Unit 2: Indigenous and Norse Narratives

The Indigenous and Norse narratives contain the beliefs and values of many peoples and are important foundational stories for Canadians.  Identifying and understandings origins of our language(s) and culture(s) is an important part of our identities.  By comparing stories from Norse and Indigenous traditions, we have the opportunity to understand how different groups explain creation, laws of nature, and roles and responsibilities in the world.  The importance of oral tradition is highly emphasized in this unit.

Because the origins of the English language are rooted in Old English and are closely entwined with the Norse, Icelandic, Scandinavian, British Isles, and Germanic peoples, the Norse narratives provide an important understanding of our linguistic and cultural beginnings.