Chapter 1 Videos with Critical Thinking Exercises

Regions of Canada

Video 1: Institute on Governance. Episode 6 - First Nations governance project phase I [video]. Ottawa, ON: First Nations Financial Management Board; 2018 Oct.

Link     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeKQTw-f2HE. 

Length 5 minutes 29 seconds

Short Description

  • This video explains the Indian Act, governance and advancement of a nation-to-nation relationship based on meaningful Indigenous-Crown engagement principles. The video emphasizes that a transition away from the Indian Act must be grounded in the self-determination principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples. It is also informed by an understanding of the history of the Indigenous-Crown relationship from contact to the Royal Proclamation of 1763, treaty making, and past repair attempts aimed, such as the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Critical Thinking Questions

  1.  In Canada, the advancement of a nation-to-nation relationship based on meaningful Indigenous-Crown engagement principles is important. Why?
  2. What are key aspects of transitioning from the Indian Act in Canada?

 

Video 2: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Wexit: How the West was Lost [video]. Toronto, ON: CBC/Radio-Canada; 2020 Feb.

Link     https://curio.ca/en/video/wexit-how-the-west-was-lost-23614/

                This link requires registration. The Curio service is free to most Canadian university attendees.

Length 16 minutes 28 seconds

Short Description

  • This video captures elements of the centralist/decentralist faultine through calls for western separation, coined "Wexit”. A third of Albertans now think they would be better off outside of Canada. The unrest is largely due to lack of progress on building pipelines to get Alberta's oil and gas to market, and after years of economic downturn they are not happy with the subsidy they have to pay to the rest of Canada in equalization payments. Residents say their needs are being ignored by Ottawa. They spoke with their votes in the last federal election, shutting out the Liberals. Now the minority Liberal government is faced with this growing uprising. The province’s premier, Jason Kenney, seems to be leading Alberta towards more autonomy, however his popularity has diminished in the wake of COVID-19 and President Biden’s announcement upon taking office of the cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline.

Critical Thinking Questions

  1. Explain how “Wexit” relates to the centralist/decentralist faultline.
  1. Alberta will be a “have-not” province for the first time in 55 years in 2020. What is the likelihood that Alberta will continue its push for more autonomy?
  1. Will there be status quo in the geopolitical environment or movement toward a whole new landscape for Canada? Discuss.

 

Video 3: Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - The National. What’s behind the violent dispute over a N.S. lobster fishery [video]. Halifax, NS: CBC/Radio-Canada; 2020 Oct 19.

Link       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7ExjtErblo.

Length 6 minutes 53 seconds

Short Description

  • This video supports the textbook essay Question 2 in Chapter 1: “Faultlines play a critical role by focusing our attention on key social issues troubling this country.” Some issues at the centre of a violent dispute over a First Nation lobster fishery in Nova Scotia date back to a decision about treaty rights made 20 years ago. CBC National anchor Andrew Chang speaks with Sipekne’katik First Nation Chief Mike Sack and Colin Sproul, who heads the Bay of Fundy Inshore Fishermen's Association.

For additional audio-visual support on this topic, refer to this Chapter 11 video selection:

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation News (host Michael Serapio). Lobster wars: Nova Scotia’s fishery dispute [video]. Toronto, ON: CBC/Radio-Canada (Curio); 2020 Dec. Available from: https://curio.ca/en/video/lobster-wars-nova-scotias-fishery-dispute-25687/ (Registration required).

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