Lesson 4: So You Wanna Be an Actor (Anna Lambe)
CREATE TO LEARN
Lesson 4: So You Wanna Be an Actor (Anna Lambe)
ACTIVATE: INDIGENOUS REPRESENTATION IN THE MEDIA HISTORICAL REVIEW
To begin this lesson, inform students that they are going to watch a series of tv and movie
clips (past and present) showing stereotypical portrayals of Indigenous people. These shows
were mainly created by non-Indigenous writers and in some cases even have non-Indigenous
actors playing the roles of Indigenous peoples. After each clip is shown, ask the class the
following questions:
1. Who do you think the target audience is? *Target audience refers to a particular group
at which a film or tv series is aimed. Example: Young Children
2. What stereotype of Indigenous people is being portrayed?
3. How could this stereotype affect the treatment of Indigenous people?
4. Is any other group negatively portrayed? How so?
5. What is your overall reaction to this clip?
Lesson Plan
CURRICULUM
CONNECTIONS
Alberta, Northwest Territories and Nunavut
• English Language Arts 10-1
• English Language Arts 20-1
• English Language Arts 30-1
British Columbia and Yukon
• Composition 10
• New Media 10
• Composition 11
• New Media 11
• Composition 12
• English Studies 12
• New Media 12
Ontario
• English Grade 10, Academic and Applied
• English. Grade 1, University and College Prep
• English, Grade 12 University and College Prep
DURATION
2-3 Hours
OVERVIEW
Throughout this lesson, students will learn about the evolving role of Indigenous people in
film and tv from stereotyped caricatures in movies and television produced by non-Indig-
enous people, to Indigenous-produced media today. Students will be exposed to various
examples of Indigenous stereotypes in movies and television throughout history while dis-
cussing the harmful effects of these stereotypes. Next, students will learn from Anna Lambe
while comparing media written, produced and acted by Indigenous people.
MATERIALS
• Computer and Projector to show the class video clips
• "Self-Assessment Rubric" Handout
• "Editorial Rubric" (optional)
CREATE TO LEARN
