Lesson 5.2: Sharing Indigenous Wisdom - Being Good Ancestors
Year 8 Social Studies: How Systems Shape Our Lives
Lesson Activities
1. Indigenous System Presentations (35 mins)
Groups present their decolonized systems as though addressing their community. Focus on how their system honors whakapapa, protects whenua, and serves collective wellbeing. Audience provides feedback using indigenous values: "How does this serve the next seven generations?"
2. Learning from Each Other (15 mins)
Groups reflect on feedback and discuss which indigenous principles they want to integrate into their own thinking about leadership and civic participation.
3. Commitment to Decolonization (15 mins)
Students write personal commitments: "As tangata whenua/tangata tiriti, how will I work toward decolonized systems in my lifetime?" Connect to being good ancestors for future generations.
4. Closing Whakatōhea (10 mins)
Form a circle. Students share one word that represents their key learning about indigenous governance. Close with karakia to honor the learning journey and acknowledge ongoing responsibilities.