Grade by Grade
B. People and Environments · The Local Community

Places in Our Community and the Land We Live On

B3.2 B3About 35 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can name some different areas in my community and describe them.
  • I can use colours on a map to find different areas.
  • I can explain that my community is on the traditional territory of First Nations (and in some places Métis or Inuit) peoples.
  • I can find out, with a grown-up, whose traditional territory I live on.

Words to know

area
A part of a community, like a neighbourhood with homes, a shopping area or a park.
neighbourhood
The part of a community near your home.
traditional territory
Land that an Indigenous nation has lived on, used and cared for since long, long ago, and still does today.
treaty
An agreement. Many treaties were made between First Nations and the government about sharing and using the land.
land acknowledgement
Words said at the start of a school day or an event to recognize whose traditional territory we are on.

Different areas, different jobs

A community has different areas. Each area is used in a different way.

  • A neighbourhood with homes where people live.
  • A shopping area with stores, a bank and restaurants.
  • Parks and green spaces where people play and rest.
  • Farms where food is grown.
  • An area with factories or offices where people work.

Some communities are big cities with tall buildings, buses and subways. Some are small towns or rural places with farms and long roads. Some are First Nations communities. Every one is a community!

big citytall buildings, busessmall townhouses, a main streetrural areafarms, long roadsstorefields
Communities come in many sizes: a big city, a small town or a rural area with farms. Every one is a community!
Legendhomesstoresparkfarm fields
A map of the areas in a community. The legend tells what each colour or pattern means.

Colours on a map

On a map, different colours stand for different things. The legend (the box at the side) tells you what each colour means. Always check the legend first!

Worked example

Example: Let's read the area map

Use the map and the legend above. What is in the top-left part of the map? What is in the bottom-right?

  1. Look at the top-left box of the map. Notice its colour.
  2. Find the same colour in the legend. It says homes.
  3. Look at the bottom-right box. It has lines across it.
  4. Find the lines in the legend. They mean farm fields.

Top-left: homes. Bottom-right: farm fields. (Top-right is stores and bottom-left is a park.)

Just for fun

Riddle: What has cities but no houses, forests but no trees, and rivers but no water?

A map!

Whose land is this?

Long before there were cities, towns, roads or schools, First Nations peoples lived on the land that is now Ontario. In some places Métis and Inuit peoples have lived too. They knew the land very well: where the rivers flowed, where to fish and hunt, which plants were good to eat or to use as medicine. They took care of the land, and they still do today.

The land a nation has lived on and cared for since long ago is called its traditional territory. Every community in Ontario, including yours, is on the traditional territory of one or more Indigenous nations.

Many places are also part of treaties. A treaty is an agreement between First Nations and the government about the land. Treaties are promises, and promises are important to keep.

A calm lake surrounded by rocks and forest at sunrise.
Lakes, rivers and forests like these have been known and cared for by First Nations peoples for a very long time. AI-generated image

Land acknowledgements

At many schools and events, someone says a land acknowledgement at the start. It names whose traditional territory we are on, and thanks them for caring for the land. For example:

  • In Ottawa, many land acknowledgements name the Algonquin Anishinaabe people.
  • In Toronto, many land acknowledgements name the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples.

Different places have different nations, so you need to find out about your own community.

How to find outWhat to do
Ask at schoolMany schools say a land acknowledgement. Ask your teacher what yours says.
Your town or cityMany municipal websites have a land acknowledgement page.
A treaties mapThe Government of Ontario has a map of First Nations and treaties in Ontario. A grown-up can search for "Ontario First Nations and Treaties map".
Native Land mapThe Native Land Digital map (native-land.ca) lets you type in your town. It is a good starting point, but check with local nations or your school too.
Local nations and friendship centresLocal First Nations, Métis organizations and Indigenous Friendship Centres often share this on their websites.
Ways a grown-up can help you find whose traditional territory your community is on
Hands-on activity

My community area map and land words

You need: paper, crayons, and a grown-up to help you look things up.

Part 1: Area map. Draw a simple map of your neighbourhood. Use one colour for homes, another for stores, another for parks or green space, and blue for water. Make a legend box in the corner that shows what each colour means.

Part 2: Whose land? With a grown-up, use one of the ways in the table to find out whose traditional territory your community is on. Write the name of the nation (or nations) at the top of your map.

Talk about it: "How can we take care of this land, like the First Peoples have for a long time?"

Your turn

1

Name two different areas in a community.

2

Look at the area map. What is in the top-right part?

3

Look at the area map. What does the bottom-left colour mean?

4

What part of a map tells you what the colours mean?

5

What is a traditional territory?

6

True or false: Some communities in Ontario are not on anyone's traditional territory.

7

Whose traditional territory is your community on? (Find out with a grown-up.)

More practice: warm-up

1

Where do people live: a neighbourhood with homes or a factory?

2

Where are crops like corn and wheat grown: a farm or a mall?

3

What is a treaty?

4

On a map, do different colours stand for different things? Yes or no.

5

What do we call words said at the start of an event to recognize whose land we are on?

More practice: on your own

1

Describe the area around your home. Is it mostly homes, stores, farms or a mix?

2

How is a big city different from a farm community? Give two ways.

3

Why do you think First Nations peoples knew so much about the land?

4

Why do you think we say land acknowledgements?

5

On the area map, which area is below the stores?

Challenge

1

Your friend moved from Ottawa to Thunder Bay. Would the land acknowledgement at her new school name the same nation? How could she find out?

2

Why do you think every area on a map gets its own colour, instead of all the same colour?

3

A treaty is like a promise between two groups. Why is it important to keep promises?

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

What does the legend on a map tell you?

2.

On the area map, what does the colour in the top-left stand for?

3.

Where do farmers grow food?

4.

What is a traditional territory?

5.

Is every community in Ontario on the traditional territory of one or more Indigenous nations?

6.

What is a treaty?

7.

What is a good way to find out whose traditional territory you live on?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Communities have distinct areas (residential, commercial, parks, farmland, industrial) that can be shown on maps with colours and a legend. Every community in Ontario is on the traditional territory of one or more Indigenous nations, and many areas are covered by treaties.

Finding your territory (please do this with your child): ask your child's school what its land acknowledgement says; check your municipality's website; use the Government of Ontario's First Nations and Treaties map; or try the Native Land Digital map (native-land.ca) as a starting point. Native Land itself says its map is not an official or legal source, so where possible confirm with the local First Nation, Métis organization or Indigenous Friendship Centre. Some areas are the territory of several nations, and acknowledgements may name more than one.

How to help at home:

  • Look at a printed or online map of your town together and find homes, stores, parks and water.
  • Notice the land acknowledgement at school assemblies or community events, and talk about what it means.

Common difficulties:

  • Thinking First Nations lived here only in the past. Stress that First Nations, Métis and Inuit people live here today and still care for the land.
  • Reading a map without the legend. Always start with "What does the legend say?"