Digital Story to Reflect on Relationships with the Land
What is the Purpose of this Assignment?
The purpose of this assignment is for students to explore and reflect on their relationships (with themselves, others, and their environments) through meaningful engagement with the land.
What are the Assignment Requirements?
Indigenous Peoples are deeply connected to their natural environments; they are not separate from them but a part of them. For some of us, the fast pace of modern life has severed our connection to the land. This creates a sense of detachment from our surroundings that can make us forget how truly important the natural world really is.
“One of the best ways to reconnect is simply by spending time outdoors sitting in quiet awareness… A place to settle down, cultivate present-moment awareness and a quieter mind, and to observe the flow of reality occurring around you… (wildernessawareness.org)” It is instinctual for people to find a particular place in nature that they enjoy visiting over and over again – to some people, this is known as a “sit spot.”
For this assignment, students will establish their own “sit spot,” visit it throughout the semester, and ultimately reflect on their experience in the form of a digital story.
Digital storytelling combines the best of two worlds: the “technological world” of digitized video, photography and art, and the “traditional world” of Indigenous story sharing (examples found below under “Helpful Resources”).
In the context of this assignment, students’ digital stories should be made using a range of audio and visual elements, are required to be 4-6 minutes in length, and should include the following:
A meaningful self introduction (name, background, relationship with the land, etc.)
- Overview of chosen sit spot (i.e. “What makes this place significant to you?”), including which traditional/treaty territory it exists within
- Acknowledgement of the Indigenous group(s) native to the region
- Personal impressions about Indigenous Peoples’ role in protecting the land
- Reflections (i.e. students’ personal opinions, feelings, lingering questions, and course connections)
Students may use a “script”, however this, nor any other written component, is required for this assignment.
Students are encouraged to get creative and speak from the heart – be your authentic self!
Helpful Resources
- Digital Storytelling:
- Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/view_story.cfm?vid=480&otherid=featured&d_title=Featured%20Digital%20Stories
- Create a Digital Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVKeO5IIR_A
- Digital Storytelling with PowerPoint
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2MbBSc6930
- Sit Spots:
- How to do a Sit Spot
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o68hF8JdQV8
- The Sit Spot Initiative
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nje6cc0x6U
- Indigenous Peoples and Treaties:
- Whose Land
- Map of Ontario treaties and reserves
https://www.ontario.ca/page/map-ontario-treaties-and-reserves
- Treaties and Agreements
https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100028574/1529354437231#chp3
How do I Submit the Assignment?
Students will submit their assignment via DC Connect to a drop-box labelled Digital Story.
- There are a number of acceptable formats for which students can submit this assignment, including MP4s, PowerPoints, and YouTube links. Students are encouraged to contact their instructor if they experience challenges when submitting.