A stylized Coast Salish graphic of a person paddling a canoe comes onto the screen and stops above an introductory paragraph about marine resources, specifically fish, found in the Victoria harbour area and our dependence upon them. Various tools and fishing related implements form part of the Royal British Columbia museum collection. Photographs of fishing technology exhibits from the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations at the turn of the 19th century are the starting point for these activities.
The fisher paddles in again to a photograph of a salmon hook used for trolling. There is a brief description of what they were made of as well as how they were used. The salmon fishing activity involves catching salmon with the hook by using your arrows to move it as animated salmon swim by. Once the time period is up, the viewer is told how many salmon they caught. Additional information as well as an archival photograph about salmon preparation, preservation, and nutrition is provided. Option to play again, continue, or exit.
The next activity is cod fishing using a fish lure or spinning shuttle-cock and a spear thrown from the canoe. A photograph of the lure is shown along with information about what they were made of and how they were used. Arrow keys are used to tilt the spear and the Space Bar is used to throw it. When the time is up, the viewer is told how many cod were caught, how cod were and are prepared, and its main nutritional makeup (i.e. protein). Option to play again, continue, or exit.
Continuing takes the viewer to a final page that briefly explains traditional and territorial fishing rights and privileges. It points out the controversy that exists as a result of differing notions and ideas about resource rights and ownership, particularly between native and non-native people.
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Province of British Columbia curriculum samples:
Grade 10 Social Studies
Environment: Canada from 1815 to 1914
Grade 11 Science and Technology
BC First Nations Studies
Land and Relationships II
Suggestions for Use
Use as a springboard for research into local fishing history. Find out about the people and way of life in your own community. If fishing was and is not a way of life, find out about what was and is (e.g., agriculture, hunting). Trace the changes in technology used. What has been the impact of these changes?
Interview Elders (of all cultures) about fishing from their own experience and from stories they might have heard or been told.
Research non-native fishing tools and implements at the turn of the 19th century.
Research other kinds of fishing (e.g., halibut, river fishing) and the technologies used in the early 1900's.
BC Ministry of Education suggested instructional strategies for BC First Nations studies(retrieved from http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/bcfns12/lar2.htm) .
Sample Lesson Plan - click HERE for PDF file