ENGL 103 A26: Case Studies in Research: Treaty 6 and the Metis Homeland

 

C. Stewart

At the University of Alberta, it is increasingly common to hear an "acknowledgement of traditional territory" at public events and conferences. For example, as you attend various events in the first weeks of term, you might hear the speakers acknowledge that the University resides on "Treaty 6 territory and the traditional land of the Métis and First Nations." You may also find this acknowledgement in University websites and brochures and some Professors (like me) might make such an acknowledgement during the first class of the semester. For some students, especially those who are new to the university, the historic and contemporary significance of the territorial acknowledgement are not always clear. In order for us to gain a better understanding of where we are when we are here, our case study will be Treaty 6 and the Métis Homeland. By examining oral and written histories, we will research the significance and history of the territorial acknowledgement. What and where is Treaty 6? What Indigenous Nations reside here? What and where is the Métis Nation Homeland? As we conduct our research, we will learn about, and put into practice, the stages in a research process-from clarifying our research question, to finding and evaluating useful supplementary materials. We will also learn how to place our own findings in conversation with the knowledge we have learned from our research. Within the context of our case study, students will research a topic with an approach of their choosing.