Counter Mapping

Jim Enote, a traditional Zuni farmer and director of the A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center, is working with Zuni artists to create maps that bring an indigenous voice and perspective back to the land, countering Western notions of place and geography and challenging the arbitrary borders imposed on the Zuni world. View this story on the Emergence 

Magazine website: https://emergencemagazine.org/film/counter-mapping/ 

Walking as Counter Mapping 

The focus of this podcast are two counter-mapping WalkingLab projects that conceptualize space as regional and relational. 

Listen to the Podcast here: https://walkinglab.org/podcast/walking-as-counter-mapping/ 

Photo by Ladyfern Photos on Unsplash 

Create a Counter Map of Your Area 

Step by Step Activity for Students

What is counter-mapping? 

Counter-mapping is the process of creating alternative representations of space that contest and bring into picture realities that won’t be found simply when looking at maps produced by big companies.

https://learning.open-city.org.uk/counter-mapping/ 

Native Land Digital 

Native Land Digital helps deal with complex issues that mapping Indigenous territories involves, such as:

Who belongs on a map of Indigenous territories? What defines “being Indigenous”, especially across time and space?

How many sources, and what types of sources, are acceptable when it comes to making a map?

How do we balance “accuracy” of borders with the breadth of an ever-expanding global map?

How do we create an organization that represents an Indigenous way of governing?

https://native-land.ca/ 

Land-based Learning Activity Guides 

Downloadable Land-based Learning Activities by Season

https://educationalliance.ca/land-based-learning-activities/ 

Mother Earth provides everything for her children to live in harmony. A balance is achieved for all life forms to live in positive mutual interaction. Respect and the utmost care was provided to her so that she may continue to sustain the sacred relationships that have been on-going since the beginning. 

https://educationalliance.ca/land-based-learning-activities/ 

Connecting with Land Language & Culture 

Explore this ten video playlist that highlights land-based learning  and the strong connection between land, language and culture for Indigenous Peoples.  

https://www.nccie.ca/playlist/land-based-learning-playlist/ 

Learning with the Land Elder Saa'kokoto

A playlist of videos from Rocky View Schools that shares the teachings of Elder Saa'kokoto, who shares stories & knowledge about Indigenous Ways of Life, Ways of Learning & about Na'a (Mother Earth) 

View the video playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuhDFTEpRQYG9AT7XBPqy0fcO4fQqcVCE 

Water Sacred Relationships

Grade 5 to 12 Social Studies and Science curriculum - videos and lessons

Click HERE

The Turtle and 13 Moons

Learn about the 13 moons and ways that First Peoples told time on turtle island in the above video. 

From the full Moon cycles, it was noted that certain things happened in the environment. The weather, plants, animals and temperature seemed to follow the cycles of the Moon. One of the patterns that became apparent was that there were 13 full moons that occurred before everything seemed to start all over again. Thus a 13 moon cycle was identified. 

Nisto Osap Tiposkawi Pisimuk – 13 moons

Wilfred Buck is a Cree Knowledge Keeper and star lore expert.  

The 13 moons herein are how some Ininew communities in Northern and Central Manitoba saw events, weather patterns, animal behaviour, plant/medicines in relation to Wawipi pisim (the full Moon). 

This is just one interpretation of many, because we understand that the Moon is seen from many perspective, latitudes, longitudes, environments and hemispheres.

Every culture on the face of the Earth sees the Moon in a very unique way and each has stories about the Moon and its various faces, that it shows us throughout the month.

Throughout the Americas, the Moon and the Sun were very central to the people's lives. Both the Moon and the Sun held prominent places in the lives, beliefs, ceremonies and understandings of the people.

https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/youth-educators/objective-moon/thirteen-moons.asp 

Wildred Buck Night Sky Stories 

Explore online resources by Wildred Buck related to: 

Constellations, star stories, 13 moons, moon phases, northern lights, winter and summer solstice, 

Indigenous knowledge keepers are working with NASA to see how different knowledge systems can co-exist.  Article highlighting the importance of Indigenous star knowledge from Nasa  expert who shares that Indigenous knowledge systems are complex, diverse and sophisticated: https://newcanadianmedia.ca/star-guy-and-nasa-helping-restore-the-sense-of-identity-in-indigenous-youth/ 

Indigenous Skies Resource 

Rothney Astrophysical Observatory 

https://science.ucalgary.ca/rothney-observatory/community/Indigenous%20Skies 

Walking Together

 First Nations, Métis and Inuit Perspectives in Curriculum was designed to help teachers understand the holistic nature of First Nations, Métis and Inuit ways of knowing.

