Reflection: Present Day Protests

In the spring of 2005 an animal rights group held a protest at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.  Students from Nunavut Sivaniksavut, a college program for Inuit youth, attended the protest.  In the photo provided, Jess Mike (left) and Jessica Pearce of Iqaluit confront an anti-seal hunt protester.  When they learned of the protest, they wanted to attend and show support of the seal hunt. 

In this reflection activity, students will learn about the reactions of northern Canadians to the most recent protest of the seal hunt.  Two articles from northern newspapers (NewsNorth and The Yellowknifer) will provide students with examples of how subsistence hunting methods are often misunderstood and considered synonymously with commercial hunting methods.

1.  Pair-Share:  Divide your class into pairs.  Hand each pair a copy of the two articles, ‘Nunavut wary of the anti-sealing campaign’ and ‘Lack of understanding’. Have one person read and complete the activity questions for their assigned article and then share what they’ve learned with their partner.

1. Show the picture of Jess Mike and Jessica Pearce at the anti-seal hunt protest in Ottawa and ask your class why these students felt so strongly about protecting the seal hunt.  Challenge your students to come up with their own clever slogan or sign that could be used in defense of the seal hunt and to explain how these decisions can affect entire economies in the Arctic.
2. Alternatively,  ask your students to write an essay defending either the Inuit protesters or the animal rights activists. 

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