About This Resource
This awareness-level lesson introduces learners to Anishinaabe Aki, the ancestral homelands of the Anishinaabek people which spans the Great Lakes region across the U.S. and Canada and where Anishinaabek communities exist and thrive in diverse settings.
Student Organization
Whole class, Pairs
Activity Setting
Classroom Setting
Time Required
45-60 Minutes
Learners will…
- Be able to describe how Anishinaabek connect to the land (Aki) through seasonal activities.
- Reflect on their own connection to a special place in their lives and represent it across the seasons.
- Compare personal and cultural ways of connecting to place, building empathy and awareness.
Essential Questions
- How do the Anishinaabek show their relationship with Aki (the land) through the seasons?
- What can we learn about our own connection to place by understanding the Anishinaabe view of land as a living relative?
Lesson Plan Materials
- PowerPoint slides: Anishinaabe Land (Awareness Level)
- Worksheet: Seasonal Connections (divided into four sections for spring, summer, fall, and winter)
- Map: Anishinaabe Aki (print or digital version)
- Crayons, colored pencils, or markers