Roots of Reconciliation
Foundations
Treaties
Renewal and Reconciliation

T4: The Ratification: A Readers’ Theatre

Overview

This essential Learning Experience is a reader’s theatre of the 1726 ratification of the 1725-28 Treaty. The hilarious, detailed, and illuminating script authored by Melody Martin-Googoo, highlights the key moments of the ratification and conveys a wealth of information on the context, decision- making, and events of 18th century Mi’kma’kik. The text is based on historical fact and includes notes and comments on the actual ratification.

Learners will...

  • Understand the primary events of the 1726 ratification of the 1725–28 Treaty, the first in the Covenant Chain.
  • Understand that protecting netukulimk was the priority for Mi’kmaw leadership in the 18th century.
  • See Mi’kmaw cultural values and decision-making reflected in the character roles.
  • Understand that the British and the Mi’kmaq wanted the treaty to create peace and stability across Mi’kma’kik.
  • Understand that the ratification took several years, one saqmaw at a time. No one Saqmaw or other leader spoke for the Nation as a whole, which is still true today.

Focus

The script contains further notes about delivery of this LE. 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 to simply read from the text. As noted in the script, if educators want to involve more learners in the activity, they can consider the following:

  • Add learner-written commercials influenced by the theme of Mi’kma’kik in 1726. For example, homemade mosquito repellent, finely made parchment paper, authentic feather quill pen, etc.
  • Have more than one cast and have casts take turns presenting their 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)

PE!

It is important that learners engaging in this Learning Experience 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.
  • Understand the concepts of netukulimk and msɨt no’kmaq. (See LE F4)
  • What a treaty is. (See LE T1)
  • Key pillars of Mi’kmaw governance. (See Leadership introduction, LE F12, F13)

LE Materials

COMING SOON!

Additional Resources

See the introductions to the What is a Treaty? and Treaty-Making sections, as well as the general introduction to the resource.