Every school board and each community will have unique protocols to gain the support of local Indigenous knowledge and expertise. To start, educators are encouraged to contact their school board’s Indigenous education instructors, board leads, co-ordinators, support workers, and counsellors who may be able to facilitate the proper protocol and suitable local contacts for your classroom and community. When selecting Indigenous resources for the classroom, educators are responsible for ensuring the resources are culturally relevant, authentic, and are from reputable sources.
If you have additional resources that may be useful, please consider sharing them with DWF so we can make them accessible for other educators. Resources can be sent to legacyschools@downiewenjack.ca.
Digital Toolkit for Legacy Schools
English:
2021-2022 Calendar: Turtle Moons
Native American people look at Turtle’s back as a sort of calendar, with its pattern of 13 large scales standing for 13 moons in each year.
Docs for Schools “Spirit to Soar” Tanya Talaga & Michelle Derosier
Docs For Schools is pleased to partner with Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund Secret Path Week.
DWF YouTube Channel
View DWF webinars, DWF LIVE sessions with Artist Ambassadors, Indigenous History Month events and more.
Exploring By The Seat of Your Pants – Secret Path Week LIVE classroom series
Check out our virtual Indigenous and non-Indigenous guest speakers.
NFB Postcard
From the National Film Board of Canada – Alanis Obomsawin, a member of the Abenaki Nation, is one of Canada’s most distinguished documentary filmmakers. As a prolific director with the National Film Board of Canada, she has created an extensive body of work focusing on the lives and concerns of Canada’s Indigenous communities.
ReconciliACTION Guidebook
A deep dive into the lives of Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack as their families share their experiences and provide a guidebook to aid our collective reconciliation journey through awareness, education, and action.
Walk for Wenjack Poster
Walk for Wenjack is a grassroots event that started in 2016, providing Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples throughout Canada with the opportunity to participate in Secret Path Week and complete a reconciliACTION.
What does reconciliACTION mean to you?
ReconciliACTIONS are meaningful actions that move reconciliation forward. Gords call to “Do Something” to raise further awareness, to do something that improves the lives of Indigenous People, to do something that improves the relationship between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous People.
Français:
Calendrier 2020-2021 : Lunes des tortues
Les Amérindiens considèrent le dos de la tortue comme une sorte de calendrier, avec son motif de 13 grandes écailles représentant 13 lunes chaque année.
Carte postale NFB
De l’Office national du film du Canada – Alanis Obomsawin, membre de la nation abénakise, est l’une des réalisatrices de documentaires les plus distinguées du Canada. En tant que réalisatrice prolifique à l’Office national du film du Canada, elle a créé un vaste corpus d’œuvres axé sur la vie et les préoccupations des communautés autochtones du Canada.
Chaîne Youtube de DWF
Découvrez nos conférenciers virtuels autochtones et non autochtones.
Enquête | SQ Abuse, Women Break the Silence
Malgré la confirmation de la tenue d’une commission d’enquête nationale sur les femmes autochtones assassinées ou disparues, des organisations demandent toujours une enquête publique québécoise. Des voix réclament que la lumière soit faite sur la crise qui a secoué Val-d’Or récemment à la suite de la diffusion d’un reportage de l’Émission Enquête.
Guide sur les réconciliations du programme des écoles patrimoniales
Une plongée profonde dans la vie de Gord Downie et Chanie Wenjack alors que leurs familles partagent leurs expériences et fournissent un guide pour aider notre voyage de réconciliation collective par la sensibilisation, l’éducation et l’action.
La reconciliaction commence avec vous
Les ReconciliACTIONS sont des actions significatives qui font avancer la réconciliation. Gords appelle à « faire quelque chose » pour sensibiliser davantage, à faire quelque chose qui améliore la vie des peuples autochtones, à faire quelque chose qui améliore les relations entre les peuples autochtones et non autochtones.
Marche Pour Wenjack affiche
Marchez pour Wenjack est un événement populaire qui a débuté en 2016, offrant aux peuples autochtones et non autochtones de tout le Canada la possibilité de participer à la Semaine du chemin secret et de terminer une réconciliation.
Residential Schools & Sept 30 - National Truth and Reconciliation Day Resources
100 Years of Loss Teaching Guide
One hundred years is an arbitrary number with respect to the history of the residential school system in Canada. More accurately, over 100 years of cultural and spiritual loss have been experienced by successive generations of Indigenous peoples as a consequence of residential schools—without action, these losses will continue to affect generations to come in addition to the estimated 80,000 Survivors alive today.
A Guide to Indigenous land acknowledgment
Native Governance Center co-hosted an Indigenous land acknowledgment event with the Lower Phalen Creek Project on Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2019 (October 14). The event featured the following talented panelists: Dr. Kate Beane (Flandreau Santee Dakota and Muskogee Creek), Mary Lyons (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe), Rose Whipple (Isanti Dakota and Ho-Chunk), Rhiana Yazzie (Diné), and Cantemaza (Neil) McKay (Spirit Lake Dakota). We’ve created this handy guide to Indigenous land acknowledgment based on our panelists’ responses.
A National Day for Truth and Reconciliation with DWF
In anticipation of the newly established federal day of reflection, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, many people in Canada have been wondering what this day means. DWF President and CEO, Sarah Midanik, will be hosting a discussion to explore this new day of reflection, the significance of September 30, what this means for reconciliation in Canada, and how we can participate meaningfully.
Cecilia Jeffrey Residential School
The Presbyterian Church of Canada archives page about Cecilia Jeffrey Residential School.
Deepening Our Knowledge
A list of resources from the Ontario Institute for Educational studies.
Dying for an Education: Little Charlie
Podcast highlighting Ian Adam’s article The Lonely Death of Charlie Wenjack and Pearls quest. This was the podcast Mike Downie heard and shared the article to Gord. He wasn’t the first residential school runaway, and he wouldn’t be the last. Chanie (Charlie) Wenjack died after fleeing the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School near Kenora, Ontario, trying to make it to his home on the Marten Falls First Nation 600 kilometres away. When his story was chronicled by Ian Adams in Maclean’s magazine, ordinary Canadians got one of their first glimpses at the horrors of the residential school system. Close to 50 years after Chanie’s death, the CBC’s Jody Porter revisits his story.
Elementary & Primary Legacy Schools Sharing Circle Presentation by Sarah Mazzei
Legacy Schools in Action: One classrooms journey with the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Funds Legacy Schools program. Other resources shared by Sarah include the worksheet for Four Part Story Wheel, Chanie Wenjack’s Journey Mapping Assignment, and Secret Path – Colour, Symbol, Image Worksheet.
Every Child Deserves to Feel Loved… teaching young children about residential schools by Colleen Devlin
After DWF’s first virtual sharing circle, Colleen was kind enough to share her article with us so we could share it with other early primary teachers. It was originally shared within her school district along with a mini workshop to give primary teachers enough knowledge and courage to teach this important topic to their students. Colleen is happy to share her article further as she said, “the more educators feel comfortable teaching this topic, the more our kids learn.”
Facing our Histories: Killing the Indian in the Child
Learn about the goal of assimilation held by many in colonial Canada and its influence on the creation of the Indian Residential Schools system.
First Peoples Principals of Learning Poster
Learning ultimately supports the well-being of the self, the family, the community, the land, the spirits, and the ancestors. Learning is holistic, reflexive, reflective, experiential, and relational (focused on connectedness, on reciprocal relationships, and a sense of place).
Indigenous Resources Faculty of Education University of Regina
List of non-fiction, memoir, autobiography, biography, true stories, fiction, youth and children’s books, poetry, plays, video, ROVER, Resource Links.
Legacy of Hope
The Legacy of Hope Foundation (LHF) is a national, Indigenous-led charitable organization that has existed for 20 years. The LHF’s goal is to educate and raise awareness about the history and long-lasting inter-generational impacts of the Residential School System, Sixties Scoop, Day School and other means of cultural oppression against Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit) Survivors, their descendants, and their communities.
Legacy Schools Examples in Reconciliation in Sudbury District Catholic School by Shannon Agowissa
Presentation developed for the Sudbury Catholic District School Board with some amazing inspiring reconciliACTION ideas!
Marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Join the Prairie Federal Council and the Canada School of Public Service for an event on the lived experiences of residential school survivors and their communities. The guest speakers will share their thoughts and insights on what those experiences mean for Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada as we continue the journey of truth and reconciliation.
Memory Keeper By Dawn Cheryl Hill
Memory Keeper is a collection of stories that offers anecdotes and stories, however comedic or horrific, from the author’s life, living on the Six Nations Reservation.
Metis Museum
Metis experiences of residential schools by Gabriel Dumont Institute.
Mohawk Institute Residential School Virtual Tours by the Woodland Cultural Centre
Save the Evidence is a campaign to raise awareness and support for the restoration of the former Mohawk Institute Residential School, and to develop the building into an Interpreted Historic Site and Educational Resource. As a site of conscience, the final goal is to create a fully-realized Interpretive Centre that will be the destination for information about the history of Residential Schools in Canada, the experiences of Survivors of the schools, and the impact that the Residential School system has had on our communities.
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation NCTR
The NCTR is a place of learning and dialogue where the truths of the residential school experience will be honoured and kept safe for future generations. The NCTR was created as part of the mandate of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC).
National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day) (Sep 30)
List of Resources for learning and teaching about Truth and Reconciliation Day and Orange Shirt Day in Canada
Project of Heart
Project of Heart” is an inquiry based, hands-on, collaborative, inter-generational, artistic journey of seeking truth about the history of Indigenous people in Canada. Its purpose is to examine the history and legacy of residential schools in Canada and to seek the truth about that history, leading to the acknowledgement of the extent of loss to former students, their families and communities.
Project of Heart – Illuminating the hidden history of Residential Schools in BC
This resource is a visual journey to support classroom teachers, post-secondary and adult educators to understand and learn about the hidden history of Indian Residential Schools.
Reconciliation & Education TedTalk with Starleigh Grass
Lessons to remember before thinking about, talking about and teaching about residential schools and reconciliation. #MyReocniliaction #ReadtheTRCReport
Reconciliaction: A Starting Point
The Reconciliation: A Starting Point mobile app is a reference tool for learning about First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples, including key historical events and examples of reconciliation initiatives. Users will learn why reconciliation matters and what public servants need to know and do to advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
Reconciliation Hall and Saugeen Senior School
Watch the dedication of “Reconciliation Hall” at Saugeen District Senior School
Reconciliation Canada
Born from the vision of Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, Gwawaenuk Elder, Reconciliation Canada is leading the way in engaging Canadians in dialogue and transformative experiences that revitalize the relationships among Indigenous peoples and all Canadians. Our model for reconciliation engages people in open and honest conversation to understand our diverse histories and experiences. We actively engage in multi-faith and multi-cultural communities to explore the meaning of reconciliation. Together, we are charting a New Way Forward.
“Residential Schools” (Podcast), Historica Canada
“Residential Schools” is a three-part podcast series created by Historica Canada and hosted by Shaneen Robinson-Desjarlais. It aims to commemorate the history and legacy of residential schools, and honour the stories of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Survivors, their families, and communities.
Residential Schools and Reconciliation
The residential schools and reconciliation Teacher Resource Guides for grades 5, 10 and 11/12 were developed by the First Nations Education Steering Committee and the First Nations Schools Association. They are our response to the call by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada for education bodies to develop age-appropriate educational materials about Indian residential schools.
Residential Schools in Canada, Education Guide by Historica Canada
An extremely eye-opening overview of Residential Schools with a timeline of events leading up to their creation and some interactive activities such as watching a video about Chanie Wenjack to inspire discussion on his journey and the evil he ran away from when he escaped Residential School.
Shattering the Silence: The Hidden History of Indian Residential Schools in Saskatchewan Project of Heart eBOOK – Commissioned author Shuana Niessen, published by Faculty of Education, University of Regina
This outstanding website supports the teacher resource ebook Shattering the Silence: The Hidden History of Indian Residential Schools in Saskatchewan developed to prepare teachers to learn about and teach about the legacy of residential schools and reconciliation. It contains a wealth of resources for adults, youth, children and students, links to professional development, curricular connections and inquiry starters. Although focused on Saskatchewan, resources and understandings presented are universal.
Starting to Talk: A Guide for Communities on Healing and Reconciliation from the Legacy of Indian Residential Schools by The Sioux Lookout Community Coalition for Healing and Reconciliation c/o the Sioux Lookout Anti-Racism Committee
A Guide for Communities on Healing and Reconciliation from the Legacy of Indian Residential Schools
They Came for the Children by The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
Report created by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Issued also in French under the title “Ils sont venus pour les enfants”.
Truth and Reconciliaction TedTalk by Kevin Lamoureux
Lamoureux is committed to reconciliation and contributing to an even better Canada for all children to grow up in. Kevin is the Associate Vice-President Of Indigenous Affairs at the University of Winnipeg.
Where are the Children? – Legacy of Hope Foundation
The resilience of Indigenous people is evident in their efforts to address the effects of unresolved trauma, thereby conferring upon future generations a renewed legacy of peace, strength, and well-being. Learn more on this interactive website.
“Why our kids need to learn about residential schools”, Today’s Parent
This article shares how to talk about Canada’s cultural genocide and residential schools with kids today, as well as the effective ways teachers are finding to do so.
Ressources en Francais
Déclaration des Nations Unies sur les droits des peuples autochtones
Les autochtones, peuples et individus, sont libres et égaux à tous les autres et ont le droit de ne faire l’ob- jet, dans l’exercice de leurs droits, d’aucune forme de discrimination fondée, en particulier, sur leur origine ou leur identité autochtones. Les peuples autochtones ont le droit à l’autodétermi- nation.
DWF Live avec Alanis Obomsawin
Écoutez Alanis Obomsawin raconte son histoire.
Guide de l’enseignant : Chaque enfant compte : la réconciliation passe par l’éducation par le Centre national pour la vérité et la réconciliation
Guide de l’enseignant pour Journée du chandail orange.
Guide pedagogique Les pensionnats indiens au Canada : Histoire et heritage
Un aperçu étonnant des pensionnats indiens avec une chronologie des événements menant à leur création.
Guide sur les réconciliations du programme des écoles patrimoniales
Une plongée profonde dans la vie de Gord Downie et Chanie Wenjack alors que leurs familles partagent leurs expériences et fournissent un guide pour aider notre voyage de réconciliation collective par la sensibilisation, l’éducation et l’action.
La reconciliaction commence avec vous
Les ReconciliACTIONS sont des actions significatives qui font avancer la réconciliation. Gords appelle à « faire quelque chose » pour sensibiliser davantage, à faire quelque chose qui améliore la vie des peuples autochtones, à faire quelque chose qui améliore les relations entre les peuples autochtones et non autochtones.
L’Encyclopédie Canadienne : Loi sur les Indiens
Un aperçu de la Loi sur les Indiens et de son histoire au Canada.
Plans de cours pour le Sentir Secret
Enseignez sur le Sentir Secret avec cette ressource.
PROTOCOLES ET CHEMINS CINÉMATOGRAPHIQUES
Un guide de production médiatique pour la collaboration avec les communautés, cultures, concepts et histoires des peuples des Premières nations, Métis, et Inuit.
Première Nation Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk
Ce projet a été développé à partir d’une idée simple : reconnecter les membres de la communauté Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk avec leur langue.
Vies volées: Les Peuples Autochtones au Canada et le régime des pensionnats
Découvrez les pensionnats autochtones et leurs effets à long terme sur les Peuples Autochtones au Canada.
Secret Path Resources
Ahead by a Century Doc
A group of Ontario high school students write and perform a play that honours Gord Downie’s music and Secret Path project. On the day of the dress rehearsal, drama teacher Scott Garbe invites a very special guest to watch scenes from the play. Tim “Redfeather” Thomas, a 74-year-old Mi’kmaq elder, talks about his own experiences in residential school with the cast.
Ahead by a Century Script
Scott Garbe shares their school play so other schools can share Chanie’s story through art with their students. At least five other schools have used an adaptation of the play in their school productions.
Chanie’s Life Journey (Map) ArcGIS Online for Manitoba Schools
This Story Map chronicles the life of Chanie Wenjack and engages us in the ongoing conversation about truth and reconciliation.
Cecilia Jeffrey Residential School
The Presbyterian Church of Canada archives page about Cecilia Jeffrey Residential School.
Dying for an Education: Little Charlie
Podcast highlighting Ian Adam’s article The Lonely Death of Charlie Wenjack and Pearls quest. This was the podcast Mike Downie heard and shared the article to Gord. He wasn’t the first residential school runaway, and he wouldn’t be the last. Chanie (Charlie) Wenjack died after fleeing the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School near Kenora, Ontario, trying to make it to his home on the Marten Falls First Nation 600 kilometres away. When his story was chronicled by Ian Adams in Maclean’s magazine, ordinary Canadians got one of their first glimpses at the horrors of the residential school system. Close to 50 years after Chanie’s death, the CBC’s Jody Porter revisits his story.
Gord Downie’s Secret Path in Concert CBC Radio Canada (Only accessible to curio.ca users)
This intimate concert film captures Canadian musician Gord Downie’s remarkable and emotional Secret Path performance in October 2016, interwoven with footage from the original animated film. This live tribute to Chanie Wenjack, an Anishinaabe boy who died trying to escape residential school, brought together more than 30 members of the Wenjack family, who joined the musicians on stage.
Indigenous Languages and Secret Path Educator Resources by Learning Bird
This free resource kit was created by Learning Bird to share with teachers across Canada. This kit is designed to facilitate independent research, communication, empathy and literacy skills while learning about Indigenous languages and revitalization projects both in their area and worldwide.
Resources for Secret Path Week by Learning Bird (2019)
This resource kit, entitled “Storytelling and the Secret Path”, helps teachers show how we can use different types of storytelling to express ourselves and honour stories like that of Chanie Wenjack.
Storytelling and Secret Path Learning Bird Educator Kit and Guide Learning Bird (www.learningbird.com)
Learning Bird partners with schools and Nations to help them share their stories and integrate language and culture into their classrooms to improve educational outcomes for all students. This resource kit (geared towards Grade 7) positions Gord Downie’s Secret Path multimedia project as an opportunity to explore how different forms of storytelling can be used to express ourselves and honour stories like those of Chanie Wenjack.
Secret Path Website
“Chanie haunts me. His story is Canada’s story. This is about Canada. We are not the country we thought we were. History will be re-written. We are all accountable, but this begins in the late 1800s and goes to 1996. “White” Canada knew – on somebody’s purpose – nothing about this. We weren’t taught it; it was hardly ever mentioned.” – Gord Downie
Secret Path (A Graphic Novel) by Gord Downie and Jeff Lemire, Simon and Schuster Canada
Graphic novel that tells the story of Chanie “Charlie” Wenjack, a twelve-year-old boy who died running away from the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School. Secret Path acknowledges a dark part of Canada’s history and the long-suppressed mistreatment of Indigenous children and families by the residential school system with the hope of starting our country on a road to reconciliation.
The Secret Path: Jr. High Lesson Plans from Edmonton Public Schools
These five lesson plans are meant to help teachers explore the Secret Path book and video with students in grades 7 to 9. Each lesson plan has a corresponding PowerPoint with an embedded video.
Secret Path Lesson Plans Manitoba Teachers’ Society (French & Eng)
Includes lesson plans for early years, middle years and senior years.
