Overview
In this LE, learners help to publicize Treaty Day to their school community through the creation of informational posters. The emphasis is on the “We Are All Treaty People” theme and the goal is to foster an environment where a greater number of learners (and others) are involved in the promotion and celebration of Treaty Day, regardless of whether individuals are present in Halifax.
Learners will...
- Become directly involved in promoting Treaty Day as treaty people.
- Understand that Treaty Day originates from the 1752-53 Treaty in which the British and the Mi’kmaq pledged to “renew their friendship every year upon the first of October” through gifts and ceremony.
- Understand that the modern incarnation of Treaty Day began in 1986 as a result of the 1985 Simon case that affirmed the 1752-53 Treaty. Before that, Treaty Denial kept Treaty Day from occurring.
- Engage their school community with their own ideas and creativity about Treaty Day.
- See themselves as part of the treaty relationship.
Focus
Learners can create three kinds of promotional materials that celebrate Treaty Day: a digital advertisement for social media, a larger-scale paper poster, and a celebratory event. The goal is for learners to design content as engaged treaty people that considers multiple audiences and media types. Guidelines for each promotional media type are provided in the supplementary materials. Learners can propose other kinds of promotional activity, but developing design guidelines based on audience and media type is recommended.
Using information from the Treaty Day website and other sources (see Additional Resources), learners will create their promotional materials following the provided guidelines. An example of a Treaty Day poster can be found on the next page.
Before the end of the activity, a round of constructive peer-advice is recommended to strengthen the creative process.
Educators can share/implement the promotional materials, or simply use them to generate discussion about how to engage as treaty people.
Every year, the Treaty Day committee, led by the Union of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq, works very hard to make sure Treaty Day runs smoothly. An overview of the day’s events is usually shared beforehand, both online, and in posters such as this one from 2023.
PE!
It is important that learners have a clear understanding of the following content:
- The Mi’kmaq as the indigenous people of Nova Scotia and the Atlantic region.
- Mi’kma’kik as the ancestral homeland of the Mi’kmaq.
- What the Peace and Friendship Treaties are. (LE T1, T4, T6)
- What the phrase “We Are All Treaty People” means for people of all ages today. (LE T12)
LE Materials
The materials below support this LE’s activities and knowledge growth. They are designed to be printed on both 8.5″x” and 11″x17″ paper.
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