Indigenous Knowledge and Forest Stewardship in Alberta

Consider the role of Indigenous Knowledge Systems in Alberta’s forests. How might the adoption of traditional practices, such as Traditional Fire Keeping, contribute to both ecological improvement and forest stewardship? Use reasoning and evidence to support your answer.

• Traditional practices like fire keeping can help restore natural cycles, reduce wildfire risks, and promote biodiversity, thereby improving ecological health and stewardship.

• Traditional practices are mainly ceremonial and have little impact on ecological systems.

• Adopting traditional practices leads to overexploitation of forest resources.

• Traditional fire keeping is only relevant for cultural preservation, not ecological improvement.

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NGSS.HS-LS2-6

NGSS.HS-LS2-7

Analyze the significance of the author’s reaction to discovering that “Saturday” is a verb in Potawatomi. What does this suggest about the differences in worldview between English and Potawatomi?

• It suggests that Potawatomi is less logical than English.

• It highlights that Potawatomi views time and events as actions or processes, rather than static nouns, reflecting a different worldview.

• It shows that Potawatomi borrows heavily from English grammar.

• It means that Potawatomi does not have words for days of the week.

How does the Potawatomi understanding of animacy differ from the typical Western or English-speaking perspective, according to the text?

• Potawatomi considers only animals and plants as animate, while English considers all objects animate.

• Potawatomi includes rocks, mountains, water, and fire as animate, while English typically limits animacy to living beings like animals and plants.

• Potawatomi and English both consider only humans as animate.

• Potawatomi considers only sacred objects as animate, while English considers all objects inanimate.

Evaluate the impact of language structure on moral inclusion, as discussed in the text. How does the lack of words for the simple existence of another living being in English affect our relationships with non-human life?

• It encourages people to treat non-human life with more respect.

• It has no impact on how people view non-human life.

• It limits moral inclusion and makes it harder to accommodate relationships with non-human beings.

• It makes people more likely to use scientific terminology.

How does the concept of a "grammar of animacy" potentially change our approach to the environment, according to the passage?

• It encourages a legal system that ignores other species.

• It leads to a world where humans dominate all other species.

• It fosters a democracy of species and moral responsibility to all beings.

• It makes language more difficult to learn.

What strategic reasoning does the author use to support teaching students to use animate language for nonhuman beings?

• It helps students memorize more scientific names.

• It encourages students to see the world as a community of subjects, not just objects, fostering compassion and responsibility.

• It makes grammar lessons more interesting.

• It is required by scientific standards.

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS2-7

Analyze the significance of the author’s morning ritual of greeting neighbors and nature in the context of language learning and cultural preservation.

• It is a meaningless routine with no cultural value

• It demonstrates the practical use of language in daily life and honors cultural traditions

• It is only about physical exercise

• It is a way to avoid learning new words

Based on the passage, what reasoning does the Cheyenne elder, Bill Tall Bull, provide for the importance of speaking the old language, even if not fluently?

• Only fluent speakers can communicate with nature

• Speaking the old language, even imperfectly, allows one to be heard by the land and its beings

• The old language is obsolete and should not be used

• Only elders should speak the old language

Analyze how the historical management and protection of the Eastern Slopes influenced Albertans' perception of these landscapes. What reasoning can you provide for why these areas became so significant in Alberta’s collective identity?

• The Eastern Slopes were set aside for settlement and urban development, making them central to Alberta’s economic growth.

• The Eastern Slopes were managed as protected “commons,” fostering a sense of stewardship and public value, which contributed to their significance in Alberta’s identity.

• The Eastern Slopes were primarily used for industrial-scale logging and mining, which made them important for Alberta’s industrial heritage.

• The Eastern Slopes were ignored by early policymakers, leading to their insignificance in Alberta’s culture.

Strategically assess why the author believes that land held in common strengthens Albertans' resolve to protect the Eastern Slopes against unsustainable exploitation.

• Collective ownership fosters a sense of shared responsibility and conviction, making it harder for individual or corporate interests to override public good.

• Land held in common leads to confusion and lack of responsibility.

• Individual ownership is more effective in protecting the land.

• The author believes that only government intervention can protect the land.

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NGSS.HS-ETS1-1