Secret Path Lesson Plans & Artwork by Mitch Champagne & Trent University (Grades 4-8)
Educator Mitch Champagne took the opportunity not only as a fan of Gord’s music, but also as someone who is deeply rooted in social justice and community outreach, to work with his intermediate students in Peterborough to develop art, inspired by Lemire’s work.
The Secret Path (Documentary) CBC
The Secret Path is an animated film from Gord Downie that tells the true story of Chanie Wenjack, a 12-year-old boy who died while trying to escape from a residential school and travel back home.
“The Lonely Death of Chanie Wenjack” Written By Ian Adams, MacLean’s Magazine, 1967
In 1967, a Maclean’s cover story told the tragic tale of Chanie Wenjack, an Indigenous boy who died after running away from his residential school in northern Ontario. Gord Downie has explained that this story inspired him to write Secret Path and so begun the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund.
The Secret Path: Jr. High Lesson Plans through Edmonton Public Schools
The five lesson plans included in this series are meant to help teachers explore the Secret Path book and video with students in grades 7 to 9. Each lesson plan has a corresponding PowerPoint with embedded video.
Understanding The Secret Path
Hosted by Tanya Talaga, “Understanding the Secret Path” explores Gord Downie’s journey that led to the creation of Secret Path and the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund. It also explores the upcoming Secret Path Live concert, held Oct. 19, 2019, as well as DWF’s current program.
Unpacking the Legacy Schools Toolkit
Harriet Visitor joins educators from various parts of Canada to share how they use Secret Path and the Legacy Schools Toolkits in their classrooms.
To Walk In Chanie Wenjack’s Shoes by Andrea Eby (Grades 6-7)
A reflective look at inquiry in the classroom through an empathic lens.
Treaties
AFN Toolkit – Treaties Lesson
This Plain Talk discusses the kinds of agreements that were made between the colonial powers (mainly English and French) and First Nations, and presents a brief overview of the challenges, realities, and disappointments.
Guide to Acknowledging First Peoples & Traditional Territory
The following document offers the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) recommended territorial acknowledgement for institutions where our members work, organized by province.
Land and Treaties: Indigenous Orientation Toolkit for Newcomers to Canada (Winnipeg)
This workshop introduces newcomers to Canada to the foundational history of Indigenous Nations and their historical and contemporary contributions to the country’s development. This exploration is centred around First Nations’ and Métis Nation perspectives on land and Treaties.
Robinson Huron Treaty (Ontario)
Treaty Essential Learnings: We Are All Treaty People
A reference guide to understanding the foundational aspects of the “Teaching Treaties in the Classroom” program from the Office of the Treaty commissioner.
Treaty Timeline
Saskatchewan has a Treaty history that has led us to the Treaty relationship we have today. The OTC Treaty Timeline is a great way to learn more about that history.
Understanding Our Treaties
Embark on a journey to learn about treaties, where each series will deepen your knowledge and introduce you to people involved in treaty work. Along your journey, pause to create reflections and share your stories. For an immersive learning experience, participate in a Treaty Negotiation and Implementation Simulation. Find more treaty learning resources in collections curated to your interests.
‘We Are All Treaty Peoples’ Grades 1 to 8
Written by Maurice Switzer, with coloured drawings by Charley Hebert, the 34-page illustrated history produced by the Union of Ontario Indians to promote their understanding of treaties for all people in Ontario.
13 Moons Calendar Resources
13-Moon Curriculum (by OJIBWE, Cree & Mohawk) Ontario Native Literacy Coalition
A tool to help educators construct lessons around the thirteen moons of Ojibwe, Cree, and Mohawk cultures. The sample lessons can be adapted to each nation.
13 Grandmother Moons
All over the world, cultures and communities have mapped the moon cycle, which happens 13 times per year, in cycles of 28 days. For many nations, including the Anishinabek Nation, there are teachings and other culturally important aspects of the moon cycle, which is associated with women’s menstrual cycles as well as other natural phenomena like the tides. Indigenous teachers and knowledge keepers can provide more specific information on the teachings that go with each moon, which will depend on their particular history and culture.
13 Moons Turtle Island by Oneida Language and Culture Center
The turtle’s back is a significant symbol used in Iroquoian media. It represents the creation of Turtle Island also known as the continent of North America, on turtle’s back or more accurately the “Earth Grasper”, from our Creation Story. A closer look will reveal a pattern of thirteen individual segments on his back which represent each moon of the Iroquoian cycle of seasons.
Cree Calendar
This perpetual calendar has 13 moon cycles and six seasons. Months (on this calendar) start at the full moon closest to the winter solstice.
Eating with the Seasons Anishinaabeg, Great Lakes Region Written by Derek Nicholas Illustrations by Grace Miller
A guide on what the Anishnaabek may eat in each season and how this relates to the cycles of the moon.
Ojibwe Moons by Muskrat Magazine
13 Grandmother Moons teachings for the Ojibwe.
The Cree Calendar, Episode 27 of Let’s Find Out Podcast
Learning about the Cree calendar through a podcast with Ben Freeland.
The Lunar Calendar on a Turtles back by Ontario Parks
Many First Nations teachings, including those of the Anishinaabe and the Haudenosaunee people, use the back of a turtle’s shell as a lunar calendar.
Grades K-3: Lessons, Activity Guides, & Online Learning
Every Indigenous community throughout Canada has different knowledge. Research your local Indigenous community and check with Indigenous leads to ensure the resources you use are suitable to your region and for your students.
A Lesson Study in Building a Sense of Community Values in Grade One: Connecting to the Seven Grandfather Teachings
The Primary Years’ Lesson Study Team focused on the Seven Grandfather Teachings. Grade 1 Teacher Zoe Donoahue taught the public lesson, introducing the seven teachings to the Grade 1 students in connection with their study of communities. The lesson concluded with a reading from the beginning of The Lost Teachings by Michael James Isaac.
Becoming Comfortable with the Uncomfortable: Introducing the Topic of Residential Schools in Kindergarten by Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study
In light of the Truth and Reconciliation Report, and the Government of Alberta’s determination that the history of Residential Schools be addressed every year from K to 12, the Early Years Group was inspired to consider how the topic might be addressed in their own classes. Shifting the question from “when” to “how” highlighted the importance of taking both a developmental approach and responding sensitively to the individuals in their class. Picture books were used to introduce the topic of residential schools in developmentally appropriate ways.
Bringing Métis Children’s Literature to Life—Métis Christmas Mittens
In this spirit, award-winning author and illustrator, Leah Marie Dorion takes readers back to the Métis tradition of making mittens for loved ones. Métis Christmas Mittens is a touching ode to Métis family life is accompanied by Leah’s distinctive and evocative art.
Celebrating Métis Week in Your Classroom
It is always important to share Indigenous perspectives in your classroom.
Education for reconciliation and social justice: Bringing Shannen’s Dream, Jordan’s Principle and I am a witness campaigns into the classroom
The First Nations Child & Family Caring Society is honoured to work with educators and schools across Canada to engage children and youth in peaceful and respectful processes of reconciliation designed to achieve culturally-based equity for First Nations children and young people. This resource guide offers ideas for engaging students in critical learning to better understand the situation of First Nations children and young people and to address the inequalities they experience in education, child welfare, and access to government services.
Ezhi-nawending
How we are related. It’s a free, online elementary resource. The Anishinabek Nation: Delivers a variety of programs and services, such as Health, Social Development, Education, Policy and Communications, Economic Development, Lands and Resources, Labour and Market Development, Restoration of Jurisdiction, and Legal.
In Our Own Words; Bringing Authentic First Peoples Content to the K-Gr 3 Classroom
First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) Educator Resource Guide, BC Curriculum Developed to offer teachers information and guidance about how to incorporate authentic First Peoples materials into their instruction and assessment practices. Includes lesson plans, curriculum connections, assessment resources and suggested texts.
Indian Residential Schools & Reconciliation, Teacher Resource Guide – Gr 5 (Adaptable Gr 3-7)
The Grade 5 lessons draw upon literature resources that help introduce the subject of residential schools in age-appropriate ways. You can order these resources from many publishers and distributors, including the ABORIGINAL-OWNED company Strong Nations. These resources are adaptable for grades 3-7.
Métis History & Identity
A virtual lesson briefly touching on language, culture and traditions, Métis in Alberta, Homeland History, and Métis Governance.
Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters, Orange Shirt Day Lesson Plans
Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in the spring of 2013. It grew out of Phyllis’ story of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at the Mission, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually. Lesson plans and resources are also available for Grades K-3, Grades 4-8, Grades 9-12 along with additional resources.
Primary Junior Indigenous Education Resources through Queen’s University Library
This page supports the teaching and learning of teacher candidates in the Indigenous Teacher Education Program.
Rupertsland Institute Metis Centre of Excellence (K-12)
Rupertsland Centre for Teaching and Learning (RCTL) is continually developing new resources to engage learners of all ages with Métis education. Find links below to all our resources.
Shi Shi Etko by Nicola I. Campbell
Lesson Plan for Shi Shi Etko from Comox Valley District School Board
Think Indigenous Online K-8 lesson plans
Made in support of at-home learning during COVID-19.
University of British Columbia’s Indigenous Lesson
Indigenous Focused Lesson Plans for grades 1-9.
Grades 4-6: Lessons, Activity Guides, & Online Learning
First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in Canada are unique and practice different cultures. Research your local Indigenous community and check with Indigenous leads to ensure the resources you use are suitable to your region and for your students.
Alex Shares his Wampum
Alex Shares His Wampum Belt is an eight page illustrated book from Union of Ontario Indians and the importance of wampum belts and treaties for primary level students.
Authentic First Peoples Resources
This guide has been created to help BC educators make appropriate decisions about which of these resources might be appropriate for use with their students. The annotated listings provided in this guide identify currently available authentic First Peoples texts that students can work with to meet provincial standards.
Celebrating Métis Week in Your Classroom
It is always important to share Indigenous perspectives in your classroom.
Education for reconciliation and social justice: Bringing Shannen’s Dream, Jordan’s Principle and I am a witness campaigns into the classroom
This resource guide offers ideas for engaging students in critical learning to better understand the situation of First Nations children to address the inequalities they experience in education, child welfare, and access to government service through three interrelated campaigns nested in principles of reconciliation and in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC): Shannen’s Dream, Jordan’s Principle and I am a witness.
Ezhi-nawending
How we are related. It’s a free, online elementary resource. The Anishinabek Nation: Delivers a variety of programs and services, such as Health, Social Development, Education, Policy and Communications, Economic Development, Lands and Resources, Labour and Market Development, Restoration of Jurisdiction, and Legal.
Gladys We Never Knew – The Life of a child in a BC Indian Residential School by BCTF Aboriginal Education Program
An e-book and teaching module about the life of Gladys Chapman, who fell ill with tuberculosis while at residential school and died in 1931 at the age of 12.
Indian Residential Schools & Reconciliation, Teacher Resource Guide – Gr 5 by First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC)
Learning resources designed to help Grade Five students attain an understanding of the history of the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada’s history. While the instructional activities are presented in a structured format that is an example of how they may be incorporated, they are intended to be flexible in their use.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliaction Resources
September 30 is the new National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. It’s also Orange Shirt Day across Canada. The Manitoba Teachers’ Society – together with Manitoba’s education partners and many Indigenous organizations – will be honouring residential school survivors.
Orange Shirt Day
Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in the spring of 2013, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually.
Science First Peoples Gr 5-9 Teacher Resource Guide by First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC)
Provides educators with resources to support increased integration of the rich body of First Peoples (unappropriated) knowledge and perspectives into classrooms and schools in BC.
Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation by Monique Gray Smith, Published by Orca Book Publishing
Monique Gray Smith invites you and your students to walk with her on a journey to examine the impacts of colonialism on Canada’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit families and communities.
Think Indigenous Online K-8 lesson plans
Made in support of at-home learning during COVID-19.
Truth and Reconciliation Lessons by Wilton Littlechild, Speak Truth to Power Canada
The Truth and Reconciliation lessons and activities by Wilton Littlechild are applicable to Grade 5 to 12 students.
University of British Columbia’s Indigenous Lesson Plans
Indigenous Focused Lesson Plans for grade 1-9.
Grades 7-9: Lessons, Activity Guides, & Online Learning
Authentic First Peoples Resources
This guide has been created to help BC educators make appropriate decisions about which of these resources might be appropriate for use with their students. The annotated listings provided in this guide identify currently available authentic First Peoples texts that students can work with to meet provincial standards.
Celebrating Métis Week in Your Classroom
It is always important to share Indigenous perspectives in your classroom.
From Apology to Reconciliation: Residential School Survivors (Gr 9 & 11) by Manitoba Education and Training
This project was created to help Manitoba students in Grades 9 and 11 to understand the history of the residential school experience, its influence on contemporary Canada, and our responsibilities as Canadian citizens.
Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters By the Manitoba Teachers’ Society
Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in the spring of 2013, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually.
Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation by Monique Gray Smith, Published by Orca Book Publishing
Monique Gray Smith invites you and your students to walk with her on a journey to examine the impacts of colonialism on Canada’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit families and communities.
The Secret Path: Jr. High Lesson Plans from Edmonton Public Schools
These five lesson plans are meant to help teachers explore the Secret Path book and video with students in grades 7 to 9. Each lesson plan has a corresponding PowerPoint with an embedded video.
Think Indigenous Online K-8 lesson plans
Made in support of at-home learning during COVID-19.
Truth and Reconciliation Lessons by Wilton Littlechild of Speak Truth to Power Canada
The Truth and Reconciliation lessons and activities by Wilton Littlechild are applicable to Grade 5 to 12 students.
Grades 10-12: Lessons, Activity Guides, & Online Learning
7 Generations Series – Teacher’s Guide by Portage & Main Press
The goal of this resource and graphic novel series is to integrate Indigenous perspectives into curricula and to ensure that all students have opportunities to understand and respect themselves, their cultural heritage, and the cultural heritage of others.
8th Fire Guide for Educators Written by Chelsea Prince, Salmon Arm Secondary School, Project Manager Laraine Bone
8th Fire is a four-part documentary series about contemporary Aboriginal peoples in Canada, social and economic issues facing them, and possibilities for moving forward in a world that is rapidly changing. This Guide for Educators contains several components. For each of the four episodes, there are content overviews and social considerations, along with main elements on which to focus instruction. In addition, for each episode, there are “Critical Thinking Challenges”, “Viewing Questions”, “Instructional Activities” and “Possibilities for Involving the Community”.
Celebrating Métis Week in Your Classroom
It is always important to share Indigenous perspectives in your classroom.
Day of the Apology: Healing the Generations Residential School Curriculum (Gr 9-12) Nishnawbe Aski Nation
This curriculum aims to increase awareness of the residential school system as a major part of the European colonizing effort against Aboriginal peoples, resulting in significant intergenerational impacts.
From Apology to Reconciliation: Residential School Survivors (Gr 9-11) Manitoba Education and Training
The project was created to help Manitoba students in Grades 9 and 11 understand the history of the residential school experience, its influence on contemporary Canada, and our responsibilities as Canadian citizens.
Indian Horse Educational DVD and Study Guide
The book and the film provide an opportunity for educators to enact the TRC recommendation to engage with students who may be learning this history for the first time. Study guide available for download in French and English.
Indian Residential Schools & Reconciliation; Teacher Resource Guide (Gr 10) First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC)
These learning resources are designed to help Grade Ten students attain an understanding of the history of the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada’s history. Teachers can follow the sequence of lessons, they can use particular lessons or sections as stand-alone activities, or they can adapt the activities to meet their own curriculum planning requirements and the learning needs of their students.
Indian Residential Schools & Reconciliation, Teacher Resource Guide – Part One and Part Two (Gr 11 & 12) First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC)
These Indian Residential Schools learning resources are designed to use an inquiry approach to provide students in a number of Grade 11 and 12 courses with an understanding of the history of the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada.
nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up A Film By Tasha Hubbard
As Hubbard uncovers the systemic racism that marks the investigation, the trial, and the public response, she also shines a light on the powerful voices of Indigenous women that emerge from the process.
Moccasin Project
Da-giiwewaat (so they can go home) is a national campaign to raise awareness about child apprehension impacting Indigenous children in Canada.
Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters by the Manitoba Teachers’ Society
Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) residential school commemoration event held in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in the spring of 2013, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually.
RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked the World Film Educator Resource
The award-winning documentary RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked the World tells the story of a profound, essential, and, until now, missing chapter in the history of American music: the Indigenous influence. The standards aligned TeachRock RUMBLE lesson plans can help you bring that story into the classroom.
Stolen Lives: The Indigenous Peoples of Canada and The Indian Residential School System by Facing History and Ourselves
In a Facing History and Ourselves study, students go beyond core historical understandings to think about their own identities and then make connections that relate to their lives and those of the communities in which they live. Stolen Lives includes digital resources, professional development sessions and a two-week unit outline.
The Secret Path: Ahead By A Century CBC
A group of Ontario high school students write and perform a play that honours Gord Downie’s music and Secret Path project.
Truth and Reconciliation Lessons by Wilton Littlechild of Speak Truth to Power Canada
The Truth and Reconciliation lessons and activities by Wilton Littlechild are applicable to Grade 5 to 12 students.
Indigenous Games and Activities
Indigenous Games for Children
A collection of traditional Indigenous games and activities to help leaders introduce or reconnect children to activities that reflect the rich cultures of Indigenous peoples across Canada.
Inuktut Computer Games
To provide the people of Nunavik with educational services that will guide and enable all learners to develop the qualities, skills and abilities that are necessary to achieve their well-being and self-actualization.
Coyote and Crow RPG
Coyote & Crow is a sci-fi, fantasy, and tabletop role playing game set in a First Nations alternate future where colonization never happened. This game is being created and led by an all Native team. In March, Coyote & Crow became one of the most successful role playing games with a fundraiser on Kickstarter, raising more than 1 million dollars.
Neeched Up Games
Owner of the social enterprise, Neeched Up Games, Janelle Pewapsconias runsw youth leadership and empowerment workshops, creates apps, and promotes role playing games that teach students and adults the history of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Pewapsconias hopes to bridge knowledge gaps between Canadians and Indigenous people in order to better understand Indigenous history, decolonization, identity, culture, empowerment, and sense of belonging.
Tenona’s Tabahon
Every Child Matters is the idea of six year old Tenona Alivia Wes-ley, a Moose Cree girl who is an intergenerational Survivor. Both of Tenona’s grand-mothers are Survivors of the Indian Residential School System (IRS). Tenona, Kee-shay-pah-see-esh-kei-tao, (Gentle Fire), embodies joy and love that all children should feel and know. It is in this spirit that she brings forward the message that Every Child Matters.
Ressources en Français
L’Encyclopédie Canadienne : Loi sur les Indiens
Un aperçu de la Loi sur les Indiens et de son histoire au Canada.
Guide de l’enseignant : Chaque enfant compte : la réconciliation passe par l’éducation par le Centre national pour la vérité et la réconciliation
Guide de l’enseignant pour Journée du chandail orange.
Guide pedagogique Les pensionnats indiens au Canada : Histoire et heritage
Un aperçu étonnant des pensionnats indiens avec une chronologie des événements menant à leur création.
Plans de cours pour le Sentir Secret
Enseignez sur le Sentir Secret avec cette ressource.
