First Nations (Aboriginal Peoples) share a number of concerns in their struggles to preserve their culture, language, and economic well being. The inherent right to self-government and claims to land are at the heart of aboriginal peoples' wish to find a secure place in the world. National governments have enacted laws and policies that have at times protected and at other times destroyed indigenous cultural institutions.

You will be assigned a debate position and a country to research the circumstances and issues of Aboriginal people in one of three countries. Use what you have learned to debate whether First Nation peoples should have special privileges and separate legal rights from non-aboriginal peoples. To prepare for the debate, you will research different issues of Aboriginal people.

Look at the photograph below. You might recognize this famous landmark, Ayers Rock (Uuluru). Answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper.

Ayers Rock (Uluru), a sacred site for the Aborigines. Photo by Jennifer Macklin.

• Why might this site in Australia be sacred to the Aboriginal people there?
• What conflicts may arise given that Uluru is a major tourist destination?
• Why might it matter which name is given to this landmark?

Use the World Cultures Today articles listed below to research the challenges facing the Aboriginal peoples and the governments of Australia, Canada, or Taiwan. As you read, keep your assigned topics and point of view in mind. Remember that your arguments need to be based on specific facts from your readings.

Use the 2-Column Chart to organize your information. Label your columns with the headings Special Rights and Assimilation. Use row headings such as Land Claims, Legal Status, Self-government, Unemployment, and Health.

Meet with the other country groups on your side of the debate to share your findings and write an opening statement. Choose a spokesperson to give an opening statement that presents the main ideas of your group's point of view. Each group will have 5 minutes to respond to opening statements. Each member of the group must participate in the response portion of the debate. Choose another spokesperson to summarize your group's arguments in a closing statement.

Your teacher will use these questions to assess your performance:

• Did you organize your information clearly and systematically?
• Did you present arguments to support your opinions?
• Did you provide facts and examples to support your arguments?
• Did you actively participate in your group’s oral presentation and rebuttals?