Lesson One

Worldview
Outcomes addressed:
Develop an understanding of Aboriginal worldviews

Instructions:
Answer the question below and follow along with the power point, while filling in your response where necessary.

Personal Response:
What do you think worldview is?
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Lecture Notes:
Worldview- First Nations and Western Worldviews

SLIDE NOTES/ RESPONSE


















(Lesson One Continued)








Instructions:
In your groups, solve the world view puzzle. Read the puzzle pieces and match them up under the appropriate column.
Once finished discuss as a class (you will receive a completed puzzle to put in your binder). Answer the questions below on
worldview.

Questions:
1) What did the First Nations society and the British society believe about the Creator (God) in the 1800s?





2) What was the main spiritual ethic of the First Nations soceity and the British society in the 1800s?





3) Where do the rules for behaviour come from in the main beliefs of governance for First Nations and the British in the 1800s?




(Lesson One Continued)

4) How were leaders chosen by First Nations societies in the 1800s?




5) How were leaders chosen in the British society in the 1800s?




6) What were the main differences between the economic beliefs of First Nations and the British in the 1800s?




Personal Connection and Reflection
Instructions:
Think about what your values and beliefs are and where you learned them from. Refer back to your notes from the follow page.
Narrow it down and focus on the custom and routines of the following four elements
Economy (survival)
Social structure (family, spiritual)
Government (power and authority)
Education
Look to my example below to get an idea of what to include in each space. Take the ideas you have just brainstormed and fill them
in on the sheet provided. You can also use the list of values provided. Try to come up with a minimum of five for each section.


















Economy
(Survival)
Education
Social Structure
(family, spiritual)
Government
(Power & Authority)
(Lesson One Continued)
My Worldview
















Reflection:
a) How your worldview is similar and different to your peers.



b) How does your worldview compare to First Nations and Western worldview?



Economy
(Survival)
Social Structure
(Family, spiritual)
Education
Government
(Power & Authority)
Lesson One Notes:

First Nations and Western Historical Worldviews
First Nations Worldview 1800s Western Worldview 1800s
Spiritual Spiritual
The Creator is the ultimate spiritual being and giver of all life God is the ultimate spiritual being and the giver of all life

The Creator placed First Nations people on Mother Earth to
pray so that they could communicate with the Creator
God is worshipped through prayer and religious ceremonies
Natural laws rule relationships The Church follows God given laws
Human beings are the most dependent of all creatures Human beings are the most dominant of all creatures
Attitude of respect and humility towards others and the
natural world
Attitude of dominance over nature
Essential ethic is respect Essential ethic is compassion
Spiritual ceremonies to celebrate (naming ceremonies,
marriage, feasts, the passing of people to the spiritual world)
Ceremonies and rituals to celebrate (religious services,
baptisms, marriage, funerals)
Political Political
The Creator is greater than all governments God is greater than all governments
Leaders were chosen for specific events and length of time
and they were chosen for specific talents, achievements and
character
The King/Queen are heads of state and are born into
leadership
Leadership required the approval of the group The King/Queen are elites in society and required no
approval from members of society
The Creator gave First Nations natural laws that addressed
how to live
Laws were passed by an election assembly
Laws were kept by oral tradition Laws were kept in writing
Good behaviour relies on duties and responsibilities Good behaviour relies on obeying laws
Decisions were made through a process of consensual
decision-making
Laws passed by an elected assembly
Members of society usually males participate in the
governing council
Members of an elite society usually elite males participate in
governing the state
Economic Economic
The Creator provides for all needs Individual effort provides for all needs
Sharing with the collective for the benefit of the group is
important
Capitalism, competition and ownership are important
Status comes from service to the community Status derives from wealth and the power it gives on
people
When the needs of all are taken care of there will be
harmony and security
Order in society provides the environment for the
individual to pursue wealth and gain security within
society