PROTOCOLES ET CHEMINS CINÉMATOGRAPHIQUES
Un guide de production médiatique pour la collaboration avec les communautés, cultures, concepts et histoires des peuples des Premières nations, Métis, et Inuit.
Déclaration des Nations Unies sur les droits des peuples autochtones
Les autochtones, peuples et individus, sont libres et égaux à tous les autres et ont le droit de ne faire l’ob- jet, dans l’exercice de leurs droits, d’aucune forme de discrimination fondée, en particulier, sur leur origine ou leur identité autochtones. Les peuples autochtones ont le droit à l’autodétermi- nation.
Première Nation Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk
Ce projet a été développé à partir d’une idée simple : reconnecter les membres de la communauté Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk avec leur langue.
DWF Live avec Alanis Obomsawin
Écoutez Alanis Obomsawin raconte son histoire.
Arts: Dance
Kaha:Wi
Exploring the intersection of Indigenous and new performance, Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s embodied work features visually stunning, visceral, and thought provoking performance created through Indigenous knowledge, process and methodology.
Indigenous Educator Shares Love of Powwow Dance Through Online Tutorials
Learn about her story and watch one of her videos.
Stepping Stones: First Nations, Métis and Inuit Music and Dance
How does a deep understanding of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit music and dance support the journey of reconciliation?
Arts: Drama
Ahead by a Century
A group of Ontario high school students write and perform a play that honours Gord Downie’s music and Secret Path project. On the day of the dress rehearsal, drama teacher Scott Garbe invites a very special guest to watch scenes from the play. Tim “Redfeather” Thomas, a 74-year-old Mi’kmaq elder, talks about his own experiences in residential school with the cast.
Arts: Music
Kanata – MusiCounts
This educator resource guide explores the music of Jeremy Dutcher, Silla and Rise, and the Snotty Nose Rez Kids. Students can learn about the music of these artists by watching videos and listening to the artists discuss their music.
Native Drums
No two drums are the same – each has its own distinctive structure, spirit, and life based on both the culture in which it was made and the hands of the one who made it. The drum is not just a music-maker, but a voice for the soul within the music. In this chapter, we investigate the many methods of drum-making and discover the numerous other instruments – including flutes, fiddles, and rattles – which played a vital role in Indigenous life.
Arts: Visual
Contemporary Indigenous Arts in the Classroom
This project aims to provide elementary and high school-level teachers with curriculum-linked lesson plans designed by contemporary Indigenous artists. The goal is to build students’ cultural competence and respect for diverse Indigenous Peoples, while encouraging critical thinking about colonialism in Canada. These downloadable Elementary and High School lessons are available for free.
How to Bring Indigenous Culture into your Classroom
Ideas on how to incorporate stories and the culture of Indigenous peoples into the classroom.
Mixed Media Lesson Plan based on the art of George Littlechild and Jane Ash Poitras
The exhibit Memory • History • Story provides students, educators and visitors with a resource to look at the way we, as individuals and as larger communities, learn. Following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s calls to action, the B.C. Ministry of Education developed new curriculum with a focus to indigenize all areas of learning. This change means not only adding and altering content in the various subject areas but also the methods used to teach these subjects. The First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) has been particularly valuable in providing online learning resources to ensure that the issues and concerns of BC First Nations are meaningfully addressed.
Teaching about Cultural Appropriation
Learn about the grave difference between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation.
English
35 Books to Read by Indigenous Authors
Read these books by Indigenous authors to better understand the experiences of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.
The People and the Text: Indigenous Writing in Northern North America by Simon Fraser University
This collection features Indigenous writers up until 1992.
Exchange Programs
Experiences Canada
By discovering a new community, young people deepen their knowledge of a second language, become aware of a new culture, remove social barriers, form new friendships, and develop greater self-confidence.
Guidance & Mental Health
Fostering Open eXpression Among Youth
A revolutionary program for young women and gender diverse youth that promotes mental and sexual health and healthy relationships across the North.
Health Canada
Weblinks to multiple mental health services available in Canada.
Kids Help Phone
Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7, national support service. We offer professional counselling, information and referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people in both English and French.
Kids Help Phone: Resources Around Me
Kids Help Phone has developed an interactive 24/7 online resource navigation tool named Resources Around Me. This tool allows young people to search from over 19,000 services to find resources in their community such as Counselling and Mental Health Support, Sexual Health Support, Housing Support, Legal Support, Job Help, and more.
MMIWG2S Family Counseling
Here to support the family members of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People through various counselling services. These services are designed to address the impacts of loss, trauma, and systemic injustice experienced within the family.
Nan Hope
The Nishnawbe Aski Mental Health Wellness Support Access Program (NAN Hope) provides community-driven, culturally appropriate and timely mental health and addictions support to members of the 49 First Nations communities in the Nishnawbe Aski region.
Support Social Impact Club
The project aims to engage, invest, and retain Indigenous students in post-secondary education institutions. SSIC plans to share post-secondary resources and provide $400 in scholarship for three select students, thus furthering SSIC’s mission of accessible education.
Walking in Her Moccasins
A multi-year initiative to engage Indigenous men and boys, to enhance their capacity to both respond and prevent violence against Indigenous women and girls.
We Matter
A multi-year initiative to engage Indigenous men and boys, to enhance their capacity to both respond and prevent violence against Indigenous women and girls.
History
Hear the Untold Story of a Canadian Code Talker from World War II
During World War II, Charles “Checker” Tomkins fought the enemy with a different kind of weapon. As a code talker in the Canadian military, he used his knowledge of the native Cree language to help develop a top-secret communication system to defeat the Germans.
Parallels in Teaching – Canada’s History Article
Educator Rob Jardine outlines the parallels in teaching about the Holocaust and the history of residential schools in Canada.
Remembering Tommy Prince
Across our district, schools remembered in a variety of Remembrance Day ceremonies on Friday. At Rutland Senior Secondary, students and staff created an exhibit to honour the service and life of Indigenous war hero Tommy Prince.
Tommy Prince – Veteran Affairs
Serving as a reconnaissance expert in the Devil’s Brigade, Tommy Prince posed as a local farmer to repair a severed communications wire in full view of enemy troops. He is one of Canada’s most decorated Indigenous soldiers.
Indigenous Languages
Bighetty & Bighetty, CBC
Four brothers — and their Cree-speaking puppets — show the silly, joyful side of Indigenous life.
Native/Indigenous Languages Resource List Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
Resource list from the University of Toronto categorized by language.
The Algonquian Linguistic Atlas School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies Carleton University
The goal of the project is to co-create an on-line, multimedia linguistic atlas of Algonquian languages.
Waking up Ojibwe
Seven Generations Education Institute, Rainy River District School Board, and SayITFirst entered into a partnership in 2017 to develop The Ojibwe Language Strategy. The main goal of the strategy is to help put Anishinaabemowin back into the homes of the Anishinaabe people.
Learning Blackfoot
A website featuring a list of resources to help you learn the Blackfoot language or improve your skills.
Speaking Michif
The lessons are at a beginner level, on the theme of everyday family life. The lessons can be easily practiced at home since they involve everyday activities and conversations.
Law
An Introduction to Treaties: Compilation of Resources
To support member learning and to create culturally-inclusive learning environments, this resource was developed to introduce ETFO members about the nation-to-nation relationship and agreements that were made between the Crown and Indigenous Peoples. The information within this document will provide educators with a starting point to acquire knowledge about treaties and land acknowledgements.
Gladue Principals
In the Canadian criminal justice system, judges must take into consideration the individual circumstances of the person before them in court to determine a fit and fair sentence.
Guide for Lawyers Working with Indigenous Peoples – A joint project of: The Advocates’ Society the Indigenous Bar Association the Law Society of Ontario
This Guide is intended to be a starting resource to help lawyers and others in the justice system to learn about Indigenous cultures and understand the interplay between Indigenous legal orders and the Canadian legal system.
Teaching the 94 Calls to Action in the Classroom, Reconciliation syllabus
TRC-inspired gathering of materials for teaching law.
Revitalizing Indigenous Laws
In Canada there is increasing acknowledgment that Canada is a multi-juridical country. Various American Tribal Judges have called for practical and respectful ways to engage with Indigenous legal traditions in an ongoing way. This project takes one approach toward drawing on and drawing out the rich intellectual traditions available to Indigenous people for reasoning through legal problems and the issues Indigenous communities are struggling with today.
Teaching the 94 Calls to Action in the Classroom, Reconciliation syllabus
TRC-inspired gathering of materials for teaching law.
The Outside Circle – A Graphic Novel by Patti LaBoucane-Benson
In this important graphic novel, two brothers surrounded by poverty, drug abuse, and gang violence, try to overcome centuries of historic trauma in very different ways to bring about positive change in their lives.
An Introduction to Treaties: Compilation of Resources
To support member learning and to create culturally-inclusive learning environments, this resource was developed to introduce ETFO members about the nation-to-nation relationship and agreements that were made between the Crown and Indigenous Peoples. The information within this document will provide educators with a starting point to acquire knowledge about treaties and land acknowledgements.
We are all Treaty People: Teachers Guide
Learn more about their culture and identity and Treaties in Canada.
We Are All Treaty People by Maurice Switzer
Maurice Switzer shares a presentation with Simcoe County District School Board teachers on the International Treaties between Canada and Indigenous nations. Maurice’s book, ‘We Are All Treaty People’ (published by Good Minds, Union of Ontario Indians).
Math
Aboriginal Math Education: Collaborative Learning
This TEDx Talk challenges the dominant perspective of how mathematics is learned and taught, and shows how we can create an engaging and meaningful discussion in the math classroom that incorporate Indigenous knowledge and anti-racist practices.
Cree Dictionary of Mathematical Terms
A Cree dictionary of math terms for educators who wish to incorporate Cree into the classroom.
Indigenous Math by the Alberta Teachers’ Association
Find math activities based on traditional Indigenous games, stories, and perspectives.
Physical Education
ALL THE WAY – MY LIFE ON ICE by Jordin Tootoo
The captain of Canada’s Under-18, a fan favourite on the World Junior squad, and a WHL top prospect. When Tootoo was drafted by Nashville in 2000 and made the Predators out of camp in 2003, he became a leader in another way: the first player of Inuk descent to suit up in the NHL.
‘Call Me Indian’ travels through trauma, triumph of NHL’s 1st Indigenous player (Book)
The memoir of Fred Sasakamoose, the first treaty indigenous NHL player. Fred Sasakamoose’s autobiography is a story of racism and resilience.
Culturally Relevant Physical Education: Educative Conversations with Mi’kmaw Elders and Community Leaders by Daniel B. Robinson, St. Francis Xavier University; Joe Barrett, Brock University; Ingrid Robinson, St. Francis Xavier University
Canadian scholars have recently suggested there is an absence of understanding, or action, related to culturally relevant pedagogy in physical education, particularly with respect to Indigenous students. This resource addresses this.
‘If I was white I’d be coaching for sure,’ TSN Originals looks at Ted Nolan and the NHL
Ted Nolan doesn’t beat around the bush when talking about why he isn’t coaching a National Hockey League team. “If I was born in Toronto and my skin was white, I’d be coaching,” Nolan tells reporter Rick Westhead in a special TSN Originals documentary: Unwanted Visitor.
Since the early development of various sports in history: the power of sport to make change, to bring people together, to have fun, to save lives became a very important purpose. One of the primary results from participating was and is holistic health, together with happiness and hope.
North American Indigenous Games
The North American Indigenous Games help us realize the collective potential of our bodies, minds, spirit and of our people – our hopes and dreams – The Spirit Strong, Brave & True.
Masters Indigenous Sport – Ontario
Masters Indigenous Games (MIG) are an opportunity to get physically active, engage with community and participate in competition. The 2018 MIG games brought together hundreds of athletes from across North America to compete in sport competitions, celebrate Indigenous wellness, and showcase the Indigenous cultures from around the world. Not only are the MIG an opportunity for Indigenous athletes to compete, the Games also present an opportunity for North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) alumni to reunite with past teammates, competitors, and friends.
Science & Environment
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two ways of knowledge together.
Creators Garden
We are focused, first and foremost, on teaching the legitimacy of plant based medicine. We teach people the intricacies of how to sustainably harvest and use every part of these beautiful plants.
Exploring Kainai Plants & Culture
The first thunderclap of spring tells us that the Thunder Medicine Bundle may be opened. Sipatsimo (or sweetgrass) and aakiika’ksimii (or sage), our most sacred healing herbs of mind and spirit grow here at the Belly Buttes, our sacred Sundance site. It is all here: the land, the plants, our ancestors & our future.
Georgian Bay Biosphere Mnidoo Gamii Anishinaabek Youth
The Georgian Bay Anishinaabek Youth (GBAY) is an Indigenous youth-led initiative in partnership with the Georgian Bay Biosphere (GBB). GBAY works to support Indigenous youth along the rivers and eastern shore of Mnidoo Gamii (Georgian Bay). GBAY is located in Parry Sound, Ontario – within the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850.
This comprehensive resource aims to bring about important conversations and critical inquiries into the importance of Indigenous knowledge systems. These systems of knowledge are complex, diverse and sophisticated, just as the Indigenous civilizations that they come from are. This resource presents many opportunities to engage in critical explorations and consider how multiple knowledge systems can come into dialogue with one another.
NCCIE – Approaches to Maths & Sciences in Indigenous Learning
Watch this video to get ideas on how to approach the subjects of Math and Science with an Indigenous perspective.
Science in Sound with Buffy Sainte-Marie
Watch this video to learn about the Sound Bo, and the science behind creating sound with this instrument and others with Buffy Saint-Marie.
Science
Lesson plan to teach students how to relate electrical energy to power consumption.
Sky Stories: Indigenous Astronomy
Indigenous peoples have passed down, from generation to generation, stories about the sky that serve as moral, ethical, and practical guides. Learn more on this website.
Indigenous Leadership in Conservation
Indigenous Peoples have wide-ranging knowledge of the land and its ecology. Through collaboration with Indigenous partners and Parks Canada, Canadians are benefitting from Traditional Knowledge -systems that have been handed down over many thousands of years.
Social Sciences
Moccasin Project
Da-giiwewaat (so they can go home) is a national campaign to raise awareness about child apprehension impacting Indigenous children in Canada
Indigenous Education in Social Science – University of British Columbia
Through studying Indigenous histories and experiences within the Social Studies curriculum, students should “develop an understanding of the connections between the past, present, and future and the people, events, and trends that have shaped the development and evolution of societies, especially our own.
Alberta
A History of My Brief Body by Billy-Ray Belcourt
Billy-Ray Belcourt’s debut memoir opens with a tender letter to his kokum and memories of his early life in the hamlet of Joussard, Alberta, and on the Driftpile First Nation. From there, it expands to encompass the big and broken world around him, in all its complexity and contradictions: a legacy of colonial violence and the joy that flourishes in spite of it, first loves and first loves lost, sexual exploration and intimacy, and the act of writing as a survival instinct and a way to grieve.
Alberta Treaty Education
Find teaching resources, education guides, and research available for Indigenous education in Alberta.
Alberta Treaty Education in the Classroom (video format)
Videos for helping to teach about treaties in the classroom for grades K-12.
Indigenous Canada – MOOC provided by the University of Alberta
Indigenous Canada is a 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada. From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores key issues facing Indigenous peoples today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations.
Indigenous Math by the Alberta Teachers’ Association
Find math activities based on traditional Indigenous games, stories and perspectives.
A virtual lesson briefly touching on language, culture and traditions, Métis in Alberta, Homeland History, and Métis Governance.
Our mandate is to be a representative voice on behalf of Métis people within Alberta, provide Métis people an opportunity to participate in government policy and, most importantly, promote and facilitate the advancement of Métis people through the pursuit of self-reliance, self-determination, and self-management.
Métis Week is an annual event planned by the Métis Nation of Alberta, and sees a range of interesting commemorative events take place across Alberta.
Rupertsland Institute Metis Centre of Excellence (K-12)
Rupertsland Centre for Teaching and Learning (RCTL) is continually developing new resources to engage learners of all ages with Métis education. Find links below to all our resources.
British Columbia
Aboriginal Curriculum Integration Project
The Aboriginal Curriculum Integration Project is committed to honoring the values, cultures and perspectives of British Columbia’s Aboriginal people. The knowledge derived from local Aboriginal experts will be valued and utilized respectfully.
BCGEU guide to First Nations acknowledgement, protocol & terminology
Reconciliation depends on each of us, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, working to make it happen. Each person will have their own contribution to make in their own way. This document reviews protocols, acknowledgement and protocols explained.
BC Indigenous Education Policies
Indigenous Education in BC seeks to improve success and supports for Indigenous students, and increase the presence of Indigenous culture, languages and history for all students. It also aims to help teachers bring Indigenous knowledge into their teaching practice.
British Columbia Treaty Eduation K-12 (videos and game)
Videos to help students in grades K-12 better understand treaties.
Continuing Our Learning Journey modules
Indigenous education resources are being developed to support the redesigned K-12 curriculum. The intent of these materials is to help further incorporate Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into B.C. classrooms.
English (Poetry, stories, and more)
Meeka Noelle Morgan, M.A., an intergenerational Survivor of residential school uses poetry to voice to her community’s experience.
FIRST PEOPLES’ MAP by First Peoples’ Cultural Council
The First Peoples’ Map of B.C. is a living and interactive space that represents the diverse yet interwoven languages, arts, and cultural heritage of the Indigenous people of BC.
Indigenous Education Resources Inventory (guides, ebooks, videos etc)
The intent of these materials is to help further incorporate Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into B.C. classrooms.
Indigenous Foundations First Nations Studies Program, University of British Columbia
An information resource on key topics relating to the histories, politics, and cultures of the Indigenous peoples of Canada. This website was developed to support students in their studies, and to provide instructors, researchers, and the broader public with a place to begin exploring topics that relate to Aboriginal peoples, cultures, and histories.
Indigenous perspectives in the classroom
A project to support and build upon a regional dialogue that would lead to further strategies and clear commitments from all educators. The projects include four other school districts to host focus sessions on Aboriginal Worldviews and Perspectives in the Classroom.
Indigenous Wisdom: Protocols Guide by Step Up BC
Cultural protocols are crucial in the diverse First Nation communities and Aboriginal organizations throughout British Columbia. Respect is a universal indigenous value and how relationships are initiated and maintained is crucial to engaging Aboriginal peoples and groups.
Math
Lesson plan to give students an understanding of the Pythagorean relationship by calculating the measure of the third side of a right triangle, given the two other sides.
Physical Education
In this short video, an athlete speaks about sports and its importance for bringing community together in a positive and healthy way.
Project of Heart – Illuminating the hidden history of Residential Schools in BC
This resource is a visual journey to support classroom teachers, post-secondary and adult educators to understand and learn about the hidden history of Indian Residential Schools.
Science
Lesson plan to teach students how to relate electrical energy to power consumption.
Inuit Nunangat
This Arctic homeland of the Inuit in Canada consists of four northern Canadian regions called the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, the Canadian territory of Nunavut, Nunavik in northern Quebec and Nunatsiavut of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
The National Representational Organization Protecting and Advancing the Rights and Interests of Inuit in Canada.
Nunavik Mental Health Resource Guide
Life can be challenging for all of us. If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed, please use this guide to find out where to get support in your area.
