Additional Viewing: 8th Fire Episode 3 - Whose Land is it Anyway?

Watch to better understand the importance of land to Indigenous Peoples and the struggles they endure as a result of agreements pertaining to its management.

“An evocative look at the role that land plays in the conflicted relationship with Aboriginal peoples and the rest of Canada.

“Land claims and treaties for Aboriginal peoples have been contentious and varied issues across the country. In many geographic areas, the land has vast earning potential. In some cases, others have accessed that earning potential before the local First Nations were able to do so. This episode helps students to understand some of the concerns about Aboriginal land use, and to see some ways that First Nations have achieved some economic prosperity through the use of their land. It also shows the bleakest possible picture of what can happen when an Aboriginal community – Attawapiskat – is not able to profit from its land. The main elements to focus on for this episode are: the benefits and drawbacks of compromise, making agreements in good faith, and a relationship with the land.

Please note: In this episode, there are images of violence and protest and very disturbing images of the living conditions in Attawapiskat. Students who have experienced loss may have difficulty hearing about the death of Shannon Koostachin, a young woman from Attawapiskat.”

• To watch Whose Land is it Anyway? click here.