1. Worldview and Perspectives on Sustainability
Environmental Science 20

2. What are our roles and responsibilities in looking after the earth?

3. Ranking activity
Rank the following in order of importance: insects, plants, sun, people, animals, planet
Remove Plants – How is the planet affected by this change?
Remove Sun – How is the planet affected by this change?
Remove People – How is the planet affected by this change?

4. Living and Non-living things
What are the characteristics of living things?
Movement
Respond to Stimuli
Need for energy
Excretion
Made of cells
Metabolism
Growth and development
Need for water
Produce organic compounds
Reproduce
Adaptation

5. Living and non-living things
Biotic – all living things or things that were once living Abiotic – all non-living things

6. Which factors are biotic and which factors are abiotic?

7. “Keeping First Language Important to Culture” by Ken Noskiye
Ken Noskiye Article
“Keeping First Language Important to Culture” by Ken Noskiye

8. Animate vs. inanimate things
English
Cree
Scientific Classification
Cree Classification
Man
Napew
Biotic
animate
Tree
Mitos
Wind
Utin
Abiotic
Sun
Pisim
Water
Nipi
Drum
Tewehikan
Rock
Asiny
Fire
Skotew
Pipe
Ospwakan
Bead
mikis
inanimate

9. Worldview
Worldview – A comprehensive view or philosophy of life, the world, and the universe. It is the view of life that shapes how people interact and respond to the world around them; it influences, shapes and interprets what people experience and provides them with a sense of vision for the future.

10. “We have a beautiful tradition and a holistic view of the universe that makes us who we are. In our circle, we need the old and the young, the old to teach and the young to keep the tradition alive. Nothing really dies out in a circle, things might get old and wear away but they renew again, generation after generation. That is what the circle is all about.” - Elder Dr. Danny Musqua

11. The 6 Levels of Life
Creator
Earth
Spirits
Plants
Animals
Man
Some First nations believe that the Creator has created six levels of life so there is a balance in life. The Creator is present in all the levels and people are taught to revere all living things because they are intertwined and make up life as one whole existence. The six levels are:

12. Create a T-Chart to compare the First Nations worldview with the British (Western) worldview of the 1800s.
You may want to consider these things: land, plants, animals, money, family, people, faith/religion
Answer the following questions:
If we share the Western perspective, how would we view and treat the world’s resources?
If we share the First Nations and Metis perspective, how would we treat the world’s resources?
How would the 6 levels of life pyramid be different if we only considered the British (Western) worldview?

13. Elder Stuart Prosper
The Cree people have a holistic view of the world.
They see everything on the Earth that has life as being full of energy and spirit.
It is understood that everything in nature is connected to a living energy called the cycle of life.
The Cree language classifies nouns as either animate or inanimate.
Animate nouns usually refer to living things like birds and other animals. Stones, rocks and celestial bodies are also in this category.
The non-living items that are classified as animate are often important to the cultural beliefs of the Cree people.

14. “We didn’t inherit the earth from our parents
“We didn’t inherit the earth from our parents. We are borrowing it from our children.” -Chief Seattle

15. Perspectives on the environment
You will now be looking at the environment from a number of different perspectives:
First Nations and Metis Ways of Being
We respect and honour our Mother Earth. We give thanks for the gifts she gives us. We take only what we need and will use.
Ecologist
We must respect nature. We must leave an area as good as, or better than we found it.
Utilitarian
As human beings, everything placed on earth is ours to use as we wish, and for any purpose that we wish. We do not need to apologize or answer to anyone.
Conservationist
It is important for us to know what the world looked like before we used it as we wanted to. We will develop certain areas that are untouched so that those who come after us can see what it used to look like. As long as we do this, we can use the other parts

16. Perspectives on the Environment Activity
Get into groups of 4
Assign a different perspective to each group member (First Nations and Metis, Ecologist, Utilitarian, and Conservationist)
Explain, through the lens of your assigned perspective, what the pictures represent to you.
How would each of the 4 perspectives respond to the following:
A garbage dump?
Wind turbines?
Nuclear energy?
An inner city area?

17. Individual Performance Task
A big oil company from Holland wants to drill for oil on land in your community. Consider the issues through the lens of one of the four perspectives. You will then write a one page report for the big oil company that will help them understand the background issues. Make sure that you make your position clear, either in support of this drilling project or not.
An area close to your community has lost its water source due to the river drying up. Residents need to find a new water source quite urgently. One proposal that has been suggested is to build a canal to move water from the local recreational lake to the sub- division. Because of geography, this new canal will have to cross a Ducks Unlimited marsh. Consider the issues through the lens of one of the four perspectives. You will then write a one page position statement that explains your stance on this proposal. (Note: An explanation of the goals of Ducks Unlimited may be necessary –
SEE RUBRIC FOR EVALUATION CRITERIA