Project Aliana
Project Aliana is the youth-led, collaborative initiative between Y4Y Quebec and youth leaders of Nunavik to contribute to the wellbeing of young indigenous people through civic engagement.
Manitoba
Creating Racism-Free Schools through Critical/Courageous Conversations on Race Manitoba Education and Training
This support document is aimed at promoting school divisions, schools, teachers, parents, and students to undertake critical and courageous conversations on racism to create inclusive and equitable classrooms and schools for First Nation, Métis, Inuit and all students. The document helps to inform and encourage educators, describes the levels and effects of racism, acknowledges history, stimulates dialogue through critical and courageous conversations and contributes to the TRC’s Call to Action.
Downloadable resources (books)
A series of First Nations books to download and read.
Indigenous Education Resources
Resources to support Indigenous education such as First Nations Education Toolkits and Creating Racism-Free Schools.
First Nations Education Toolkit
Teacher’s Guide to promote and enhance First Nations student success by preparing and collecting relevant resources for schools, teachers, facilitators, and other community stakeholders.
Middle years Health Education From a First Nations Perspective: Video Series and Lesson Guide
(MFNERC) provides the province’s leading education, administration, technology, language and culture services to First Nations schools in Manitoba.
Native Studies Documents (K-4, 5-8, S1-S4)
To support the incorporation of Aboriginal Perspectives, the Aboriginal Education Directorate, through the Aboriginal Education and Training Framework has established goals that are based on the premise that school environments inclusive of Aboriginal knowledge and perspectives will improve student success and completion rates, increase employability skills and reduce transiency.
Non-profit organization
MICEC is a provincial, non-profit, charitable and educational organization that works to promote awareness and understanding of Indigenous cultures for all Manitobans. The main space features a large display area with hundreds of artifacts and works of art. A mezzanine level houses more than 11,000 books and a unique children’s reading area.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick’s Aboriginal People’s Youth Council
New Brunswick Aboriginal Peoples Council supports and empower youth through our Youth Council whose mission is to represent, promote, advocate, empower, protect and educate, off-reserve ; and further, to encourage unity and the growth of the emotional, physical, mental and spiritual well being of oneself, family and community.
New Brunswick Treaty Education Initiative (Grade 3-6 but only grade 3. Only resources for Grade 3 are available at the moment.)
This teaching resource has been created so young people throughout New Brunswick can better understand the treaties that were agreed to by the Indigenous people of New Brunswick with the British Crown.
Wabanaki Learning Resources (resources include videos for various topics)
The Wabanaki Collection connects postsecondary educators, grade school teachers, and the general public with a variety of resources that support enhanced relationships between all the peoples of Eastern Canada and Northeastern United States. The goal of this collection is to provide a way for faculty members and educators to become familiar with Wabanaki worldviews, culture, history and treaty, and enable them to incorporate resources and modules within their courses that will enhance their curricula and provide a more inclusive perspective—with well thought out and respectful resources supporting them!
Newfoundland & Labrador
Annual Aboriginal Arts and Stories Art Contest
The Aboriginal Arts & Stories contest provides an opportunity for Indigenous youth to explore the heritage, society and politics of Indigenous civilizations in Canada by reflecting on the meaningful cultural elements of their lives.
Indigenous Resources
Pearson Canada is committed to honouring the histories, cultures, worldviews, and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples of Canada.
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
The National Representational Organization Protecting and Advancing the Rights and Interests of Inuit in Canada.
List of Indigenous organizations and governments
K-3 Math Books
Celebrate and honour Indigenous culture while also supporting math learning in your classrooms with sixteen Mathology Little Books beautifully written by Canadian Indigenous authors and educators.
Literature K-8
Available in English and French, to buy
National Inuit Youth Council
The National Inuit Youth Council (NIYC) was established by the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, now known as Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) in 1993 to provide guidance and input into issues of interest for Inuit youth in Canada. Each NIYC representative is tasked with voicing the concerns and ideas of Inuit youth from their respective regions, with the elected President serving as the National voice of Inuit youth.
Truth and Reconciliation Online Lesson Plans (sign in and then click on “Teacher resources”)
Imagineaction is a teacher platform with the goal of encouraging a student-driven social action movement. Funding opportunities for school-community social action projects tied to the Imagineaction themes.
Northwest Territories
Indigenous Languages and Education Secretariat (Key documents include a Languages Curriculum draft)
In 2014, the GNWT has established the Indigenous Languages and Education Secretariat (ILES) within the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) to enhance the protection, revitalization and strengthening of Indigenous languages throughout the NWT.
Language Resources
NWT Literacy Council helps NWT communities build their capacity to support literacy and essential skills programs.
Dene Kede & Inuuqatigiit Curricula
To respect the worldview and language of the land of the Indigenous people, the Department of Education, Culture, and Employment created two curricula: Dene Kede and Inuuqatigit. School staff are expected to bring attention to the Indigenous Worldview in all of their teachings.
Dene Kede K-6
Full curriculum for grades K-6.
Dene Kede K-6 Teacher Manual
Teacher resource manual for grades K-6 to accompany curriculum.
Dene Kede 7
Teacher resource manual for Grade 7.
Dene Kede 8
Teacher resource manual for Grade 8.
Dene Kede 9
Teacher resource manual for Grade 9.
Stories
Indigenous stories to better understand Indigenous ways of life.
Inuuqatiglit K-12
A curriculum from the Inuit perspective.
Nova Scotia
Decolonization Learning Journey Series
The Community Sector Council of Nova Scotia recognizes the existence of Anti-Indigenous Racism in Mi’kma’ki and its deep historical roots. We commit to working in solidarity with our Mi’kmaq colleagues, partners, and collaborators, to speak out against this form of racism and to help the nonprofit and voluntary sector in the province implement the TRC recommendations, decolonize their organizations and work collectively for meaningful social change to address the underlying and entrenched systemic issues.
Books
Books and Articles to help you learn more about Indigenous history, current affairs, and how to be a better ally.
Videos, movies, podcasts, audiobooks
Videos, movies, and podcasts to help you learn more about Indigenous history, current affairs, and how to be a better ally.
Activities (museums, nature walks, recipes)
Activities you can do with your family to help you learn more about Indigenous History, Current Affairs, and how to be a better ally
Recordings of live sessions (Elder Margaret Poulette-residential school Survivor)
An incredibly informative series of recordings on Indigenous stories and ways of being, such as an account from Margaret Poulet, a residential school survivor, on her time in residential school.
The Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre
Dedicated to sharing, protecting and exploring the stories and lives of our earliest ancestors and those who have come after them in Mi’kma’ki.
Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Treaty Education Framework for Curriculum Development
This document was created as a result of the commitments made by the Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development to include the language, history, and culture of Acadians, African Nova Scotians, Gaels and Mi’kmaq, including Treaty Education, in the grade primary to 12 curriculum.
Publications from Mount St Vincent University
Teaching resources and books available for download.
Resources providing information on the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia
You will find a variety of resources that will provide you more information about the Mi’kmaq and other Aboriginal people in Nova Scotia and Canada.
Treaty Education
Treaty Education creates opportunities for Nova Scotians to learn about the Mi’kmaq, their inherent Aboriginal and Treaty rights, and our shared history. It promotes an understanding of the Peace and Friendship treaties as historical and living documents. Mi’kmaq and provincial government officials are working together to develop specific Treaty Education programs and services for the education system, the provincial civil service and the broader public. These programs and services highlight the contributions of the Mi’kmaq. They help explain how the Treaties were significant building blocks for Nova Scotia and Canada and how we have all benefited from them.
Nunavut
Approved Curriculum and Teaching Resources
Included in this document are grade-specific lists of teaching resources that are approved for use in Nunavut by the Department of Education.
Inhabit Education (resources include websites, apps, and books)
Inhabit Education Books is a Nunavut-based educational publishing company with a mandate to provide educators and parents with educational resources that are infused with authentic Northern perspectives, ways of life, and imagery. Its publishing initiative always considers stories and information in an educational context. All of their publications are developed by a team of Northern educators and language experts.
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
The National Representational Organization Protecting and Advancing the Rights and Interests of Inuit in Canada.
Inuit Wellbeing and Language and Culture Centre
Training programs that respond to the needs and aspirations of Nunavummiut, with a focus on building essential skills that provide students with a deeper appreciation of Inuit knowledge and a stronger sense of Inuit identity.
Learn the Inuit Language
Take lessons on Inuit language. Plus learn grammar, dialogue, and view a glossary.
Nunavik Mental Health Resource Guide
Life can be challenging for all of us. If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed, please use this guide to find out where to get support in your area.
Preschool-5 and Special Education: Language Activities available for download
Key vocabulary for Canada’s First Nations Language in Nunavut, called Inuktitut.
The Residential School System in Canada: Understanding the Past-Seeking Reconciliation-Building Hope for Tomorrow (Teacher’s guide, PDF)
The information and activities in this Guide will give teachers and students the resources they need to examine the histories, memories, and impacts of the Canadian residential school system.
Ontario
Assembly of First Nations – It’s Our Time Education Toolkit
A tool to bring together First Nations and non-First Nations people and foster a spirit of cooperation, understanding, and action.
Anishinabek Educational Resources
The Anishinabek Nation provides resources for teachers on Treaties, Ipperwash, Nation to Nation relations, Residential Schools, Anishinabek Peoples and more.
Chiefs of Ontario
An advocacy forum and secretariat for collective decision-making and action for Ontario’s First Nations communities.
The First Nations, Métis & Inuit Education Association of Ontario
This group supports and helps all educators understand issues related to First Nation, Métis and Inuit Peoples in Canada as well as offer strategies for teaching this content to all learners.
Full Circle: First Nations, Métis, Inuit Ways of Thinking
This project is the culmination of work done over the past two and a half years by 13 members of OSSTF/FEESO, most of whom are First Nation or Métis, or work extensively with Aboriginal students. The lessons are designed to be implemented in a range of courses, such as civics, history, social sciences, English, geography, business, careers, physical education and science. The resource has been produced as a PDF file on CD with an accompanying video on DVD. Although the lessons are intended for use with high school curricula, the video and activity sheet may be of use to all Federation members who work with students.
Haudenosaunee Confederacy
Through generations of attempted assimilation, the nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy have held fast to their cultures and traditions. An excellent resource for students and teachers alike, this website shares cultural information in historical and contemporary contexts through the eyes of the Haudenosaunee.
Indigenous Toronto – Stories that carry this place
Beneath many major North American cities rests a deep foundation of Indigenous history that has been colonized, paved over, and, too often, silenced. Few of its current inhabitants know that Toronto has seen twelve thousand years of uninterrupted Indigenous presence and nationhood in this region, along with a vibrant culture and history that thrives to this day.
Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
The Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation is a thriving and vibrant community, bursting with people reaching for their roots as well as the future as they prepare to teach the next 7 generations its history and culture.
Moccasin Identifier Project
This project has been developed by Carolyn King in partnership with Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the The Greenbelt Foundation, to promote public awareness of significant cultural historic sites and the ancestral presence of First Nations, Metis and Indigenous Communities.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation
NAN is a political territorial organization representing 49 First Nation communities within northern Ontario with the total population of membership (on and off-reserve) estimated around 45,000 people.
Resources for and about Aboriginal Education Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
Lesson plans from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
Infusing Indigenous Perspectives in K-12 Teaching University of Toronto OISE
This guide is designed to help Initial Teacher Education students find Indigenous education resources. Inspired by OISE’s Deepening the Knowledge project, the guide aims to help teachers infuse more Indigenous content into their practice. This guide includes information on how to find books, movies, music, activities and lesson plans as well as links to further online resources.
Prince Edward Island
Creating an Inclusive School Climate for Aboriginal Learners, A Resource Guide for Teachers
The guide is intended to provide educators with general knowledge of Mi’kmaq culture, traditions and spirituality and assist in integrating Aboriginal perspectives into new and existing curricula in all subject areas from Kindergarten to High School.
First Nation Elementary and Secondary Education Discussion Guide
The discussion guide focuses on possible approaches to First Nation education legislation.
University of Prince Edward Island Library Mi’kmaq Research Guide
A research guide for those interested in learning more about the Mi’kmaw in Prince Edward Island and Atlantic Canada.
University of Prince Edward Island Library Truth and Reconciliation
Resources to help learn about Truth and Reconciliation.
Québec
Education for Reconciliation
LEARN works with schools, communities, and organizations in Québec to put useful resources in the hands of educators. Their goal is to be more inclusive of Indigenous histories and to foster bonds between communities.
French books (available for purchase)
Strong Nations is an Indigenous owned and operated online bookstore, gift store, and publishing house. All of the resources they create are made in Canada.
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
The national representational organization protecting and advancing the rights and interests of Inuit in Canada.
LEARN: Education for Reconciliation
LEARN works with schools, communities, and organizations in Québec to put useful resources in the hands of educators. Our goal is to be more inclusive of Indigenous histories and to foster bonds between communities.
Paths to Reconciliation
An interactive map available in French accompanied by residential school survivor stories
Teaching Resources for Classroom
Teaching Education for Reconciliation within our curriculum relates to how and what is taught in schools, and often directly relates to the Quebec curricula in the form of its various subject-area programs.
Saskatchewan
First Nations in Saskatchewan
Learn about the Indigenous population, bands, councils and treaties in Saskatchewan.
First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Resources
First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Resources for Math, Languages, Music, Perspectives, and more
Following their Voices
Education that promotes accelerated learning for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students where learning is joyful, culture is affirmed and students are given real choice for their future.
Indigenous Studies Portal, University of Saskatchewan Library
The Indigenous Studies Portal (iPortal) is a database of full-text electronic resources such as articles, e-books, theses, government publications, videos, oral histories, and digitized archival documents and photographs. The iPortal content has a primary focus on Indigenous peoples of Canada with a secondary focus on North American materials and beyond.
Shattering the Silence: The Hidden History of Indian Residential Schools in Saskatchewan Project of Heart eBOOK – Commissioned author Shuana Niessen, published by Faculty of Education, University of Regina
A Project of Heart Saskatchewan eBook Resource for educators.
Yukon
Yukon Resources
Redesigned curriculum for Yukon schools.
Grades K-7
Redesigned K-7 curriculum for Yukon schools.
Grades 8-12
Redesigned 8-12 curriculum for Yukon schools.
Teacher Learning
Redesigned guide for teachers in Yukon schools.
Yukon First Nations Languages Resources
With the support of many of their Elders, language teachers and linguists, the Yukon Native Language Centre, Council of Yukon First Nations and respective Yukon First Nations were able to produce posters and pictures of “Encouragement Phrases” in all 8 Yukon First Nations languages. They hope that these downloadable posters and pictures will provide you, your family and friends with the opportunity to exchange encouraging phrases in your language during this time.
Allyship + Reconciliation
Assembly of First Nations – It’s Our Time Education Toolkit
A tool to bring together First Nations and non-First Nations people and foster a spirit of cooperation, understanding, and action.
“Being An Ally” from Pulling Together: A Guide For Curriculum Developers
A guide to being an ally and teaching students how to be allies through curriculum design.
Biidaaban (The Dawn Comes), CBC Arts
In this mesmerizing stop-motion short film from acclaimed director Amanda Strong, an Indigenous youth joins forces with a 10,000-year-old Sasquatch to revive ceremonial sap harvesting in suburban Ontario.
Dear Qallunaat (White People) by Sandra Inutiq, CBC News
‘Recognize and admit your power and privilege and the fact you are benefiting from racist systems.’
Future History follows two passionate, and polar opposite, Anishinaabe (Ojibway) hosts as they venture into their community to gain a deeper understanding of Indigenous Knowledge.
Indigenous Canada – MOOC provided by the University of Alberta
Indigenous Canada is a 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada. From an Indigenous perspective, this course explores key issues facing Indigenous peoples today from a historical and critical perspective highlighting national and local Indigenous-settler relations.
Build Together: Indigenous Peoples of the Building Trades – Indigenous Allyship by Canada’s Building Trades Unions
Learning about being an ally in the workplace.
How To Be An Ally To Indigenous People by the Indigenous Perspectives Society
A blog about the importance of everyone in Canada becoming an Indigenous ally.
Indigenous Allyship: An Overview by the Office of Aboriginal Initiatives, Wilfred Laurier University
A resource for non-Indigenous people seeking to become allies to Indigenous people. To help allies understand the struggle for decolonization and nationhood and what effective allyship to Indigenous Peoples means.
Indigenous Allyship Toolkit by Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Indigenous Health Network
A guide to honouring culture, authentic collaboration, and addressing discrimination.
Indigenous Ally Toolkit by Montreal Urban Aboriginal Community Strategy NETWORK
Learn what it means to be an ally and disrupt oppressive spaces by educating others on the realities and histories of marginalized people.
In Solidarity by Living Hyphen
In the words of the Anti-Oppression Network, being an ally is “not an identity”—it is a lifelong process of building relationships based on trust, consistency, and accountability with marginalized individuals and/or groups of people. The hope is to make this a living resource.
Resources on Allyship and Solidarity, Unisto’ot’en Heal the people, Heal the Land.
Understanding the ally bill of responsibilities and allyship and solidarity guidelines.
Seeding Reconciliation on Uneven Ground: The 4Rs Approach to Cross Cultural Dialogue
We are intentional in our use of language in this document to refer to the Original Peoples of this part of Turtle Island (what is now known as Canada). The term “Indigenous” is meant to respect the diversity of Indigenous nations, whether or not they are recognized by the Canadian state. We choose not to use the term “Aboriginal,” although we recognize its legal significance in identifying the First Nations (“Indian”), Inuit and Métis as “the Aboriginal peoples of Canada” in Canada’s Constitution.
Appropriation and Using the Appropriate Resources
Appropriate Use of Indigenous Content by Asma-na-hi Antoine, Rachel Mason, Roberta Mason, Sophia Palahicky, and Carmen Rodriguez de France
When selecting resources for your curriculum, it is important to incorporate authentic Indigenous resources. But what does it mean to be authentic? And how can such resources be incorporated in a respectful way?
Appropriation by Susan Dion, Ph.D. Associate Professor Indigenous Education and Research, York University
PHD Professor Susan Dion speaks about what appropriation means.
Educators Guide using Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World to talk about Appropriation
In this lesson, students will engage in a structured academic controversy to address the question, “should appropriation of Native American cultural practices be regulated by law?”
“Truth and Reconciliation in YOUR Classroom” by Dr. Kate Freeman, Shawn McDonald, and Dr. Lindsay Morcom
This informative article talks about what not to do in your classroom and offers some links to resources.
Cultural Appropriation vs. Appreciation by EFTO
A resource and tool for educators to help kick start their journeys in understanding cultural appreciation and appropriation, and how to use this tool to continue learning and best support their instructional practices.
Food Sovereignty
Paying for Nutrition: A Report on Food Costing in the North
This report on Food Costing in the North by Food Secure Canada, outlines the extensive barriers Northern communities and families face while trying to access healthy and affordable food in the North.
Glossary and Terms
Indigenous Foundations
An information resource on key topics relating to the histories, politics, and cultures of the Indigenous peoples of Canada. This website was developed to support students in their studies, and to provide educators, researchers and the broader public with a place to begin exploring topics that relate to Indigenous peoples, cultures, and histories. Some topics touched on are Indigenous identity and proper use of terminology, land rights in relation to Indigenous identity, and Government Policy with knowledge on the Residential School System, Indian Act, 60’s Scoop and much more.
