Welcome to Navigate Powered by NIDES Aboriginal Cultural IDS 10, 11 or 12!
Please note that the First Assignment is a requirement to be registered in the course.
Legal last name:
Other last name:
First name:
Middle name:
Student Email:
Parent or guardian email:
Cell Phone #:
Home phone#:
Other school attending:
The grade level IDS I wish to complete is:
(talk to your counselor)
Instructions: This assignment is intended to take approximately 5 - 10 hours to complete. It is
worth 15% of your final grade for the course, so complete it carefully:
1. Step 1 – find community resources
2. Step 2 – write a short essay on the topic “What My Culture Means to Me”
3. When you have completed this assignment, return it as an attachment to an email to:
registrar@sd71.bc.ca
Office Use Only
Date:
Part 1 Mentors and Resources
/50 (full marks awarded for completion)
Part 2 Essay
/50 (marked using the 6 point scale – see rubric)
Assignment total:
/100
Teacher feedback:
Part 1 – Find a mentor or mentors (one or more) and community resources
The first step to completing Aboriginal Cultural IDS is to find your mentor or mentors (more than one would
be great if possible) and determining which community resources you will be using. At least one of your
mentors must be knowledgeable in proper protocol for the culture related to the activities you will be
participating in.
Mentors may be:






elders
family members
family friends
teachers
artists
members of band councils
When approaching your mentor or mentors, they may have questions about the role and what will be
expected of them. The three main things that a mentor might do for you is verify that you have met the
goals of your learning contract by participating in the activities outlined, advise you on cultural protocols
when participating in activities, and sharing their own knowledge of their culture with you. The time
commitment will vary depending on the types of activities you and your mentor participate in. Page 4 & 5 of
this document have more information about Aboriginal mentoring that may be useful for your
mentor: Handbook for Aboriginal Mentoring, 2007.pdf
Community resources may include:



band offices
Friendship Centers
Schools
The first step to completing Aboriginal Cultural IDS First Assignment is to find your mentor or mentors (more
than one would be great if possible) and determining which community resources you will be using. At least
one of your mentors must be knowledgeable in proper protocol for the culture related to the activities you
will be participating in.
Mentors may be:
 elders
 family members
 family friends
 teachers
 artists
 members of band councils
When approaching your mentor or mentors, they may have questions about the role and what will be
expected of them. The three main things that a mentor might do for you is verify that you have met the
goals of your learning contract by participating in the activities outlined, advise you on cultural protocols
when participating in activities, and sharing their own knowledge of their culture with you. The time
commitment will vary depending on the types of activities you and your mentor participate in. Page 4 & 5 of
this document have more information about Aboriginal mentoring that may be useful for your
mentor: Handbook for Aboriginal Mentoring, 2007.pdf
Community resources may include:
 band offices
 Friendship Centers
 Schools
Reminder: At least one of your mentors must be knowledgeable in proper protocol for their culture related
to the activities you will be participating in.
Mentor # 1:
Name:
Email address:
Phone Number:
Role:
Mentor # 2:
Name:
Email address:
Phone Number:
Role:
Mentor # 3:
Name:
Email address:
Phone Number:
Role:
Community Resources:
Part 2 – the essay “What My Culture Means to Me”
This is a personal essay, the purpose of which is for your support teacher to get to know you and your
reasons for taking the course. It should include information about yourself including what Nation you are
from, what your connection to your Nation is (it may be you don’t have a strong connection and you are
taking this IDS to increase your connection – that’s ok!) and your reasons for choosing to take this course,
what you are hoping to get out of it, and anything else you want your support teacher to know. It should be
3-5 paragraphs in length. This is a marked activity, so use your best writing and include lots of detail. The
rubric below will be used to determine your mark.
INSERT ESSAY HERE
Rubric for Assessment of the Personal Essay
INTRODUCTION
Background/History
Thesis Statement
CONCLUSION
MAIN POINTS
Body Paragraphs
ORGANIZATION
Structure
Transitions
STYLE
Writer’s Voice,
3
2
1
0
Well-developed
Introduction creates Introduction
Background details are a
introduction engages interest. Sufficient adequately
random collection of
the reader and
background
explains the
information, unclear, or
creates interest.
information is
background, but not related to the topic.
Contains detailed
provided. Thesis
may lack
Thesis is vague or
background
clearly states the
detail. Thesis unclear.
information. Thesis position or belief.
states the
Conclusion does not
clearly states a
Conclusion
position or
summarize main points.
significant and
effectively
belief.
compelling position summarizes topics. Conclusion is
or belief.
recognizable
Conclusion
and ties up
effectively wraps up
almost all loose
and goes beyond
ends.
restating the thesis.
The main idea or a The main idea can
The main idea More than one of the
thesis statement is be identified. The
can be
following problems may
clearly defined.
writer shares
identified. The be evident: The main
There may be more relevant
writer shares
idea is not identifiable.
than one key point. information, facts
some
The writer shares some
Appropriate relevant and
information,
information, but it is
information and
experiences. There facts and
limited or unclear.
details are shared
is a clear distinction experiences, but Details are missing or
from a variety of
between general
may show
repetitious.
sources including
observations and
problems going
personal
specifics. Supporting from general
experiences,
details are relevant observations to
observations, and
and explain the main specifics.
prior knowledge.
idea.
Stronger support
Supporting details
and greater
are accurate,
attention to
relevant, and
details would
helpful in clarifying
strengthen this
the main idea(s).
paper.
Logical progression Logical progression Organization is No discernable
of ideas with a clear of ideas. Transitions clear.
organization. Transitions
structure that
are present equally Transitions are are not
enhances the
throughout essay.
present.
present. Connections
thesis. Transitions
between ideas seem
are mature and
confusing or incomplete.
graceful.
The paper is honest Writer's voice
Writer's voice
Writing is confusing,
and enthusiastic.
is consistent and
may emerge
hard to
The language is
strong. The writer is strongly on
follow. Language is
Audience
Awareness,
MECHANICS
Spelling,
punctuation,
capitalization
natural yet thought- aware of an
provoking. It brings audience. The
the topic to life. The reader is informed
reader feels a strong and remains
sense of interaction engaged. Sentences
with the writer and have varied
senses the person
structure.
behind the words.
Writing is smooth,
skillful, and
coherent. Sentences
are strong and
expressive with
varied structure
occasion, then
retreat behind
general, vague,
tentative, or
abstract
language. The
writer is aware
of an
audience. The
reader is
informed, but
must work at
remaining
engaged.
Sentence
structure shows
some variety.
Punctuation,
Punctuation,
A few errors in
spelling,
spelling,
punctuation,
capitalization are
capitalization are
spelling,
correct. No errors. generally correct,
capitalization.
with few errors. (1- (3-4)
2)
Introduction/Conclusion _______
Main Points _______
Organization _______
Style _______
Mechanics _______
vague. No audience
awareness. No variety in
sentence structure.
Distracting errors in
punctuation, spelling,
capitalization.
Grade Equivalent (15 points maximum):
A = 13 - 15 points
B = 10 - 12 points
C = 7 - 9 points
D = 4 - 6 points
F= 0-3
Total Points ______ = grade of ______
Essay from https://www.mesacc.edu/~paoih30491/RubricNameEssay.html