Click HERE

View Oral Tradition 

Resources Here: https://www.learnalberta.ca/content/aswt/oral_tradition/#beginning-together 

Listen to the Knowledge Elders

NCCIE has created this catalogue, which is a sampling of what is on the world wide web. Over 200 videos pertaining to more than twenty First Nations, Métis, and Inuit ways of knowing and being from across Canada appear in this searchable resource related to: Language Revitalization; Creation Stories; Storytelling; Teachings; Philosophy; Art and Music; Ceremonies; Governance; Protocols; The Land; Treaties; Medicines

https://www.nccie.ca/knowledge-space/elder-knowledge/ 

Métis Oral Traditions & Stories

The Métis, like other Indigenous peoples, pass their histories, legends and family remembrances down through the Oral Tradition. Throughout the Métis Nation Homeland, the intergenerational transmission of culture occurred through the Oral Tradition, usually through Elders or the “Old People” as they are traditionally known.

Probably the best known aspect of the Oral Tradition is the telling of stories.

https://indigenouspeoplesatlasofcanada.ca/article/oral-tradition/ 

Indigenous Oral Histories and Primary Sources 

Oral histories play an integral role in Indigenous cultures. They transmit important histories, stories and teachings to new generations. Oral histories — a type of primary source — let Indigenous peoples teach about their own cultures in their own words. Other types of primary sources, such as artifacts from historical Indigenous communities, also transmit knowledge about Indigenous histories and ways of life. Academics, researchers and museum curators use such sources to highlight Indigenous perspectives. 

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/indigenous-oral-histories-and-primary-sources

Pow Wow:
Dance and Song

Watch 

https://www.cbc.ca/kids/articles/do-you-know-what-a-powwow-is 

https://us.tribaltradeco.com/blogs/teachings/pow-wow-dance-styles-teachings-and-meanings 

https://legacy.teachers.ab.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/ATA/For%20Members/ProfessionalDevelopment/Walking%20Together/PD-WT-16j-10%20Music%20and%20Dance.pdf

http://qhestlife.com/pow-wow-sweat

Song Structures

View the video to learn about the pow wow structure including: lead singer, push-up, downbeat and honour beat within four verses of a pow wow song. 

Read about the the drumming music that is the central focus of pow wows and many ceremonies. 

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/powwowmusic 

Drum Teachings

View the following lesson plans developed by NCCIE - National Center for Collaboration of Indigenous Education that share foundational knowledge of drum lessons and Inuit drumming. 

https://www.nccie.ca/lessonplan/lessons-of-the-drum/ 

https://www.nccie.ca/lessonplan/inuit-drumming/

Things to Consider at a Pow Wow

• Its Regalia Not Costumes

• Respect Opening Prayer

• Ask Before Taking Photos

• List to Announcers

• Visit Vendors 

• Recognize Different Traditions

• Ask Questions

 https://canadianpowwows.ca/dos-and-donts/ 

Indigenous Perspectives 

Human Geography
Contact to 1763
1763 - 1876 Oral Histories & Biographies
1876 - 1914 Policies & Politics
1914 - 1982 Separate & Unequal
1980s to Present Day Towards Reconciliation
Key Moments in Indigenous History Timeline
Indigenous Perspectives Activities Worksheets

Click HERE

Glenbow Museum Niitsitapiisini Our Way of Life

"Oki Niksokowa. Hello our relatives.

We call ourselves Niitsitapi, although we are known as the Blackfoot. This is our way of life. It is about how we lived with our families, the environment, and our neighbours. It is also about how these relationships are still important to us.

Please come with us and learn about our culture and our history."

Click HERE

Stepping Stones

Stepping Stones is a publication of the Alberta Teachers’ Association Walking Together: Education for Reconciliation and is intended to support certificated teachers on their learning journey to meet the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Foundational Knowledge competency in the Teaching Quality Standard. 

Click HERE

Empowering the Spirit

Increase awareness, understanding and application of First Nations, Métis and Inuit histories, perspectives and ways of knowing for the purpose of implementing treaty and residential schools education and Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action for education. 

Click HERE

Education is Our Buffalo

Education Is Our Buffalo:

A Teachers’ Resource for First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education in Alberta is one such resource. In addressing the particular needs of First Nations, Métis and Inuit teachers and learners, this collection of materials

sheds light on issues of diversity, equity and human rights as they touch the day-to-day life in Alberta schools and society.

Click HERE

Gabriel Dumont Institute 

A virtual museum of Métis history and culture.

Click HERE

IndigeSTEAM 's mission is the provision of Indigenous-led and culturally-relevant programming in STEM/STEAM to support a better future for Indigenous youth in STEM. We do this with spaces that are ethical and respect Indigenous culture and Ways of Knowing. We bring in Indigenous STEM role models and train non-Indigenous and Indigenous STEM professionals how best to work with Indigenous youth and youth in general. We also provide the Indigenous STEM professionals with networking and support that recognizes their need to walk in two worlds. 

Click HERE

The ISTEAM collaborative is supporting Indigenous resurgence through (re)making relations with lands, waters, and each other towards just, sustainable, and culturally thriving futures. 

These activities are designed to be used wherever you are! With your family, you can explore your relations with water, food, and plant and bird relatives right outside your door. Community organizations and educators are encouraged to use and adapt these materials for land- and water-based learning.

Click HERE