Indigenous Peoples Language Guide
This language guide from the University of British Columbia touches on why terminology matters and how we can use the right terminology when speaking or referring to Indigenous Peoples.
Pulling Together
A glossary of terms relating to Indigenous identity, history and land rights.
Regina Public Schools Métis/First Nations Peoples Guide
A package to help Regina Public Schools staff and personnel gain a better understanding of First Nations and Metis protocols and traditions that are practiced in Treaty 4 Territory in Saskatchewan.
The Indian Act
21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph
Based on a viral article, 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act is an essential guide to understanding the legal document and its repercussions on generations of Indigenous Peoples.
Teaching Guide: The Indian Act by CBC Radio
This teaching guide explores the federal law that overhauled settler-Indigenous relations. It provides lesson plans, slideshows and activity sheets to assist educators in teaching about the Indian Act and the negative effects it has had on Indigenous people in Canada.
The Indian Act: The Canadian Encyclopedia
An overview of the Indian Act and its history in Canada. Also available in French.
Residential Schools in Canada, Education Guide by Historica Canada
An extremely eye-opening overview of Residential Schools with a timeline of events leading up to their creation and some interactive activities such as watching a video about Chanie Wenjack to inspire discussion on his journey and the evil he ran away from when he escaped Residential School
An overview of the Residential School System in Canada and a timeline.
Indigenous Cultural Competency Training
Indigenous Cultural Awareness Training by Bear Standing Tall
Bear Standing Tall & Associates is an Indigenous-owned company providing consultation and corporate training services.
Indigenous Cultural Competency Training by Native Canadian Centre of Toronto
Native Canadian Centre of Toronto (NCCT) offers a wide range of programs and services based on Native cultural traditions and teachings. This training will provide attendees with an overview of Indigenous culture and how the historical and current experiences shape misinformed views of Indigenous people.
Indigenous Languages
Bighetty & Bighetty, CBC
Four brothers — and their Cree-speaking puppets — show the silly, joyful side of Indigenous life.
We are an online space for Indigenous communities to share and promote language, oral culture and linguistic history. Language teams work with elders to curate and upload audio recordings, dictionaries, songs and stories. This content is shared with community members or the broader public.
Indigenous Languages: Learning and Teaching Resources
A series of resources to help teach and learn Indigenous Languages, provided by the Government of Canada.
Inuktitut Preschool-5 and Special Education: Language Activities available for download
Inuktitut word cards for youth, to help guide them in learning the Inuktitut language.
Inuktut Tusaalanga
Detailed lesson plans with grammar, dialogue and glossaries to help you learn Inuktut.
A website featuring a list of resources to help you learn the Blackfoot language or improve your skills.
It’s been 130 years since the Métis people said goodbye to leader Louis Riel. And every year on the anniversary of his death, November 16, 1885, (as well as a Monday in February, since different provinces celebrate on different days) the Métis take the time to remember a hero, a visionary and one of the fathers of Manitoba.
Native/Indigenous Languages Resource List Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
Resource list from the University of Toronto categorized by language.
Neechee App
An intermediate level Anishinaabe language tool to help you converse and learn Ojibwe.
Première Nation Wolastoqiyik
This project was developed from a simple idea: to reconnect the members of the Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk community with the language of their ancestors.
Resources for Learning Blackfoot
The Blackfoot Confederacy, or Niitsitapi, consists of the Siksika, Kainai (Blood) and Piikani people, who traditionally live in the intersections of Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Montana. Blackfoot is an Algonquian language spoken by the Niitsitapi, which they call niitsi’powahsin.
Resources for Learning Inuktitut
Inuktitut is spoken primarily by Inuit living in the North of our country, and has five main dialects. It is spoken by an average of 70% of Inuit, with variations across different regions (for example, 99% of Inuit in Nunavik have knowledge of how to speak Inuktitut, but other regions have lower fluency). Inuktitut is an official language in Nunavut, and it is also spoken in parts of Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, and the Northwest Territories. Tusaalanga does a great job of explaining the language structure, dialect differences, and syllabics.
Speaking Michif
The lessons are at a beginner level, on the theme of everyday family life.
The Algonquian Linguistic Atlas School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies Carleton University
The goal of the project is to co-create an on-line, multimedia linguistic atlas of Algonquian languages.
Wabanaki Collection, Wabanaki Learning Resources
The Wabanaki Collection connects postsecondary educators, grade school teachers, and the general public with a variety of resources that support enhanced relationships between all the peoples of Eastern Canada and Northeastern United States. The goal of this collection is to provide a way for faculty members and educators to become familiar with Wabanaki worldviews, culture, history and treaty, and to enable them to incorporate Wabnaki resources and perspectives into their courses.
Waking up Ojibwe
Seven Generations Education Institute, Rainy River District School Board, and SayITFirst entered into a partnership in 2017 to develop The Ojibwe Language Strategy. The main goal of the strategy is to help put Anishinaabemowin back into the homes of the Anishinaabe people.
Indigenous Employment & Education Opportunities
Indspire is a national Indigenous registered charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people for the long term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada.
Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training was created in 1991 to meet the unique training and employment needs of aboriginal peoples. Miziwe Biik provides the Greater Toronto Area’s Aboriginal community with training initiatives and employment services.
Land Acknowledgements
Canada’s #Next150 Years Will Start with a Territory Acknowledgement, Animikii Indigenous Technology
This challenge asks you to find out on whose traditional territory you live (or are from, or are visiting, etc.) and to respectfully acknowledge that territory for others to see so they can engage in that learning too.
Guide to Acknowledging First Peoples & Traditional Territory, Canadian Association of University Teachers
The goal of this guide is to encourage all academic staff association representatives and members to acknowledge the First Peoples on whose traditional territories we live and work.
Know the Land Territories Campaign, Laurier Students’ Public Interest Research Group (LSPIRG)
To recognize the land is an expression of gratitude and appreciation to those whose territory you reside on, and a way of honouring the Indigenous people who have been living and working on the land from time immemorial.
“Land acknowledgements: uncovering an oral history of Tkaronto” by Local Love
The GTA has been home to Indigenous peoples for millennia. Here, Sara Roque and Selena Mills share their reflections on this land. Illustrations by Chief Lady Bird.
Moccasin Identifier Project
This project has been developed by Carolyn King in partnership with Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the The Greenbelt Foundation, to promote public awareness of significant cultural historic sites and the ancestral presence of First Nations, Metis and Indigenous Communities.
Starting from the Heart – Going Beyond Land Acknowledgements by EFTO
Each of us has a relationship with the natural environment; the land, water, earth, habitat, and ecosystems. Land acknowledgements provide us an opportunity to offer recognition and respect to the original inhabitants of the regions that we live in and work in. There are many things that we can do to go beyond simply reading a land acknowledgement script. This is a place for us to start from.
“What are land acknowledgements and why do they matter?” by Local Love
Indigenous writer Selena Mills illustrates the importance of land acknowledgements—and shares perspectives about this newly popular form of reconciliation
Whose Land – A project of BOLD Realities, TakingITGlobal, and Canadian Roots Exchange
Identify Indigenous Nations, territories, and Indigenous communities across Canada easily with this gorgeous map.
Métis
Bringing Métis Children’s Literature to Life—Métis Christmas Mittens
In this spirit, award-winning author and illustrator, Leah Marie Dorion takes readers back to the Métis tradition of making mittens for loved ones. Métis Christmas Mittens is a touching ode to Métis family life is accompanied by Leah’s distinctive and evocative art.
A virtual lesson briefly touching on language, culture and traditions, Métis in Alberta, Homeland History, and Métis Governance.
Our mandate is to be a representative voice on behalf of Métis people within Alberta, provide Métis people an opportunity to participate in government policy and, most importantly, promote and facilitate the advancement of Métis people through the pursuit of self-reliance, self-determination, and self-management.
Métis Week is an annual event planned by the Métis Nation of Alberta, and sees a range of interesting commemorative events take place across Alberta.
Rupertsland Institute Metis Centre of Excellence (K-12)
Rupertsland Centre for Teaching and Learning (RCTL) is continually developing new resources to engage learners of all ages with Métis education. Find links below to all our resources.
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
Enquête | SQ Abuse, Women Break the Silence
This story began as an investigation into the disappearance of Cindy Ruperthouse, an Indigenous woman from the Abitibi region in Quebec. She had been missing from the town of Val d’Or for over a year when we began looking into her story.
Highway of Tears Carrier, Sekani Family Services
With respect and love for the victims of the Highway of Tears, and guided by their communities, we are committed to fulfilling the 33 recommendations from the Highway of Tears Symposium Recommendations Report. We work diligently towards preventing further victimization, supporting the families of the victims, planning for emergencies and supporting the communities’ efforts towards health and vibrancy.
It Starts with Us – Honouring the Lives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Trans and Two-Spirits
The intention of this page is a space for family members to honour the lives of their loved ones through personal stories, photos or other important aspects of someone’s life.
Lisa Jackson’s Highway of Tears VR
Working with Secret Location, Lisa directed a 4-minute 360-degree video on BC’s Highway of Tears for CBC Radio’s “The Current” in 2016.
May 5th as a National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls (American Resource), National Resource Center to Enhance Safety of Native Women and their Children
A congressional resolution to designate May 5th as a National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls has been introduced.
Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
The National Inquiry’s Final Report reveals that persistent and deliberate human and Indigenous rights violations and abuses are the root cause behind Canada’s staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people. The two volume report calls for transformative legal and social changes to resolve the crisis that has devastated Indigenous communities across the country.
The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Woman Timeline and Report
The National Inquiry must look into and report on the systemic causes of all forms of violence against Indigenous women and girls, including sexual violence. We must examine the underlying social, economic, cultural, institutional, and historical causes that contribute to the ongoing violence and particular vulnerabilities of Indigenous women and girls in Canada.
The REDress Project
The REDress Project, focuses on the issue of missing or murdered Aboriginal women across Canada. It is an installation art project based on an aesthetic response to this critical national issue.
Missing & Murdered: The Unsolved Cases of Indigenous Women and Girls
CBC News has looked into 34 cases across Canada which involve the death or disappearance of Indigenous women, but which authorities say were not due to foul play.
Reports
Canadian Youth Reconciliation Barometer 2019
This study was conducted by the Environics Institute for Survey Research, in partnership with Canadian Roots Exchange (CRE), a national Indigenous-led organization that has been developing innovative and impactful opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth since 2009.
Opinions About Aboriginal Issues in Canada 2016
This study was conducted by the Environics Institute for Survey Research, in partnership with the following organizations: Canadians For A New Partnership. The mission of Canadians for a New Partnership is to establish and support a broad-based, inclusive, leadership initiative to engage Canadians in dialogue and relationship building aimed at creating a new partnership between First Peoples and other Canadians.
Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
The National Inquiry’s Final Report reveals that persistent and deliberate human and Indigenous rights violations and abuses are the root cause behind Canada’s staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people. The two volume report calls for transformative legal and social changes to resolve the crisis that has devastated Indigenous communities across the country.
Reconciliation Canada
Born from the vision of Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, Gwawaenuk Elder, Reconciliation Canada is leading the way in engaging Canadians in dialogue and transformative experiences that revitalize the relationships among Indigenous peoples and all Canadians. Our model for reconciliation engages people in open and honest conversation to understand our diverse histories and experiences.
Towards Reconciliation: Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Perspectives
A study conducted by the Environics Institue for Survey Research, in partnership with the Mowat Centre, Canada West Foundation, Centre D’Analyse Politique Constitution Fédéralisme, Institute for Research on Public Policy, and St. Francis Xavier University Brian Mulroney Institute of Government.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
A shared vision held by those affected by Indian residential schools was to create a place of learning and dialogue where the truths of their experiences were honoured and kept safe for future generations. They wanted their families, communities and all of Canada to learn from these hard lessons so they would not be repeated. They wanted to share the wisdom of the Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers on how to create just and peaceful relationships amongst diverse peoples. They knew that Reconciliation is not only about the past; it is about the future that all Canadians will forge together.
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
The official resolution was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on September 13, 2007.
Trauma Informed
Decolonizing Trauma Work: Indigenous Stories and Strategies
In Decolonizing Trauma Work, Renee Linklater explores healing and wellness in Indigenous communities on Turtle Island. Drawing on a decolonizing approach, which puts the “soul wound” of colonialism at the centre, Linklater engages ten Indigenous health care practitioners in a dialogue regarding Indigenous notions of wellness and wholistic health, critiques of psychiatry and psychiatric diagnoses, and Indigenous approaches to helping people through trauma, depression and experiences of parallel and multiple realities.
Trauma Informed Practice Guide by BC Provincial Mental Health and Substance Use Planning Council
This Practice Guide and TIP Organizational Checklist is intended to support the translation of trauma-informed principles into practice.
Treaties & Land Claims
Alberta Treaty Education
Find teaching resources, education guides, and research available for Indigenous education.
Alberta Treaty Education in the Classroom (video format)
A guide to bring Treaty education to the classroom.
An Introduction to Treaties – A Complilation of Online Resources by EFTO
A resource to assist in understanding Treaties in Canada.
British Columbia Treaty Education K-12 (videos and game)
Videos for educating youth on treaties in Canada.
Ezhi-nawending: How we are Related
“We are all Treaty people” This simple but immensely powerful phrase reminds us that treaties are not only between the First Nations and the government—they involve us all.
Learnings: We Are All Treaty People.
A reference guide to understanding the foundational aspects of the “Teaching Treaties in the Classroom” program from the Office of the Treaty commissioner.
Moccasin Identifier Project
Significant cultural historic sites and the ancestral presence of First Nations, Metis and Indigenous Communities.
New Brunswick Treaty Education Initiative (Grade 3-6 but only grade 3. Only resources for Grade 3 are available at the moment.)
A resource created so young people throughout New Brunswick can better understand the treaties that were agreed to by the Indigenous people of New Brunswick with the British Crown.
Nova Scotia Treaty Education
These programs and services highlight the contributions of the Mi’kmaq. They help explain how the Treaties were significant building blocks for Nova Scotia and Canada and how we have all benefited from them.
“Treaties and Comprehensive Land Claims in Canada” by Experiences Canada
English and French learning tool intended to engage communities to learn about treaties and land claims in Canada. Map of treaties and land claims across Canada.
Treaties and the Treaty Relationship Educational Package (available in French)
A book with writing from authors, from throughout Canada, who have shared their insights and knowledge on a wide variety of aspects of treaty history and the Treaty Relationship.
Treaty Essential Learnings: We Are All Treaty People
A reference guide to understanding the foundational aspects of the “Teaching Treaties in the Classroom” program from the Office of the Treaty commissioner.
Treaties in Canada Education Guide and Worksheets
An education guide and accompanying worksheets for treaty education.
Treaty Lesson Plans
Treaty lesson plans for classroom use.
Treaty Timeline
Saskatchewan has a Treaty history that has led us to the Treaty relationship we have today. The OTC Treaty Timeline is a great way to learn more about that history.
We are all Treaty People and Gdoo-Sastamoo Kii Mi (for high school students).
Promo video for We are all Treaty People: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP-mSTLSI4U
Promo video for Gdoo-Sastamoo Kii Mi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSx0rOyoIaY
We Are All Treaty People by Maurice Switzer
Maurice Switzer is involved in a number of public education initiatives by including Indigenous perspectives as a commissioner on the Ontario Human Rights Commission, as well as his contributions on education of treaty relationships in Canada and their contemporary implications through the use of wampum belts. By utilizing the wampum belts as an educational tool, decolonized approaches are taken to develop a holistic understanding of the treaties and providing a framework for educators to facilitate treaty education in the classroom.
Worldwide
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
Today UNDRIP is the most comprehensive international instrument on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. It establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the indigenous Peoples of the world and it elaborates on existing human rights standards and fundamental freedoms as they apply to the specific situation of Indigenous Peoples.
International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs
A global human rights organization dedicated to promoting, protecting and defending Indigenous Peoples’ rights.
Minority Rights
Campaigns worldwide with around 150 partners in over 50 countries to ensure that disadvantaged minorities and Indigenous Peoples can make their voices heard.
Australia
Culture is Life
Culture is Life recognizes the complexity of the issue and the interplay of social, cultural and systemic determinants of health that heighten the risk of suicide. Drawing on growing evidence that cultural strength influences the health and well-being of First Nations peoples globally as a protective factor, Culture is Life backs Aboriginal-led solutions that deepen connection to culture and country for Aboriginal young people.
Australian Dream – Educator Resource
Website for the film, Australian Dream, and links to resources that provide education on and support the cause that fueled the creation of this film.
New Zealand
Unteach Racism
Unteach Racism aims to support teachers of New Zealand, in a staged approach to identify, confront and dismantle racism in education.
Te reo Māori
New Zealand’s ministry of education provide Te reo Māori as the most commonly taught language in schools. There is an increasing demand on the system from students and whānau (Māori and non-Māori) to provide te reo Māori in all learning environments across education.
Grades K-3 Books
Alex Shares His Wampum Belt is an eight page illustrated book from Union of Ontario Indians and the importance of wampum belts and treaties for primary level students. Kelly Crawford wrote this information book about a First Nation student named Alex and his inspiration to create a wampum belt from his Lego blocks.
Amik Loves School: A Story of Wisdom by Katherena Vermette, Illustrator Irene Kuziw, Published by Portage and Main Press
Amik tells Moshoom about his wonderful school. Then his grandfather tells him about the residential school he went to, so different from Amik’s school, so Amik has an idea…
Artic Stories by Michael Kusugak, Illustrator Vladyana Krykorka, Published by Annick Press
Ten-year-old Agatha, an Inuit girl, is the reluctant heroine in this tapestry of Arctic tales set in the 1950s. Each tale has its origins in Kusugak’s own childhood experiences.
Cheyenne Again by Eve Bunting, Illustrator Irving Toddy, Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
In the late 1880s, a Cheyenne boy named Young Bull is taken from his parents and sent to a boarding school to learn the white man’s ways. “Young Bull’s struggle to hold on to his heritage will touch children’s sense of justice and lead to some interesting discussions and perhaps further research.” —School Library Journal
Little Butterfly Girl An Indian Residential School Story
Little Butterfly Girl: An Indian Residential School Story is a picture book produced by the Union of Ontario Indians based on an original account by Jenny Restoule-Mallozzi. This story recounts the experiences of an Ojibwe child forced to attend residential school. The tragic account is brought full-circle when Mary begins her healing journey with encouragement from her family.
Shi-shi-etko by Nicola I. Campbell, Illustrator Kim Lafave, Published by Groundwood Books, 2005
In just four days young Shi-shi-etko will have to leave her family and all that she knows to attend residential school. She spends her last days at home treasuring the beauty of her world — the dancing sunlight, the tall grass, each shiny rock, the tadpoles in the creek, her grandfather’s paddle song. Her mother, father and grandmother, each in turn, share valuable teachings that they want her to remember. And so Shi-shi-etko carefully gathers her memories for safekeeping.
By Nicola I. Campbell , Illustrated by Carrielynn Victor. Award-winning storyteller Nicola I. Campbell shows what it means to “stand like a cedar” on this beautiful journey of discovery through the wilderness. Learn the names of animals in the Nłeʔkepmxcín or Halq’emeylem languages as well as the teachings they have for us. Experience a celebration of sustainability and connection to the land through lyrical storytelling and Carrielynn Victor’s breathtaking art in this children’s illustrated book.
