Activity 1

Family Encounter

Objectives

To become familiar with:

• the different forms of government in early 18th century Canada and how they affected individual Canadians;
• the way in which any form of government directly and indirectly affects daily life; and
• daily life in early 18th century Canada through various media, including on-line museums.

Directions

1. Divide the group into families representing French-speaking, English-speaking or Aboriginal (e.g. Iroquois, Mi'kmaq, Huron) cultures.
2. Have the families use research from library resources, local museums and the Internet to complete the Family Encounter activity sheet at the end of the page.
3. With this information, script a meeting between the three different cultures in which they discuss what they think of their lives, particularly in terms of their treatment by their respective rulers and governments. Encourage creativity in terms of where they choose to set their scenes, the personalities of their characters and their concerns, and the use of humour and historical detail. For example, each member of the group might be assigned a role in the family—mother, father, teenage son in the military, or daughter about to be married. They might have all three families meeting at a border, a trading post, a wedding, or on board a ship on the St. Lawrence River.

Suggested Sources:

Canadian Encyclopedia Online

Canadian Museum of Civilization

Virtual Museum of Canada

Useful search terms (library/encyclopedia/Internet) for:

All families, Canadian History sources:
(Colonial) Government; Family; Social History; 18th century life; fur trade; imperialism;

French-speaking Family:
New France; Quebec or New Brunswick; history; habitants; fur trade;

English-speaking Family:
British North America; Nova Scotia (or other colony); history; settlers, fur trade; and

Aboriginal Family:
First Nations; Native People; Indian Treaties; name of First Nation, e.g. Iroquois, Mi'kmaq, Huron.

Name:

Your family's cultural background:

Family members: (e.g. father, mother, etc.)

What is your family's primary occupation?

What is your profession, if any (e.g. priesthood, law)?

Note if any of your family members are also engaged in the following activities, full-time or part-time: (e.g.: father hunts during winter; family runs a small farm)
farming:
hunting:
trading:
fishing:
school:

In your community/area, who makes the laws?

To whom do you pay taxes?

How freely can you express opinions about your government (especially negative opinions)?

Are there religious/language/cultural rights or restrictions in your community?

Are there restrictions on who can own land? A business?

Where might you encounter families from other backgrounds?

Prepare answers for the following questions that you might be asked at this encounter: Overall, how hard is it for your family to survive?

Who helps you in times of starvation or illness?

How are you governed? What are the layers of government between you and the highest level of authority?

Would you have any chance of getting into a position of power? Why or why not?

Does your government tax you? How (e.g. taxes on imported goods like sugar or manufactured goods; property tax; income tax)?

If you have a problem—such as being overtaxed, drafted into military service or involved in a property or business dispute—to whom do you go for help?

If they don't help, or you don't like the decision they made, what can you do?

Do you think either of the other families has a better kind of government than you? Why or why not? (Complete this after your encounter with them.)

Suggested Sources:

Canadian Encyclopedia Online Canadian Museum of Civilization Virtual Museum of Canada

Useful search terms (library/encyclopedia/Internet) for:

All families, Canadian History sources: (Colonial) Government; Family; Social History; 18th century life; fur trade; imperialism

French-speaking Family: New France; Quebec or New Brunswick; history; habitants; fur trade

English-speaking Family: British North America; Nova Scotia (or other colony); history; settlers, fur trade

Aboriginal Family: First Nations; Native People; Indian Treaties; name of First Nation, e.g. Iroquois, Mi'kmaq, Huron

Other Resources I used (Web sites, books, CD-ROMs, etc.)