Social Studies, Grade 8

Culture is a learned, shared way of living — beliefs, norms, institutions, kinship, art, religion, education, and recreation.

First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities work to preserve and revitalize their languages, and language and education laws affect minority and Francophone communities.

People choose Canada for economic opportunity, family reunification, and escape from oppression, in patterns that have changed over time.

Canada's immigration policy has evolved, and multiculturalism brings both benefits and challenges.

The land appears in Canadian literature, songs, art, and sport, and shapes a sense of national identity.

The traditional Aboriginal concept of land as an animate source of life differs from the Western European notion of land as a resource to be owned.

Differing views of the land motivated the treaty relationship, which continues to shape Canadian identity.

Some aspects of treaties remain unfulfilled (such as education and health care), and the Treaty Land Entitlement process and land claims flow from treaty provisions — the treaties benefit all Canadians.

Canada's role in world conflicts and key events (Confederation, the national railroad, the Métis resistance, the health care system) shaped the Canadian identity.

Canadian citizenship has evolved over time and carries rights and responsibilities, protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The Indian Act has had major effects on people of Aboriginal ancestry, and citizenship processes differ for those born in Canada and those entering the country.

Groups make decisions using models such as majority-rule and consensus, each effective in different contexts.

Traditional First Nations, Inuit, and Métis governance uses consensus decision-making and its own ways of selecting leaders, which can be compared to the parliamentary system.

Laws and policies begin with a catalyst — an issue needing resolution — and evolve through a process to implementation.

A mixed market economy combines private and public enterprise, with roles for producers, consumers, and government.

Consumerism and advertising have social and environmental consequences for family, school, and community.

Where and what people buy — locally, fair-trade, or mass-produced — affects communities and the wider world.

Responsible consumerism means making informed choices about consumption.

Canadian policy on environmental issues has evolved over time, including historical First Nations approaches to stewardship.