During the course of this unit, students should be reflecting on, and gaining an appreciation of, the following concepts:

Key Concepts:

• The foundation of the union of the Six Nations
• The concepts of peace and decision-making demonstrated by these people that students themselves can apply to their own approaches to political understandings
• Cultural appreciation for the Iroquois people

Essential Questions for the unit are:

• What does peace look like and how is it demonstrated by the Iroquois?  How is it demonstrated in our own lives and our current democracy?
• How does a democratic society make peace amidst warring parties?
• What aspects of the Iroquois Confederacy can we use in our own decision- and peace-making practices?
• How did the culture of the Iroquois people inform the structure of the confederacy?
• How did the culture of the Iroquois people inform the structure of their society?

Provincial Outcomes to be achieved in this unit:

General Outcome 6.2.4

Students will:

• demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the democratic principles exemplified by the Iroquois Confederacy
• appreciate the relationship between the values of a society and the model of government adopted within a society
• value the role of participation by citizens in diverse democratic societies
• analyze the structure and functions of the Iroquois Confederacy by exploring and reflecting upon the following questions and issues:
• How was the Iroquois Confederacy structured?
• What was the role and status of women within the Iroquois Confederacy?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of consensus as a decision-making model for government?
• How did the Six Nations use the consensus-building process?
• How did the Wampum Belt address collective identity?
• How did the social structure of the Iroquois Confederacy impact its political structure?
• To what extent did the decision-making process within the Iroquois Confederacy reflect democratic ideals of equity and fairness?