Darren barton emh 450 assessment 1

Darren Barton 11506936

Antlers grow on members of the deer family They are an extension of the animal’s skull They are true bone and are a single structure In most species, they only occur on males, except for

reindeer Misconception : The number of points on an antler

indicates the age of the animal Antler Casting occurs when a buck’s testosterone level

decreases A layer of cells develop that absorb calcium, causing the

bone to weaken and become grainy and chambered (Gross, Richard. J. Deer Antlers : Regeneration, Function, and Evolution.

Academic Press : 1983)

Smooth, weathered surface

Bone white with some grey hues

Antler points are sharp, but slightly rounded

All edges are smooth, they feel worn

Surface near skull is rough but still has a weathered feel

Surface near the skull feels grainy and chambered, almost if something had chewed on it

Surface near skull has feel of a rough tree bark Dense and weighs approximately 1 lb Core is exposed where it would touch the skull Core of the bone is dense and rough More discoloration occurs where antler would

have met the skull There is some discoloration on the points

Where did this antler come from?

What animal did this antler come from?

Who found this antler?

What season was this antler found in?

Was this antler found alone, or was there another one near or close by?

Do antlers have a use once they have fallen off the animal?

Are there any communities that have uses for antlers?

Do antlers have any cultural significance to any Canadian communities?

What kind of relationship did Canadians in the past have with the environment?

How do the physical features of a land influence the way the land is used?

What are some of the characteristics of the natural environment where this antler was found?

Are people, that live in the area where the antler was found, sustained by the environment?

Do any communities in Canada still rely on hunting deer as a food source?

Are deer populations at healthy levels in Ontario/Canada?

What are some common deer species found in Ontario/Canada?

Do First Nation communities still hunt deer as they did before?

Is hunting a key component of the Canadian Identity?

How did people in the past relate to the environment?

(Ontario Social Studies Curriculum. 2009. p. 86)

What can be learned from the ways in which First Nations lived in harmony with their environment?

How do physical features influence the ways in which land is used?

What impact do human activities and different land uses have on the environment?

What were the main differences between your day – to – day life and the life of someone living in Upper Canada in 1800?

How can we reduce our impacts on the environment?

How does the way land is used influence local communities and local jobs?

Do human activities and decisions about land use alter the environment?

What are some of the characteristics of the natural environment in regions of Ontario?

The Royal Ontario Museum My visit to the museum revealed some of the similarities and differences in

various aspects of everyday life of selected groups living in Canada. The museum also revealed many of the characteristics of the natural environment in Canada.

Visit to Native Reserve in Ontario A previous visit to a Native Reserve revealed some of the key components of

the First Nations Identity and allowed for insight into some of the previously practiced traditions that are still upheld today. I came to further understand the significance the First Nations relationship is to the environment from a more personal perspective.

Makuk: A New History of Aboriginal-White Relations

This online article reveals information about the history and environmental issues among the First Nations people of Canada. It reveals some of the relationships First Nations have with natural resource exploitation and the complex relationship many First Nations communities have with the environment today based on their traditions and way of life.

The Kids Book of Aboriginal Peoples in Canada This book reveals many of the traditional relationships that First Nations in

Canada have had with the environment. It gives both a traditional and cultural perspective on how these communities related to the environment, both physically and in a spiritual context.

Links to Social Studies Thinking Concepts and Citizenship

The item represents “cause and consequence” because it exemplifies how

the way a group interacts with the environment, directly has either positive or negative consequences. If we over-hunt, future generations will not be able to sustain themselves by using their own environment. The item represents “interrelationships” as it involves not only how First Nations communities have complex relationships with each other, but with the land and the animals that feed their communities.

Links to Social Studies Thinking Concepts and Citizenship

This item represents aspects of “citizenship” because it is our duty as a

citizen of this country to protect the rights of others to live off the land and protect the healthy relationships some groups in Canada have with the land. It examines the relationship of power some hold over land in Canada and the struggle for rights to use this land in a traditional and historical way. A relationship with the natural environment is not always seen as a right in Canada, but as a privilege by many groups. This is a conflict to other groups which seek to take power over land and ignore the duties to protect it.

Overall Expectations A.3. Identify some of the communities in Canada around the beginning of the nineteenth

century, and describe their relationships to the land and to each other.

Specific Expectations A3.1. Describe how some different communities in Canada related to each other and the

land during this period.

A3.5. Describe the impact of some different kinds of settlements on the environment.

A3.6. Describe how some different communities in Canada related to each other during this period.

These expectations relate to how communities in Canada have traditionally and culturally been tied to the land and the environment. They identify the importance that the land and environment have had for First Nations and for settlers and how this has created a complex interrelationship between the two sides. The Canadian relationship with the land is a historical and significant one.

Look Inside This book by Janice May Udry identifies the importance our land has on our

behaviour, culture, way of life. It connects to the item in that our land provides for us, and that there are different ways to appreciate and interact with the environment.

Flight of the Honey Bee This book by Raymond Huber identifies how the relationship between land

and animal and human is complex. It examines the interrelationships between nature and its natural order that can be altered by human interaction. This is a great connection to the item because it explains how many of these natural systems have long histories but can be altered quickly.

I have learned that people in the past had not only complex relationships with the environment, but these relationships were

not only physical ones, they were both spiritual and cultural. The relationships people had in the past with the

environment differed based on what group they were associated with, and what their primary reason was to have a

relationship with the natural environment. The settlers used the land to develop manufacturing and utilize the

environment for profit and personal gain, while the First Nations used the land to support their communities and

families through a spiritual relationship.

It appears that through this item, inquiry into the fundamental reasons why different groups in Canada use the land the way

they do, stems from the historical approach they originally took toward the land and environment. First Nations use

elements from the land to make art, clothes, shelter, and tools for spiritual ceremony. The settler uses the land more

often to push development in a progressive direction or to build tools for further development. When First Nations

extract from the land, it is gentle and forgiving. The historical nature of the settler is to extract with speed and develop a

quick sense of “power” over the land to achieve goals driven by production.

The symbol of a deer antler lying in the forest defines this complex relationship between how groups in Canada relate to the

environment. One would view it as a spiritual journey of an animal that could be used to feed and shelter a family.

Another would look at it as an obsticle in the way of development of a water or mineral resource. Our histories define

us, this is no different when it comes to the interrelationships Canadians have with the environment.

Huber, Raymond. The Flight of the Honey Bee. (2013). Massachusetts : Candlewick Press.

Lutz, John Sutton. Makuk : A New History of Aboriginal-White Relations. (2010). UBC Press.

Ontario Ministry of Education. (2009). The Ontario Curriculum Grades 1-8: Social Studies. Queens Printer for Ontario.

Silvey, Diane. The Kids Book of Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. (2005). Toronto: Kids Can Press Ltd.

Udry, Janice May. A Nice Tree. (1987). United States : Harper Collins Publishers.