Stolen Words by Melanie Florence, Illustrator Gabrielle Grimard, Publisher Second Story Press
This sensitive and warmly illustrated picture book explores the intergenerational impact of the residential school system that separated young Indigenous children from their families. The story recognizes the pain of those whose culture and language were taken from them, how that pain is passed down, and how healing can also be shared.
The Bee by Becky Han
Becky Han is an Inuk singer-songwriter who grew up in the small and beautiful community of Ikpiarjuk (Arctic Bay) in Nunavut. Believing that music is a creative and educational outlet, she enjoys writing most of her work in Inuktut. The Bee is based on her award-winning song “Qaariaq”.Tindur Peturs is an animator and illustrator, born and raised in Iceland, who moved to Canada to study animation and Canadian culture. They have a love for nature, animals, and the power of storytelling.
The Elders Are Watching By David Bouchard And Roy Henry Vickers
A beautifully illustrated picture book about a boy and his grandfather who hear and listen to the spirits of the Elders.
The Water Walker Written and Illustrated by Joanne Robertson
The story of a determined Ojibwe Grandmother (Nokomis) Josephine-ba Mandamin and her great love for Nibi (water). Nokomis walks to raise awareness of our need to protect Nibi for future generations and for all life on the planet.
Written by Jodie Callaghan and Illustrated by Georgia Lesley. “I’m waiting for what we lost that day to come back to us.” Ashley meets her great-uncle by the old train tracks near their community in Nova Scotia. When she sees his sadness, he shares with her the history of those tracks.
Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, We Are Water Protectors issues an urgent rallying cry to safeguard the Earth’s water from harm and corruption―a bold and lyrical picture book written by Carole Lindstrom and vibrantly illustrated by Michaela Goade.
When We Were Alone by David Alexander Robertson, Illustrator Julie Flett, Published by HighWaterPress
A young girl notices things about her grandmother that make her curious. Why does her grandmother have long, braided hair and beautifully coloured clothing? Why does she speak Cree and spend so much time with her family? As she asks questions, her grandmother shares her experiences in a residential school, when all of these things were taken away.
Grades 4-6 Books
As Long as The Rivers Flow by Larry Loyie & Constance Brissenden, Illustrator Heather Holmlund, Published by Groundwood Books
As Long as the Rivers Flow is the story of Larry Loyie’s last summer before entering residential school. It is a time of learning and adventure. He cares for an abandoned baby owl and watches his grandmother make winter moccasins. He helps the family prepare for a hunting and gathering trip.
Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two by Joseph Bruchac, Published by Speak
The riveting fictional tale of Ned Begay, a sixteen-year-old Navajo boy who becomes a code talker. His grueling journey is eye-opening and inspiring. This deeply affecting novel honors all of those young men, like Ned, who dared to serve, and it honors the culture and language of the Navajo.
Dear Canada: These Are My Words: The Residential School Diary of Violet Pesheens by Ruby Slipperjack, Published by Scholastic Canada
Violet Pesheens is struggling to adjust to her new life at residential school. She misses her Grandma; she has run-ins with Cree girls; at her “white” school, everyone just stares; and everything she brought has been taken from her, including her name—she is now just a number. But worst of all, she has a fear, a fear of forgetting the things she treasures most: her Anishnabe language; the names of those she knew before; and her traditional customs. A fear of forgetting who she is.
Home to Medicine Mountain by Chiori Santiago, Illustrator Judith Lowry, Published by Children’s Book Press
Two young brothers are separated from their family and sent to live in a government-run residential school in the 1930s.
I Am Not A Number by Dr. Jenny Kay Dupuis & Kathy Kacer, Illustrator Gillian Newland, Published by Second Story Press
When eight-year-old Irene is removed from her First Nations family to live in a residential school she is confused, frightened, and terribly homesick. She tries to remember who she is and where she came from, despite the efforts of the nuns who are in charge at the school and who tell her that she is not to use her own name but instead use the number they have assigned to her. When she goes home for summer holidays, Irene’s parents decide never to send her and her brothers away again. But where will they hide? And what will happen when her parents disobey the law?
Little Butterfly Girl: An Indian Residential School Story by Jenny Restoule-Mallozzi, Illustrator Donald Chrétien, Published by Union of Ontario Indians
An astounding story about an Indigenous girl taken away to residential school, and who she becomes as a woman after the experiences she endures there, as a child.
My Name is Seepeetza by Shirley Sterling, Published by Groundwood Books
At six years old, Seepeetza is taken from her happy family life on Joyaska Ranch to live as a boarder at the Kalamak Indian Residential School. Life at the school is not easy, but Seepeetza still manages to find some bright spots. Always, thoughts of home make her school life bearable.
No Time to Say Goodbye: Children’s Stories of Kuper Island Residential School by Sylvia Olsen Published by Son Nis Press
A fictional account of five children sent to boarding school, based on the recollections of a number of Tsartlip First Nations people.
Powwow Summer by Nahanni Shingoose
Part Ojibwe and part white, River lives with her white mother and stepfather on a farm in Ontario. Teased about her Indigenous heritage as a young girl, she feels like she doesn’t belong and struggles with her identity.
Reflections From Them Days: A Residential School Memoir From Nunatsiavut by Nellie Winters
When Nellie Winters was 11 years old, she was sent to attend the Nain Boarding School, a residential school 400 kilometers from her home. In this memoir, she recalls life before residential school, her experiences at the school, and what it was like to come home.
Sammy Goes to Residential School by Mary Lingman, Illustrator Susan Ross, Published by Penumbra Press
Sammy is a seven-year-old Cree boy who has to go to residential school away from his family and the reserve because his parents spend the year on the trapline until spring.
The Journey Forward, Novella on Reconciliation: When We Play Our Drums They Sing by Richard Van Camp and The Journey Forward, A Novella on reconciliation Lucy & Lola by Monique Gray Smith
The two stories that comprise this flipbook from B.C. publisher McKellar & Martin take a measured approach to teaching readers about the history of residential schools and the ongoing legacy of pain they caused, but employ very different tones in their telling.
Grades 7-9 Books
Canada’s First Nations and Cultural Genocide by Robert Z. Cohen, Published by Rosen Publishing
This insightful resource provides a history of Canada and outlines the development of attitudes that resulted in the residential education system, as well as a glimpse into the experiences of children who were forced to attend residential schools administered by various religious organizations.
Dear Canada: These Are My Words: The Residential Diary Of Violet Peesheens By Ruby Slipperjack
Violet Pesheens is struggling to adjust to her new life at Residential School. She misses her Grandma; she has run-ins with Cree girls; at her “white” school, everyone just stares; and everything she brought has been taken from her, including her name—she is now just a number. But worst of all, she has a fear. A fear of forgetting the things she treasures most: her Anishnabe language; the names of those she knew before; and her traditional customs. A fear of forgetting who she was.
My Name is Seepeetza by Shirley Sterling, Published by Groundwood Books
At six years old, Seepeetza is taken from her happy family life on Joyaska Ranch to live as a boarder at the Kalamak Indian Residential School. Life at the school is not easy, but Seepeetza still manages to find some bright spots. Always, thoughts of home make her school life bearable.
No Time to Say Goodbye: Children’s Stories of the Kuper Island Residential School by Rita Morris, Sylvia Olsen and Ann Sam, Published by Sono Nis Press
No Time to Say Goodbye is a fictional account of five children sent to aboriginal boarding school, based on the recollections of a number of Tsartlip First Nations people.
Residential Schools, With the Words and Images of Survivors, A National History by Larry Oskiniko Loyie, Constance Brissenden, Wayne K. Spear
Residential Schools, With the Words and Images of Survivors, A National History honours the survivors, the former students, who attended residential schools.
Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story by David Alexander Roberston, Illustrator Scott Henderson, Published by High Water Press (Appropriate for Grades 8-12)
A school assignment to interview a residential-school survivor leads Daniel to Betsy, his friend’s grandmother, who tells him her story.
The Secret Path: Jr. High Lesson Plans from Edmonton Public Schools
These five lesson plans are meant to help teachers explore the Secret Path book and video with students in grades 7 to 9. Each lesson plan has a corresponding PowerPoint with an embedded video.
Grades 10-12 Books
7 Generations: A Plains Cree Saga by David Alexander Roberston, Illustrator Scott Henderson, Published by HighWater Press
An epic, four-part graphic novel. Illustrated in vivid colour, the story follows one Indigenous family over three centuries and seven generations
7 Generations Series – Teacher’s Guide by Portage & Main Press
Designed to help teachers in early years classrooms use The Seven Teachings Stories series, by Katherena Vermette, this guide provides the framework and key ideas educators need to become participants in a culturally responsive classroom community and to deepen their understanding of the Seven Teachings.
As Long as the Rivers Flow by James Bartleman, Published by Random House
As Long as the Rivers Flow is the story of Larry Loyie’s last summer before entering residential school. It is a time of learning and adventure. He cares for an abandoned baby owl and watches his grandmother make winter moccasins. He helps the family prepare for a hunting and gathering trip.
From the Ashes by Jesse Thistle
In this extraordinary and inspiring debut memoir, Jesse Thistle, once a high school dropout and now a rising Indigenous scholar, chronicles his life on the streets and how he overcame trauma and addiction to discover the truth about who he is.
Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese, Published by Douglas & McIntyre
Author Richard Wagamese traces through his fictional characters the decline of a culture and a cultural way. For Saul, taken forcibly from the land and his family when he’s sent to residential school, salvation comes for a while through his incredible gifts as a hockey player.
Indian School Days by Basil H. Johnston, Published by University of Oklahoma Press
Indian School Days is the humourous, bitter-sweet autobiography by Ojibwe linguist and storyteller Basil Johnston who was taken from his family at age ten and placed in Jesuit boarding school in northern Ontario.
Marrow Thieves By Cherie Dimaline
Humanity has nearly destroyed its world through global warming, but now an even greater evil lurks. The Indigenous people of North America are being hunted and harvested for their bone marrow, which carries the key to recovering something the rest of the population has lost: the ability to dream. In this dark world, Frenchie and his companions struggle to survive as they make their way up north to the old lands. For now, survival means staying hidden—but what they don’t know is that one of them holds the secret to defeating the marrow thieves.
Memory Keeper is a collection of stories which offers anecdotes and stories, from the author’s life, living on the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. These stories helped her to circumnavigate constructively the residual pain and dysfunction that is the legacy of the Residential School System. As a Registered Social Worker and Community Health Worker, Dawn Cheryl Hill does not leave the reader impacted by the shock and trauma of her stories, instead she offers a workbook companion with the published collection as a healing resource for her readers.
Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
With winter looming, a small northern Anishinaabe community goes dark. Cut off, people become passive and confused. Panic builds as the food supply dwindles. While the band council and a pocket of community members struggle to maintain order, an unexpected visitor arrives, escaping the crumbling society to the south. Soon after, others follow.
Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story by David Alexander Roberston, Illustrator Scott Henderson, Published by HighWater Press (Appropriate for Grades 9-12)
A school assignment to interview a residential school Survivor leads Daniel to Betsy, his friend’s grandmother, who tells him her story.
The Clay We Are Made Of: Haudenosaunee Land Tenure on the Grand River by Susan M. Hill
If one seeks to understand Haudenosaunee (Six Nations) history, one must consider the history of Haudenosaunee land. For countless generations prior to European contact, land and territory informed Haudenosaunee thought and philosophy, and was a primary determinant of Haudenosaunee identity.
The Education of Augie Merasry by Joseph Auguste Merasty
A courageous and intimate memoir, The Education of Augie Merasty is the story of a child who faced the dark heart of humanity, let loose by the cruel policies of a bigoted nation.
Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga
In 1966, twelve-year-old Chanie Wenjack froze to death on the railway tracks after running away from residential school. An inquest was called and four recommendations were made to prevent another tragedy. None of those recommendations were applied.
The Inconvenient Indian By Thomas King
Rich with dark and light, pain and magic, The Inconvenient Indian distills the insights gleaned from Thomas King’s critical and personal meditation on what it means to be “Indian” in North America, weaving the curiously circular tale of the relationship between non-Natives and Natives in the centuries since the two first encountered each other.
Teen to Adult Books and Audiobooks
A Girl Called Echo by Katherena Vermette
In this graphic novel series Echo Desjardins, a 13 year-old Métis girl, is struggling with her feelings of loneliness while attending a new school and living with a new family. Then an ordinary day in Mr. Bee’s history class turns extraordinary and Echo’s life will never be the same. During Mr. Bee’s lecture, Echo finds herself transported to another time and place–a bison hunt on the Saskatchewan prairie and back again to the present. In the following weeks, Echo slips back and forth in time. She visits a Métis camp, travels the old fur trade routes, and experiences the perilous and bygone era of the Pemmican wars.
A knock on the door by TRC
A Knock on the Door: The Essential History of Residential Schools from the Truth and Reconciliation of Canada is edited & abridged for ease of use by the general public and secondary school students. This 296-page book consists of the TRC text of What We Have Learned: Principles of Truth and Reconciliation as well as shorter versions from TRC executive summary (Introduction, Reconciliation & Legacy chapters). This volume contains the 94 Calls to Action. It also includes a foreword by Phil Fontaine and an afterword by Aimee Craft, director of research, National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. The book includes a map of residential schools in Canada, notes, and bibliography. It does not have an index.
An Introductory Guide To Understanding Indigenous Rights
This is the story of how a unique set of collective rights made it into Canada’s constitution. Indigenous and treaty rights are the basis of Canada itself. They are integral to its collective history, culture and laws. And the nation as we know it could not exist without them.
ALL OUR RELATIONS: FINDING THE PATH FORWARD by Tanya Talaga
In this vital and incisive work, bestselling and award-winning author Tanya Talaga explores the alarming rise of youth suicide in Indigenous communities in Canada and beyond.
ALL THE WAY: MY LIFE ON ICE By Jordin Tootoo
It seemed as though nothing could stop Jordin Tootoo on the ice. The captain, a fan favourite, a star in international competition, Tootoo was always a leader. And when he was drafted by Nashville in 2001 and made the Predators out of camp in 2003, he became a leader in another way–as the first player of Inuk descent to suit up in the NHL.
A HISTORY OF MY BRIEF BODY By Billy-Ray Belcourt
Billy-Ray Belcourt”s debut memoir opens with a tender letter to his kokum and memories of his early life in the hamlet of Joussard, Alberta, and on the Driftpile First Nation. From there, it expands to encompass the big and broken world around him, in all its complexity and contradictions: a legacy of colonial violence and the joy that flourishes in spite of it, first loves and first loves lost, sexual exploration and intimacy, and the act of writing as a survival instinct and a way to grieve.
As Long as the Rivers Flow by James Bartleman
From the accomplished memoirist and former Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario comes a first novel of incredible heart and spirit for every Canadian.
The novel follows one girl, Martha, from the Cat Lake First Nation in Northern Ontario who is “stolen” from her family at the age of six and flown far away to residential school. She doesn’t speak English but is punished for speaking her native language; most terrifying and bewildering, she is also “fed” to the school’s attendant priest with an attraction to little girls.
Beautiful Scars by Tom Wilson
Tom Wilson was raised in the rough-and-tumble world of Hamilton—Steeltown— in the company of World War II vets, factory workers, fall-guy wrestlers and the deeply guarded secrets kept by his parents, Bunny and George. For decades Tom carved out a life for himself in shadows. He built an international music career and became a father, he battled demons and addiction, and he waited, hoping for the lies to cease and the truth to emerge. It would. And when it did, it would sweep up the St. Lawrence River to the Mohawk reserves of Quebec, on to the heights of the Manhattan skyline.
Braiding Histories by Susan D. Dion
This book proposes a new pedagogy for addressing Indigenous subject material, shifting the focus from an essentializing or “othering” exploration of the attributes of Indigenous peoples to a focus on historical experiences that inform our understanding of contemporary relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
BRAIDING SWEETGRASS: INDIGENOUS WISDOM, SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND THE TEACHINGS OF PLANTS by Robin Wall Kimmerer
A New York Times Bestseller A Washington Post Bestseller Named a Best Essay Collection of the Decade” by Literary Hub As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers. In Braiding Sweetgrass, Kimmerer brings these two lenses of knowledge together to take us on “a journey that is every bit as mythic as it is scientific, as sacred as it is historical, as clever as it is wise” (Elizabeth Gilbert).
Blanket Toss Under Midnight Sun: Portraits of Everyday Life in Eight Indigenous Communities by Paul Seesequasis
This an exceptional collection of photos that includes Indigenous photographers showing a reality of integrity, strength, resourcefulness, hard work, family and play.
Broken Circle: The Dark Legacy of Indian Residential Schools by Theodore Fontaine
Broken Circle: The Dark Legacy of Indian Residential Schools, A Memoir is a first-person account of the residential school experience by Theodore Fontaine from the Sagkeeng First Nation. Removed from his family and home community at the age of seven, Fontaine writes about the impact of his psychological, emotional and sexual abuse, the loss of his language and culture, and, most important, the loss of his family and community during his time at residential school. He attended Fort Alexander Indian Residential School, run by the Oblates for twelve years. After leaving the school the young man was confused, angry and conflicted.
Buffy Sainte-Marie: The Authorized Biography by Andrea Warner
Folk hero. Songwriter icon. Living legend. Buffy Sainte-Marie is all of these things and more. In this, Sainte-Marie’s first and only authorized biography, music critic Andrea Warner draws from more than sixty hours of exclusive interviews to offer a powerful, intimate look at the life of the beloved artist and everything that she has accomplished in her seventy-seven years (and counting).
Caste: THE ORIGINS OF OUR DISCONTENTS By Isabel Wilkerson
In this brilliant book, Isabel Wilkerson gives us a masterful portrait of an unseen phenomenon in America as she explores, through an immersive, deeply researched narrative and stories about real people, how America today and throughout its history has been shaped by a hidden caste system, a rigid hierarchy of human rankings.
COTTAGERS AND INDIANS By Drew Hayden Taylor
Cottagers and Indians explores the politics and issues surrounding a real-life event still occurring in the Kawartha Lakes region of Central Ontario. An Indigenous man, Arthur Copper, has taken it upon himself to repopulate the nearby lakes with wild rice, known amongst the Anishnawbe as Manoomin, much to the disapproval of the local non-Indigenous cottagers, Maureen Poole in particular.
Dear Canada: These Are My Words: The Residential Diary Of Violet Peesheens By Ruby Slipperjack
Violet Pesheens is struggling to adjust to her new life at Residential School. She misses her Grandma; she has run-ins with Cree girls; at her “white” school, everyone just stares; and everything she brought has been taken from her, including her name—she is now just a number. But worst of all, she has a fear. A fear of forgetting the things she treasures most: her Anishnabe language; the names of those she knew before; and her traditional customs. A fear of forgetting who she was.
EMPIRE OF WILD by Cherie Dimaline
Broken-hearted Joan has been searching for her husband, Victor, for almost a year–ever since he went missing on the night they had their first serious argument.
From the Ashes by Jesse Thistle
From the Ashes is a remarkable memoir about hope and resilience, and a revelatory look into the life of a Métis-Cree man who refused to give up.
