Looking for an Indigenous governance lesson for Grades 3–6? This ready-to-use resource teaches students about First Nations governance, consensus, traditional leadership, band councils, self-government and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy through student-friendly readings and meaningful activities.
Students learn that Indigenous Nations had their own systems of governance long before Canada existed and that Indigenous governance continues today. They explore how governance varies from Nation to Nation, how some communities use consensus and hereditary leadership, how the Indian Act affected First Nations governance, and what self-government and self-determination mean today.
The resource also includes a Haudenosaunee Confederacy lesson introducing the Great Law of Peace, Clan Mothers and consensus decision-making. Students finish by researching how an Indigenous Nation or community connected to their own area is governed today.
What’s Included in This Indigenous Governance Lesson
♡ Complete teacher lesson plan
♡ Student-friendly Indigenous governance reading
♡ What Is Governance? learning page
♡ Traditional Indigenous governance
♡ Consensus decision-making
♡ Hereditary leadership
♡ Haudenosaunee Confederacy learning
♡ Great Law of Peace
♡ Clan Mothers and leadership
♡ Indian Act and band council learning
♡ Indigenous self-government and self-determination
♡ Indigenous governments today
♡ Governance and relationships with land
♡ Indigenous Governance Vocabulary activity
♡ Reaching Consensus group activity and reflection
♡ Haudenosaunee Confederacy activity
♡ Local Indigenous Nation governance research activity
First Nations Governance for Grades 3-6
This resource is designed to help students understand that there is no single Indigenous system of government. Different Nations have their own laws, leadership structures, traditions and ways of making decisions.
Students learn about broad governance concepts while also being reminded that Indigenous governance is Nation-specific. The local research activity encourages students to move beyond general learning and explore how an Indigenous Nation or community in their own area is governed.
BC Social Studies Curriculum Connections
This Indigenous governance lesson was created with the BC Social Studies curriculum at the forefront.
It supports Grade 3 learning about Indigenous governance and social organization, including consensus, confederacies, Elders, band councils and traditional leadership. It also connects with Grade 6 learning about different systems of government and Indigenous governance.
The resource can also support Ontario Grade 5 Social Studies learning about First Nations governance structures and Alberta Grade 6 learning about the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and consensus decision-making.
Indigenous Governance Activities Included
Students do more than simply read about governance.
They practise important vocabulary, work together through a consensus decision-making activity, learn about the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and research how an Indigenous Nation or community near them is governed today.
These activities help students understand that governance is connected to leadership, responsibility, relationships, land and community decision-making.
Use this Indigenous governance lesson during Social Studies, Canadian government, Indigenous education or citizenship learning for a ready-to-use way to introduce a complex topic with context and care.
