help you understand Canada’s past, present, and future? Reading Indian Horse helped me understand how residential schools caused deep harm to Indigenous people and their communities. It shows how the pain from the past still affects people today. Learning this helped me see why it’s important to listen to Indigenous voices and work toward reconciliation. Understanding this history is key to building a better future for everyone in Canada.

b. What did you learn about the culture in the novel? You can think about history, traditions, geography, or society. In Indian Horse, I learned about the importance of nature, family, and storytelling in Indigenous culture. Saul’s connection to the land and his people’s traditions showed how their way of life was closely tied to the land and community. I also saw how these cultural ties were broken by residential schools, which tried to erase their language and identity. The novel helped me understand how strong and meaningful Indigenous culture is, even after so much pain.

c. Why does it matter that Indigenous authors tell their own stories? Why is it important to read books from different cultures? It matters that Indigenous authors tell their own stories because they share real experiences and truths that outsiders might not understand or represent properly. When Indigenous people write their own stories, like in Indian Horse, it gives us a more honest and powerful view of their history, culture, and struggles. Reading books from different cultures helps us learn about the world in a deeper way, build empathy, and break down stereotypes. It’s an important step toward respect and reconciliation.

d. Who would enjoy or benefit from reading this novel? Why? People who want to understand the impact of residential schools and Indigenous history would benefit from reading Indian Horse. It’s a powerful story that teaches about truth, healing, and the importance of reconciliation.

Core Competency Reflection

I have valuable ideas to share about… and do so by…: I have valuable ideas to share about social justice and Indigenous history, especially after reading books like Indian Horse. I do so by speaking up in class discussions, asking thoughtful questions, and connecting what we learn to real-world issues. I try to bring in different perspectives and make sure everyone feels included in the conversation. I also like to express my ideas through writing, where I can explain my thoughts in more detail and support them with evidence from the text.

In discussions and conversations, I help to build and extend understanding by helping to build and extend understanding by listening carefully, asking questions, and sharing my ideas in a respectful way in my discussions and conversations. I try to connect what others say to what I’ve learned so we can all understand the topic better.