Memory Keeper is a collection of stories which offers anecdotes and stories, from the author’s life, living on the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. These stories helped her to circumnavigate constructively the residual pain and dysfunction that is the legacy of the Residential School System. As a Registered Social Worker and Community Health Worker, Dawn Cheryl Hill does not leave the reader impacted by the shock and trauma of her stories, instead she offers a workbook companion with the published collection as a healing resource for her readers.
Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
With winter looming, a small northern Anishinaabe community goes dark. Cut off, people become passive and confused. Panic builds as the food supply dwindles. While the band council and a pocket of community members struggle to maintain order, an unexpected visitor arrives, escaping the crumbling society to the south. Soon after, others follow.
HEART BERRIES: A MEMOIR By Terese Marie Mailhot
Heart Berries is a powerful, poetic memoir of a woman”s coming of age on the Seabird Island Indian Reservation in British Columbia. Having survived a profoundly dysfunctional upbringing only to find herself hospitalized and facing a dual diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Bipolar II, Terese Mailhot is given a notebook and begins to write her way out of trauma.
Indigenous Writes by Chelsea Vowel
Are you familiar with the terms listed above? In Indigenous Writes, Chelsea Vowel, legal scholar, teacher, and intellectual, opens an important dialogue about these (and more) concepts and the wider social beliefs associated with the relationship between Indigenous peoples and Canada. In 31 essays, Chelsea explores the Indigenous experience from the time of contact to the present, through five categories – Terminology of Relationships; Culture and Identity; Myth-Busting; State Violence; and Land, Learning, Law, and Treaties. She answers the questions that many people have on these topics to spark further conversations at home, in the classroom, and in the larger community.
Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese
With compassion and insight, author Richard Wagamese traces through his fictional characters the decline of a culture and a cultural way. For Saul, taken forcibly from the land and his family when he’s sent to residential school, salvation comes for a while through his incredible gifts as a hockey player. But in the harsh realities of 1960s Canada, he battles obdurate racism and the spirit-destroying effects of cultural alienation and displacement. Indian Horse unfolds against the bleak loveliness of northern Ontario, all rock, marsh, bog and cedar. Wagamese writes with a spare beauty, penetrating the heart of a remarkable Ojibway man.
Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada – an English and French educational resource created by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, published by Canadian Geographic, and funded by the Government of Canada
In this atlas, you will find outstanding reference maps of Indigenous Canada, as well as a section devoted to Truth and Reconciliation, including detailed pages on many aspects of the topic with contemporary and historical photography, maps and more.
Indigenous Writes: A Guide to First Nations, Métis & Inuit Issues in Canada by Chelsea Vowel
In Indigenous Writes, Chelsea Vowel, legal scholar, teacher, and intellectual, opens an important dialogue about these (and more) concepts and the wider social beliefs associated with the relationship between Indigenous peoples and Canada.
MONKEY BEACH By Eden Robinson
Tragedy strikes a Native community when the Hill family’s handsome seventeen-year-old son, Jimmy, mysteriously vanishes at sea. Left behind to cope during the search-and-rescue effort is his sister, Lisamarie, a wayward teenager with a dark secret.
MOTORCYCLES & SWEETGRASS By Drew Hayden Taylor
A story of magic, family, a mysterious stranger . . . and a band of marauding raccoons.
Otter Lake is a sleepy Anishnawbe community where little happens. Until the day a handsome stranger pulls up astride a 1953 Indian Chief motorcycle – and turns Otter Lake completely upside down.
MOON OF THE CRUSTED SNOW: A NOVEL by Waubgeshig Rice
With winter looming, a small northern Anishinaabe community goes dark. Cut off, people become passive and confused. Panic builds as the food supply dwindles. While the band council and a pocket of community members struggle to maintain order, an unexpected visitor arrives, escaping the crumbling society to the south. Soon after, others follow.
Mush-Hole: Memories of a Residential School by Maddie Harper
Maddie Harper explains her years attending the Mohawk Institute Residential School in Brantford. When she was seven years old Maddie was forced to attend the school until the age of fifteen. She writes with clarity and power as she describes her experiences.
My Name is Seepeetza by Shirley Sterling
An honest, inside look at life in an Indian residential school in the 1950s, and how one indomitable young spirit survived it.
No Time to Say Goodbye: Children’s Stories of the Kuper Island Residential School by Rita Morris, Sylvia Olsen and Ann Sam
No Time to Say Goodbye is a fictional account of five children sent to aboriginal boarding school, based on the recollections of a number of Tsartlip First Nations people. These unforgettable children are taken by government agents from Tsartlip Day School to live at Kuper Island Residential School.
On Screen Protocols & Pathways: A Media Production Guide To Working With First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Communities, Cultures, Concepts & Stories (French & English)
While this resource was commissioned by imagineNATIVE to provide cultural principles, key findings from a national consultation process, and best practices for filmmakers, production companies, and funders when depicting Indigenous content on-screen, it is well worth the read for educators to better understand their own role in sharing Indigenous knowledge, stories and learning.
Residential Schools, With the Words and Images of Survivors, A National History by Larry Oskiniko Loyie, Constance Brissenden, Wayne K. Spear
Residential Schools, with the Words and Images of Survivors, A National History Honours the survivors, the former students, who attended residential schools. Designed for ther Young Adult reader this accessible, 112 page history offers a first-person perspective of the residential school system in Canada, as it shares the memories of more than 70 survivors from across Canada as well as 125 archival and contemporary images
Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga
In 1966, twelve-year-old Chanie Wenjack froze to death on the railway tracks after running away from residential school. An inquest was called and four recommendations were made to prevent another tragedy. None of those recommendations were applied.
Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story by David Alexander Roberston
A school assignment to interview a residential-school survivor leads Daniel to Betsy, his friend’s grandmother, who tells him her story. Abandoned as a young child, Betsy was soon adopted into a loving family. A few short years later, at the age of 8, everything changed. Betsy was taken away to a residential school. There she was forced to endure abuse and indignity, but Betsy recalled the words her father spoke to her at Sugar Falls — words that gave her the resilience, strength, and determination to survive.
The Clay We Are Made Of: Haudenosaunee Land Tenure on the Grand River by Susan M. Hill
If one seeks to understand Haudenosaunee (Six Nations) history, one must consider the history of Haudenosaunee land. For countless generations prior to European contact, land and territory informed Haudenosaunee thought and philosophy, and was a primary determinant of Haudenosaunee identity.
THE MARROW THIEVES By Cherie Dimaline
Humanity has nearly destroyed its world through global warming, but now an even greater evil lurks. The indigenous people of North America are being hunted and harvested for their bone marrow, which carries the key to recovering something the rest of the population has lost: the ability to dream.
THE RIGHT TO BE COLD: ONE WOMAN’S STORY OF PROTECTING HER CULTURE, THE ARCTIC AND THE WHOLE PLANET By Sheila Watt-Cloutier
The Arctic ice is receding each year, but just as irreplaceable is the culture, the wisdom that has allowed the Inuit to thrive in the Far North for so long. And it’s not just the Arctic. The whole world is changing in dangerous, unpredictable ways. Sheila Watt-Cloutier has devoted her life to protecting what is threatened and nurturing what has been wounded.
THE OTHER SLAVERY: THE UNCOVERED STORY OF INDIAN ENSLAVEMENT IN AMERICA by Andres Resendez
The Other Slavery is nothing short of an epic recalibration of American history, one that’s long overdue… In addition to his skills as a historian and an investigator, Resendez is a skilled storyteller with a truly remarkable subject.
This Place: 150 Years Retold
A 296-page graphic novel anthology just released in April 2019 by Highwater Press. A graphic anthology with a foreword by Alicia Elliott, that showcases 11 Indigenous writers, eight illustrators, and two colour artists.
It presents Canadian history over the last 150 years from multiple viewpoints, including Métis, Inuit, Dene, Cree, Anishinaabe, and Mi’kmaq.
THE TAO OF RAVEN: AN ALASKA NATIVE MEMOIR by Ernestine Hayes
Using the story of Raven and the Box of Daylight (and relating it to Sun Tzu’s equally timeless Art of War) to deepen her narration and reflection, Hayes expresses an ongoing frustration and anger at the obstacles and prejudices still facing Alaska Natives in their own land, but also recounts her own story of attending and completing college in her fifties and becoming a professor and a writer.
THERE THERE: A NOVEL by Tommy Orange
Here is a voice we have never heard–a voice full of poetry and rage, exploding onto the page with stunning urgency and force.
The Education of Augie Merasry by Joseph Auguste Merasty
A courageous and intimate memoir, The Education of Augie Merasty is the story of a child who faced the dark heart of humanity, let loose by the cruel policies of a bigoted nation.
A retired fisherman and trapper who sometimes lived rough on the streets, Augie Merasty was one of an estimated 150,000 First Nations, Inuit, and Metis children who were taken from their families and sent to government-funded, church-run schools, where they were subjected to a policy of aggressive assimilation.
The Winter We Danced Voices from the Past, the Future, and the Idle No More Movement Edited by The Kino-nda-niimi Collective
This is a vivid collection of writing, poetry, lyrics, art, and images from the many diverse voices that make up the past, present, and future of the Idle No More movement. Calling for pathways into healthy, just, equitable, and sustainable communities while drawing on a wide-ranging body of narratives, journalism, editorials, and creative pieces, this collection consolidates some of the most powerful, creative, and insightful moments from The Winter We Danced and gestures towards next steps in an on-going movement for justice and Indigenous self-determination.
Truth and Indignation offers the first close and critical assessment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission as it is unfolding. Niezen uses interviews with survivors and oblate priests and nuns, as well as testimonies, texts, and visual materials produced by the Commission to raise important questions: What makes Canada’s TRC different from others around the world? What kinds of narratives are emerging and what does that mean for reconciliation, transitional justice, and conceptions of traumatic memory? What happens to the ultimate goal of reconciliation when a large part of the testimony—that of nuns, priests, and government officials—is scarcely evident in the Commission’s proceedings?
UNRECONCILED: FAMILY, TRUTH, AND INDIGENOUS RESISTANCE BY JESSE WENTE
A prominent Indigenous voice uncovers the lies and myths that affect relations between white and Indigenous peoples and the power of narrative to emphasize truth over comfort.
Visions of the Heart by Davis Long & Olive Patricia Dickson
An inclusive and interdisciplinary exploration of current issues involving Indigenous Peoples in Canada – with a view to the future. This contributed collection by leading scholars is an indispensable resource for understanding contemporary issues involving Indigenous Peoples in Canada, such as modern treaty relationships, cultural resurgence, and critical examinations of gender and sexuality.
Canada’s First Nations and Cultural Genocide by Robert Z. Cohen, Published by Rosen Publishing
This insightful resource provides a history of Canada and outlines the development of attitudes that resulted in the residential education system, as well as a glimpse into the experiences of children who were forced to attend residential schools administered by various religious organizations.
ONE NATIVE LIFE by Richard Wagamese
When Garnet Raven was three years old, he was taken from his home on an Ojibway Indian reserve and placed in a series of foster homes. Having reached his mid-teens, he escapes at the first available opportunity, only to find himself cast adrift on the streets of the big city.
SPLIT TOOTH By Tanya Tagaq
Fact can be as strange as fiction. It can also be as dark, as violent, as rapturous. In the end, there may be no difference between them. A girl grows up in Nunavut in the 1970s. She knows joy, and friendship, and parents” love. She knows boredom, and listlessness, and bullying. She knows the tedium of the everyday world, and the raw, amoral power of the ice and sky, the seductive energy of the animal world. She knows the ravages of alcohol, and violence at the hands of those she should be able to trust. She sees the spirits that surround her, and the immense power that dwarfs all of us.
The Break by Katherena Vermette
When Stella, a young Métis mother, looks out her window one evening and spots someone in trouble on the Break — a barren field on an isolated strip of land outside her house — she calls the police to alert them to a possible crime.
When Stella, a young Métis mother, looks out her window one evening and spots someone in trouble on the Break — a barren field on an isolated strip of land outside her house — she calls the police to alert them to a possible crime.
In a series of shifting narratives, people who are connected, both directly and indirectly, with the victim — police, family, and friends — tell their personal stories leading up to that fateful night. Lou, a social worker, grapples with the departure of her live-in boyfriend. Cheryl, an artist, mourns the premature death of her sister Rain. Paulina, a single mother, struggles to trust her new partner. Phoenix, a homeless teenager, is released from a youth detention centre. Officer Scott, a Métis policeman, feels caught between two worlds as he patrols the city. Through their various perspectives a larger, more comprehensive story about lives of the residents in Winnipeg’s North End is exposed.
THE NIGHT WANDERER: A GRAPHIC NOVEL by Drew Hayden Taylor
A mesmerizing blend of Gothic thriller and modern coming-of-age novel, The Night Wanderer is unlike any other vampire story.
In My Own Moccasins: A Memoir of Resilience by Helen Knott
Helen Knott, a highly accomplished Indigenous woman, seems to have it all. But in her memoir, she offers a different perspective. In My Own Moccasins is an unflinching account of addiction, intergenerational trauma, and the wounds brought on by sexual violence. It is also the story of sisterhood, the power of ceremony, the love of family, and the possibility of redemption. With gripping moments of withdrawal, times of spiritual awareness, and historical insights going back to the signing of Treaty 8 by her great-great grandfather, Chief Bigfoot, her journey exposes the legacy of colonialism, while reclaiming her spirit.
The Trickster Trilogy by Eden Robinson
Jared is an Indigenous teen struggling to keep his dysfunctional family above water. When he starts seeing strange things – talking ravens, doppelgängers, skin monsters – his already chaotic life is turned upside down.
7 Generations Series – Teacher’s Guide by David Alexander Roberston
7 Generations Series
7 Generations: A Plains Cree Saga includes the four graphic novels: Stone, Scars, Ends/Begins, and The Pact.
7 Generations: A Plains Cree Saga is an epic 4-part graphic novel. Illustrated in vivid colour, the story follows one Aboriginal family over three centuries and seven generations. 7 Generations: A Plains Cree Saga includes the four graphic novels: Stone, Scars, Ends/Begins, and The Pact.
21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph
Based on a viral article, 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act is the essential guide to understanding the legal document and its repercussion on generations of Indigenous Peoples.
Reports and Recommendations
National Center for Truth and Reconciliation Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
A shared vision held by those affected by Indian residential schools was to create a place of learning and dialogue where the truths of their experiences were honoured and kept safe for future generations. They wanted their families, communities and all of Canada to learn from these hard lessons so they would not be repeated. They wanted to share the wisdom of the Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers on how to create just and peaceful relationships amongst diverse peoples. They knew that Reconciliation is not only about the past; it is about the future that all Canadians will forge together.
Reclaiming Power – Final Report MMIWG
The National Inquiry’s Final Report reveals that persistent and deliberate human and Indigenous rights violations and abuses are the root cause behind Canada’s staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people. The two volume report calls for transformative legal and social changes to resolve the crisis that has devastated Indigenous communities across the country.
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
The official resolution was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on September 13, 2007.
Bookstores & Publishers
A Different Booklist
An independent, multicultural bookstore.
Goodminds.com
A leading source for purchasing bias-free teaching and educational resources related to Native American, First Nations, Indigenous and Aboriginal studies. GoodMinds.com stocks over 3,000 Indigenous titles from Preschool to Adult.
House of Anansi Publishers
House of Anansi Press was founded in 1967 with a mandate to publish Canadian writers. Check out their amazing collection of Indigenous Authors including Thomas King, Tanya Talaga, Katherena Vermette and more.
Portage and Main Press Publishers
With a reputation for publishing quality educational resources and Indigenous literature, Portage & Main Press remains an independently owned Canadian company.
Theytus Books
Theytus Books is a leading North American publisher of Indigenous voices. Located in Syilx territory on the Penticton Indian Reserve in British Columbia, Theytus Books is proudly First Nations-owned and operated in partnership with the En’owkin Centre.
Wordcraft Circle
Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers was founded in 1992 by Lee Francis III after attending the first Returning the Gift gathering of Native writers and storytellers in Norman, Oklahoma.
Film
After the Last River
In the shadow of a de Beers diamond mine, the remote community of Attawapiskat lurches from crisis to crisis, as their homeland transforms into a modern frontier.
Biidaaban: The Dawn Comes (Suitable for older children)
In this mesmerizing stop-motion short film from acclaimed director Amanda Strong, an Indigenous youth joins forces with a 10,000-year-old Sasquatch to revive ceremonial sap harvesting in suburban Ontario.
(Dis)placed: Indigenous Youth and the Child Welfare System (Brittain & Navia, 2017)
This documentary features the voices of Indigenous youth as they reflect on their prior involvement with child welfare and share their multiple strategies of resistance to assimilation and state control. Teaching Guide: https://fncaringsociety.com/sites/default/files/displaced_teaching_guide_0.pdf
ImagineNATIVE
imagineNATIVE is the world’s largest presenter of Indigenous screen content. The organization is recognized locally, nationally, and internationally for excellence and innovation in programming and as the global centre for Indigenous media arts.
Indigenous Cinema in the Classroom – National Film Board (ages 6-11)
These short films for younger learners are by Indigenous filmmakers from across Canada and include titles from the Nunavut Animation Lab and the Talespinners, Vistas and Stories from Our Land series.
In Jesus’ Name: Shattering the Silence of St. Anne’s Residential School by Susan Enberg, Director and Producer
A poignant all-Indigenous English and Cree-English collaborative documentary film (42 mins) that breaks long-held silences imposed upon Indigenous children who were interned at the notoriously violent St. Anne’s Residential School in Fort Albany First Nation, Ontario.
Monkey Beach
Film based on Eden Robinson’s beloved novel of the same name.
National Film Board (NFB) Indigenous Film Collection
Watch hundreds of films by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit filmmakers, and find educator resources.
nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up A Film By Tasha Hubbard
As Hubbard uncovers the systemic racism that marks the investigation, the trial, and the public response, she also shines a light on the powerful voices of Indigenous women that emerge from the process.
Reel Injun
Peabody and Gemini award-winning Reel Injun takes an entertaining and insightful look at the Hollywood Indian.
Rumble: the Indians Who Rocked the World
A documentary that brings to light a profound and missing chapter in the history of music: the Indigenous influence.
It takes place in the context of the Canadian residential school system. It is based on the history of abuse of the First Nations people by government agents, including many reported cases of the mental and physical abuse of residential school children.
Joe Buffalo – Surviving the Horror of Residential Schools
In “Joe Buffalo,” directed by Amar Chebib and executive produced by Tony Hawk, an Indigenous skateboarding legend overcomes addiction and trauma stemming from his years in Canada’s Church-run school system.
The Body Remembers When The World Broke Open
Written and directed by Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers and Kathleen Hepburn (Never Steady, Never Still), and inspired by a transformative moment in Tailfeathers’ life, THE BODY REMEMBERS WHEN THE WORLD BROKE OPEN weaves an intricately complex, while at the same time very simple, story of a chance encounter between two Indigenous women
The Shine Network is a digital platform designed to empower and celebrate Indigenous women in film, television and media.
The O Show spotlights the inspiring work and life of Afro-Indigenous Two-Spirited community leader & DJ, Orene Askew!
Turning Tables
Joshua “Classic Roots” DePerry is an award-winning producer and DJ who is impacting the music community with his fresh sound and meaningful collaborations with diverse artists. This is a movie about Classic Roots.
