Challenge: Investigating the Event

Section 1 Challenge Assignment (____/20)

Investigating the Event

Choose one of the relationships featured in this section or research one that
interests you. You may choose a relationship involving an Indigenous group of Canada or from elsewhere in the world. Select a shared historical incident that has risen out of capitalist, industrialist, or imperialist world views: for example, Doctrine of Discovery of 1493; Royal Proclamation of 1763; Indian Act, 1876.

Summarize the main details of the event. 

Rewriting History

Rewrite a historical account of an event about imperialism or historical globalization from an alternative perspective.

Investigate the alternative perspectives. Analyze the historical world view in the
account of the event.

• What is the tone of the account? Are groups treated sympathetically? Are loaded words used?

• What are the omissions in the account? What group’s story is presented?

• Whose story seems to be ignored or dismissed?

In your Notebook, propose revisions that include an alternative perspective of the
experience. Use three criteria:

• The details are accurate. (Do not change details of events.)

• The account is entirely based on another group’s perspective.

• The account is a plausible interpretation of how people from this group might view the event.

In your Notebook, rewrite the account. Describe the relationship based on the perspective of an unrepresented group. Create a balanced account of the experience that integrates both versions (the mainstream and the unrepresented version) to create your fair-minded account of the event.

Apply criteria of a fair-minded account by asking the following question: What would a fair-minded account sound like? Indicators of fair-minded accounts include these criteria:

• uses descriptive, impartial language (Be mindful of the tone of language and omissions that might be expected in an account that is presently solely from one group’s perspective.)

• includes alternative perspectives

• includes expression of impacts of imperialism on Indigenous peoples that are not wholly negative or positive

• includes expression of recognition and fair treatment of conflicting perspectives

• includes positive or negative judgments that are also clearly sensitive to the opposing points of view

Create a presentation to share the event as a revised account. Select a format for the presentation of your revised account. It can be visual, audio, or a combination of both. For example, VoiceThreads is a tool that combines audio narration and static images.

Scoring Criteria: Rewriting History