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F5: Tata and Saln: A Reader’s Theatre

Overview

Emphasizing the skills of observation, and conveying Mi’kmaw knowledge and relationships to the land, this Learning Experience engages learners to observe seasons and cycles through Mi’kmaw perspectives. “Tata and Saln,” a readers’ theatre written by Melody Martin-Googoo, demonstrates that Mi’kmaq understand themselves to exist within the natural world, rather than outside it looking in. Learners are asked to think carefully about what it means to see themselves this way.

Learners will...

Understand that the Mi’kmaw worldview places humans within the natural world, rather than outside it.
Understand that relationships of respect and honour are what ties msɨt no’kmaq together in spirit.
Be introduced to a Mi’kmaw approach to science: observing, memorizing and comparing.
See the natural world as a place that contains stories, knowledge, and memories.
Explore how significant seasonal cycles and natural events are to the Mi’kmaq.
Understand that ceremony and practice are part of what keep relationships strong and in balance.

Focus

This reader’s theatre explores an important Mi’kmaw worldview by demonstrating how it is learned through the eyes of a young boy learning from his grandfather.

Further suggestions on how to set up this LE can be found in the script. Roles are assigned to individual learners, with some roles requiring more or less content as noted in the text (to accommodate various reading levels). Educators can choose to include props or simply to read from the text.

If learners find the text challenging, the following strategies could be employed:

Have more than one cast and ask the casts to take turns presenting their own versions.
Read several scripts in small groups then choose one to perform for the class.
Split the narrator roles into more than one person (e.g., first half and second half).

Printable Learning
Experience (pdf)