Where the Spirit Lives
Where the Spirit Lives is a 1989 television film about Indigenous children in Canada being taken from their tribes to attend residential schools for assimilation into majority culture. Buffy Sainte-Marie scored the film.
News
A Day to Listen: Amplifying Indigenous voices and working towards reconciliation
Wednesday marks A Day to Listen, a partnership between the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF) and radio stations dedicated to amplifying Indigenous voices. With more than 500 radio stations across Canada participating, stories will be shared from Indigenous leaders, artists, storytellers and residential school survivors.
Agnes Wenjack , residential school survivor and mom of Chanie Wenjack, dies at 89 by Tanya Talaga
Residential school survivor and mother of Chanie Wenjack.
APTN National News
Aboriginal Peoples Television Network national news website.
CBC News – Indigenous
CBC news curated stream of Indigenous news in Canada.
Gord Downie honoured by AFN CBC News
The Tragically Hip lead singer and advocate for First Nations people was hailed at an Assembly of First Nations gathering for his work highlighting the plight of those who were subjected to residential schools.
Mandatory Grade 11 English course only teaches Indigenous books by Amy Dodge
By 2020, all literature taught in mandatory Grade 11 English course will be written by Indigenous authors.
“Truth and Reconciliation Commission final report”, CBC News: The National
The final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission says Canada must move from apology to action. Click here for the full story: http://www.cbc.ca/1.3365921
Podcasts
All My Relations
All My Relations is a podcast hosted by Matika Wilbur (Swinomish and Tulalip) and Adrienne Keene (Cherokee Nation) to explore our relationships— relationships to land, to our creatural relatives, and to one another. Each episode invites guests to delve into a different topic facing Native peoples today as we keep it real, play games, laugh a lot, and even cry sometimes. We invite you to join us!
Coffee With My Ma (explicit language is used at times)
Coffee with my Ma is a podcast created by actress Kaniehtiio Horn that places the audience at the kitchen table with her and her mom, Kahn-Tineta Horn.
Our Native Land features fun interviews and compelling discussions about Indigenous and First Nations cuisine, culture, heritage, and more from Vancouver Island and around the world.
Telling our Twisted Histories
The 11-episode podcast series reclaims Indigenous history by exploring 11 words whose meanings have been twisted by centuries of colonization. Savage, Reserve, Indian Time. It is words like these that have hurt so many and carry impacts to this day.
The Secret Life of Canada is a history podcast about the country you know and the stories you don’t.
Thunder Bay
The highest homicide and hate crime rates in the country. A mayor charged with extortion. A police chief who faced trial for obstruction of justice. Nine tragic deaths of Indigenous high schoolers.
Understanding The Secret Path
Hosted by Tanya Talaga, “Understanding The Secret Path” explores Gord Downie’s journey that led to the creation of Secret Path and the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund. It also explores the upcoming Secret Path Live concert, held Oct. 19, 2019, as well as DWF’s current program.
Unreserved Hosted by Rosanna Deerchild
Unreserved is CBC Radio’s space for the Indigenous community, culture, and conversation. Host Falen Johnson introduces listeners to the storytellers, culture makers and community shakers from across the country. Bonus: the podcast features music by Indigenous artists, as well.
#126: Truth and Reconciliation
Shawna Cunningham talks about truth and reconciliation in Canada and why it’s so important to build a cultural bridge between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
Television
Bighetty & Bighetty (For children)
Four brothers and their Cree-speaking puppets Marcel, Baptiste, Michel and The Chief show the silly, joyful side of Indigenous life.
Available on CBC GEM (Completely free streaming service with a large selection of Indigenous film and tv)
Chuck and the First Peoples Kitchen
Members of Indigenous communities across Canada dish out their knowledge with professional chef Chuck Hughes. Sharing integral parts of their Indigenous culture and culinary heritage through the sharing of family and ancestral recipes.
Future History
A documentary series about harnessing Indigenous knowledge and Indigenizing the future.
Going Native
Celebrated Anishinaabe humorist, author and DWF Artist Ambassador Drew Hayden Taylor explores everything from the weird and wacky, to the deep and profound ways of Native life. Examining stereotypes and traditions while discovering cool new ways Indigenous Peoples in North America are changing the world and re-shaping their culture in the 21st century. Each week Drew takes a wild journey of discovery from concert halls to desert ruins and from video game conventions to treacherous cliff pole-fishing expeditions.
Reconciliation and Education | Starleigh Grass | TEDxWestVancouverED
Lessons to remember before thinking about, talking about and teaching about residential schools and reconciliation. Starleigh Grass, Tsilhqot’in, is currently the Senior Policy Analyst for the First Nations Education Steering Committee. Her duties include sitting on the Province of BC’s Curriculum Advisory Committee, Advisory Group on Provincial Assessment, and Competencies Consulting Group. As the mother of a child currently in public school, she is committed to increasing the education system’s capacity to improve outcomes for Aboriginal learners.
Reservation Dogs
From Co-Creators and Executive Producers Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, Reservation Dogs is a half-hour comedy that follows the exploits of four Indigenous teenagers in rural Oklahoma who steal, rob and save in order to get to the exotic, mysterious and faraway land of California.
The Secret Path: In The Classroom | Short Docs
Gord Downie’s “The Secret Path” tells the story of Chanie Wenjack, a young boy who died trying to get home from a residential school in 1966. It’s been taught in classrooms across Canada.
Shot almost entirely on Nipissing First Nation, Unsettled is the first dramatic series to be funded through the CMF Aboriginal Language Program. Podemski’s open casting call resulted in over 50 Indigenous community members landing roles as principal actors, actors and background performers; out of 55 roles, 50 are Indigenous characters played by Indigenous actors.
Indigenous Suppliers
Anishinabe Printing
An Indigenous firm that can meet all of your printing and promotional marketing needs.
Bangin Bannock
A duo of Indigenous women offering a convenient Bannock dry mix in eco-friendly packaging, so you can make your own Bannock at home!
Jensen Group
An Indigenous digital media company that provides exceptional graphic design, web development, writing and copy editing services, video production and training tools to a wide range of clients.
Nish Tees
An Indigenous business that specializes in unique and customized printing for t-shirts and other clothing.
Red Sky Candles
A homegrown Indigenous business that creates delicious flavours of honey, unique beeswax candles, and art themes that are inspired by nature, seasonal celebrations, and cross-cultural interests.
Non-Profits
Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants (EBTSOYP)
Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants aims to inspire the next generation of scientists, explorers, and conservationists. During Secret Path Week, EBTSOYP will be hosting Indigenous and non-Indigenous scientists, artists, and activists for students to interact with and learn from.
First Book Canada
First Book Canada’s mission is to transform the lives of children in need by improving access to educational opportunities by providing free books to youth.
Hot Docs – Docs For Schools
Offering free in-school and in-cinema screenings for grade 7 to 12 teachers and their students throughout the school year.
Teach for Canada
Teach for Canada is a non-profit organization that works with northern First Nations to recruit, prepare, and support committed teachers.
Child Apprehension Rates - Social Services
Mocassin Project
Da-giiwewaat (so they can go home) is a national campaign to raise awareness about child apprehension impacting Indigenous children in Canada. Through education and citizen action our goal is to eradicate racism and bring children home to their families and communities.
Indigenous Educational Resources
The Assembly of First Nations
An advocacy organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.
“A space to smudge: How Durham schools are accommodating creed”, Durhamregion.com
The Durham District School Board released a new guide for Accommodating Creed in Schools
Building on the legacy of the NWAC Faceless Doll Project, Native Women’s Association of Canada
NWAC’s Faceless Doll Project is a collection of faceless felt dolls that will be used to create a travelling art exhibit in memory of the more than 600 missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls in Canada.
First Nations Child & Family Caring Society
The Caring Society stands with First Nations children, youth and families so they have equitable opportunities to grow up safely at home, be healthy, get a good education and be proud of who they are. FN Caring Society has amazing events throughout the year including Have a Heart Day, Spirit Bear.
Indigenous Studies Portal, University of Saskatchewan Library
The Indigenous Studies Portal (iPortal) is a database of full-text electronic resources such as articles, e-books, theses, government publications, videos, oral histories, and digitized archival documents and photographs. The iPortal content has a primary focus on Indigenous peoples of Canada with a secondary focus on North American materials and beyond.
Indigenous Education K-12 through Lakehead University
Links to various resources for Indigenous education.
Lessons from the Earth & Beyond – Bringing Indigenous Knowledge Systems into the Classroom
This resource aims to bring about important conversations and critical inquiries into the importance of Indigenous knowledge systems. There are units based on all learning stages, from kindergarten to grade 12. Coming from the Catholic Board, the foundation is from the Catholic faith. Each grade level is broken into individual units, lesson plans, video feed, and resources.
Martin Family Initiative
This site provides links to resources focused on improving elementary and secondary school education outcomes for First Nations, Métis Nation, and Inuit students in Canada, by working in full partnership with the Indigenous people of Canada, pertinent governments and the private sector.
Métis Nation
The site focuses on five specific aspects of Metis Nation self-determination: political development; social development, economic development; economic development; and meeting the global challenge of climate change.
National Association of Friendship Centres
The National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC) is a network of 112 Friendship Centres and Provincial and Territorial Associations (PTAs) from coast-to-coast-to-coast.
North American Indigenous Games
The North American Indigenous Games help us realize the collective potential of our bodies, minds, spirit and of our people – our hopes and dreams – The Spirit Strong, Brave & True.
Office of the Treaty Commissioner Education Resources
The OTC has a number of resources available to groups and individuals looking to learn and educate.
Learning ultimately supports the well-being of the self, the family, the community, the land, the spirits, and the ancestors.
The National Centre for Collaboration in Indigenous Education
Connecting communities with each other to share their stories about Indigenous Education.
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The official resolution adopted by the United Nations’ General Assembly on September 13, 2007
Recommended for Educators, Parents, and Community
21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph
Based on a viral article, 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act is the essential guide to understanding the legal document and its repercussion on generations of Indigenous Peoples.
Beyond 94 – Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, CBC
From 2008 to 2014, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission heard stories from thousands of residential school survivors. In June 2015, the commission released a report based on those hearings. From that came the 94 Calls to Action: individual instructions to guide governments, communities, and faith groups down the road to reconciliation. Beyond 94 is now monitoring the progress of that journey.
Braiding Histories by Susan D. Dion
This book proposes a new pedagogy for addressing Aboriginal subject material, shifting the focus from an essentializing or “othering” exploration of the attributes of Aboriginal peoples to a focus on historical experiences that inform our understanding of contemporary relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples.
Ensouling Our Schools: A Universally Designed Framework for Mental Health, Well-Being and Reconciliation by Jennifer Katz and Kevin Lamoureux
Ensouling Our Schools: A Universally Designed Framework for Mental Health, Well-Being and Reconciliation is one of the titles in the Portage and Main Series, Teaching to Diversity. This professional teacher resource is aimed at Teaching Staff & Professional Development Teams.
From the Ashes by Jesse Thistle
From the Ashes is a remarkable memoir about hope and resilience, and a revelatory look into the life of a Métis-Cree man who refused to give up.
Indigenous History Educational Portal, Historica Canada
A collection of learning tools focused on Indigenous history in Canada.
Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada
In this atlas, you will find outstanding reference maps of Indigenous Canada, as well as a section devoted to Truth and Reconciliation, including detailed pages on many aspects of the topic with contemporary and historical photography, maps and more. This is an English and French educational resource created by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, published Canadian Geographic, and funded by the Government of Canada.
Indigenous Perspectives Education Guide by Historica Canada
Popular narratives of Canadian history have most frequently been told from the perspective of European settlers. As a result, Indigenous experiences have often been neglected or excluded from the telling of our country’s history.
Indigenous Writes: A Guide to First Nations, Métis & Inuit Issues in Canada by Chelsea Vowel
In Indigenous Writes, Chelsea Vowel, legal scholar, teacher, and intellectual, opens an important dialogue about these (and more) concepts and the wider social beliefs associated with the relationship between Indigenous peoples and Canada.
Joining the Circle Habitat for Learning
This resource is one part of our collective effort on the journey of reconciliation. This is a journey that involves what COPA terms the cycle of positive change that features learning, reflecting, growing and changing. Joining the Circle is designed to help ensure Indigenous students and their families feel that they belong and are able to realize their greatest potential.
Kairos Blanket Exercise, Karios Canada
The KAIROS Blanket Exercise program is a unique, participatory history lesson – developed in collaboration with Indigenous Elders, knowledge keepers and educators – that fosters truth, understanding, respect and reconciliation among Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
The Legacy of Hope Foundation
The Legacy of Hope Foundation (LHF) is a national Indigenous-led, charitable organization founded in 2000 with the goal of educating and raising awareness about the history and many legacies of the Residential School System. These include the direct and ongoing impacts on First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Survivors, their communities, and their descendants.
The National Centre for Collaboration in Indigenous Education (NCCIE)
Hosted by First Nations University of Canada, which has a 40-year history of being Indigenous-owned, operated, and controlled. The Centre is grounded in principles of respect, reciprocity, and relationship, which are understood in Indigenous ways and honoured according to Indigenous protocols and customs.
The Métis were undoubtedly the most multilingual people in the history of Canada.
National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
A shared vision held by those affected by Indian residential schools was to create a place of learning and dialogue where the truths of their experiences were honoured and kept safe for future generations. They wanted their families, communities and all of Canada to learn from these hard lessons so they would not be repeated. They wanted to share the wisdom of the Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers on how to create just and peaceful relationships amongst diverse peoples. They knew that Reconciliation is not only about the past; it is about the future that all Canadians will forge together.
The National Healing Forests initiative is a community-focused and land-based reconciliation initiative involving education, trees, and green spaces. It can be difficult to undertake meaningful and intentional reconciliation activities inside any building or structure that was designed by the culture and society that created and implemented the residential school system. Healing Forest spaces offer survivors and families of the residential school system, as well as all Canadians, an opportunity to learn, heal, reflect, and have meaningful conversations about reconciliation. There are now 10 Healing Forests in Canada, with more being planned by communities. To learn more about creating your own community Healing Forest, please check out the website.
On Screen Protocols & Pathways: A Media Production Guide To Working With First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Communities, Cultures, Concepts & Stories (French & English)
While this resource was commissioned by imagineNATIVE to provide cultural principles, key findings from a national consultation process, and best practices for filmmakers, production companies, and funders when depicting Indigenous content on-screen, it is well worth the read for educators to better understand their own role in sharing Indigenous knowledge, stories and learning.
Residential Schools in Canada, Education Guide by Historica Canada
An eye-opening overview of residential schools with a timeline of events leading up to their creation and some interactive activities including watching a video about Chanie Wenjack then discussing why he escaped residential school.
Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga
A groundbreaking and multiple award-winning national bestseller work about systemic racism, education, the failure of the policing and justice systems, and Indigenous rights by Tanya Talaga. Over the span of eleven years, seven Indigenous high school students died in Thunder Bay, Ontario. They were hundreds of kilometers away from their families, forced to leave home because there was no adequate high school on their reserves. Five were found dead in the rivers surrounding Lake Superior below a sacred Indigenous site. Using a sweeping narrative focusing on the lives of the students, award-winning author Tanya Talaga delves into the history of this northern city that has come to manifest Canada’s long struggle with human rights violations against Indigenous communities.
Starting to Talk: A Guide for Communities on Healing and Reconciliation from the Legacy of Indian Residential Schools
A healing guide created by the Sioux Lookout Community Coalition for Healing and Reconciliation, a local group of former Indian Residential School students, clergy and interested citizens engaged in gestures of healing and reconciliation and the Sioux Lookout Anti-Racism Committee (SLARC), a community organization dedicated to helping all residents and visitors to their community learn to work and live together while respecting and celebrating our differences.
Truth and Reconciliation in Canadian Schools by Pamela Toulouse, Anishinaabe educator, author, speaker, and motivator
Truth and Reconciliation in Canadian Schools by educator and author Pamela Toulouse, Anishinaabe educator speaker and motivator, provides current information, personal insights, authentic resources, interactive strategies and lesson plans that support Indigenous and Non-Indigenous learners in the classroom. This book is for all teachers that are looking for ways to respectfully infuse residential school history, treaty education, Indigenous contributions, First Nations, Inuit and Metis perspectives, Seven Grandfather Teachings, and sacred circle teachings.
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The official resolution was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on September 13, 2007.
University of Regina – Faculty of Education Resources
List of non-fiction, memoir, autobiography, biography, true stories, fiction, youth and children books, poetry, plays, video, ROVER, and resource links.
Using Talking Circles in the Classroom by Alaina Winters
This guideline touches on how sharing circles can be used to build community, confidence and trust between students, their peers, and authority figures in the classroom and out in the world.
Visions of the Heart by Davis Long & Olive Patricia Dickson
An inclusive and interdisciplinary exploration of current issues involving Indigenous Peoples in Canada – with a view to the future. This contributed collection by leading scholars is an indispensable resource for understanding contemporary issues involving Indigenous Peoples in Canada, such as modern treaty relationships, cultural resurgence, and critical examinations of gender and sexuality.
Whose Land
Whose Land is a web-based app that uses GIS technology to assist users in identifying Indigenous Nations, territories, and Indigenous communities across Canada. The app can be used for learning about the territory your home or business is situated on, finding information for a land acknowledgment, and learning about the treaties and agreements signed across Canada.
“Why our kids need to learn about residential schools”, Today’s Parent
For more than a century, kids were systematically removed from their homes and sent to residential schools where they were forbidden to speak their language or practice their culture. But how do you talk about Canada’s cultural genocide with kids today? Teachers are finding some effective ways.
The Winter We Danced Voices from the Past, the Future, and the Idle No More Movement Edited by The Kino-nda-niimi Collective
This is a vivid collection of writing, poetry, lyrics, art, and images from the many diverse voices that make up the past, present, and future of the Idle No More movement. Calling for pathways into healthy, just, equitable, and sustainable communities while drawing on a wide-ranging body of narratives, journalism, editorials, and creative pieces, this collection consolidates some of the most powerful, creative, and insightful moments from The Winter We Danced and gestures towards next steps in an on-going movement for justice and Indigenous self-determination.
16 resources to help settlers understand and advance Indigenous reconciliation
The resources represent a few of the many online tools available to help in this essential journey. Originally published in 2018 and was updated in July 2021. Its republication comes on the heels of the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves of students at the sites of former residential schools across Canada
Disclaimer
By using the Legacy Schools toolkit, reconciliACTION Guidebook, and resources provided, you acknowledge the materials referenced herein as linked sites provided solely for your convenience. These sites may have their own privacy policy and terms and conditions that are not governed by the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF). DWF is not responsible for the privacy practices and/or the content of any linked sites or their subsidiaries and/or affiliates. DWF makes no representations or warranties as to the accuracy or any other aspect of the information contained on the linked sites, including the resources made available. DWF therefore disclaims all liability and responsibility for the availability of information, content, accuracy, products, or services found on third party sites which are linked from or to this website. The existence of a link from the website to any third-party site does not constitute an endorsement or approval by DWF of the linked site or any goods, services or information provided through such linked sites.
Inspired by Chanie’s story and Gord’s call to build a better Canada, the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Our goal is to improve the lives of Indigenous people by building awareness, education, and connections between all peoples in Canada.
Phone: 1-844-944-4545
E-mail: staff@downiewenjack.ca
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OHSWEKEN, ON
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