Resources
Treaty Workshops: Summer intensives for teachers now available
David’s knowledge and humour helped to make a lot of history fit together and make sense. The visuals and materials helped make his story come alive!
~ Paul C., high school educator, Brantford
Please note:
October, 2018 — David D Plain has retired from hosting Treaty Workshops. To learn more about the topics David covered in his sections of the workshops you can purchase his books here.
Monica Virtue is still available for bookings. Her modified workshops, called “Visualizing the Treaties,” use maps, counter-mapping, diagrams, photos and videos to help explain cession treaties and the Indian Act. You can inquire about booking Monica by using the contact form below.
Thank you! Miigwech!
Anishnaabe author David D Plain of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation and filmmaker/designer Monica Virtue of Woodstock, Ontario, are booking one-day, two-day and three-day summer intensives for Southern Ontario school boards looking to provide training about treaties. The workshops feature custom agendas that target both Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants, fusing traditional oral storytelling with interactive mapping, animations and videos. David and Monica discuss wampum treaties, cession treaties, and the various ways the treaties were broken. The workshops end with the topics of de-colonization and reconciliation.
David’s voice is predominant in the first half of the workshops as he discusses Indigenous spirituality, ceremonies and traditions before leading into canoe routes. While David tells the Anishnaabeg migration story, Monica maps his story in real-time using Google Earth. David then discusses the following struggles with other contending First Nations and colonial powers and the different wampum exchanged to end them, sharing physical items like a replica Two Row wampum and a calumet.
Two Row wampum.
Monica uses maps to explain colonization through the land agreements known as cession or “surrender” treaties. She then discusses the ways the Department of Indian Affairs broke the treaties, such as through Indian Act surrenders, the Oliver Act, and enfranchisement. Data visualization is used to explain complicated concepts like Aboriginal title and the structure of the Department of Indian Affairs. Equal weight is given to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous knowledge, with comparisons drawn between world views as told through the Anishnaabe and Western creation stories. Monica often refers back to David’s portion of the workshop to stress how archival research and traditional knowledge can dovetail and support each other.
Each workshop is modified to reflect the territory in which it is held. David addresses the specific wampum that were exchanged over that territory, while Monica speaks to the particular cession treaties, Indian Act surrenders, and other treaty-breaking that occurred within the region. Indigenous attendees from that territory are welcomed to share their knowledge to make sure their understandings dovetail with that of the presenters.
One-day, two-day and three-day training sessions are now being booked for the summer months. Please fill out the form below to inquire into which dates are still available.
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Request an estimate
To request a custom-tailored agenda for your region and target audience, along with an estimate for an appropriate length of workshop, please fill out the form below. We will respond within 5 to 7 business days.
Thank you. Miigwech.