Below, you will find resources, in some cases in French as well, which will provide you with information about colonization in Canada, FNMI ways of knowing, the Residential School System, the Sixties Scoop, and reconciliation.
Bi-Giwen Coming Home: Truth-telling from the Sixties Scoop // Bi-Giwen: Retourner chez soi
Discover Indigenous culture and history along the TransCanada Trail // Découvrir l’histoire et la culture autochtone le long du sentier Transcanadien
Kairos Blanket Exercise // Animateurs français sont disponibles
Forgotten: the Métis Experience of Residential Schools // Les oublies: l’expérience des Métis dans les pensionnats
Historica’s Indigenous Perspectives Education Guide // Disponible en partie en français
Inuit and the Residential School System // Inuits et le régime des pensionnats
The Learning Circle: Classroom Activities on First Nations in Canada
Métis History and Experience and Residential Schools in Canada
A resource guide for bringing Canadian Indigenous culture into the classroom - WE.org
Shattering the Silence - University of Regina
Stolen Lives: The Indigenous Peoples of Canada and the Indian Residential Schools
Walking Together - First Nations, Métis and Inuit Perspectives in Curriculum
Angy Inuk (82 min) - Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (2016)
As Long as The Waters Flow (25 min) - Global News (November 2015)
Birth of a Family (44 min) - CBC DOCS POV S01E08 - Three sisters and a brother, removed from their mother's care as part of Canada's infamous Sixties Scoop and adopted as infants into separate families across North America, meet for the first time.
experimental eskimos (43 min) - (2009)
Invasion (18 min) - (February 2020)
Trick or Treaty? (84 min) - Alanis Obomsawin (2014) "Covering a vast swath of northern Ontario, Treaty No. 9 reflects the often contradictory interpretations of treaties between First Nations and the Crown. To the Canadian government, this treaty represents a surrendering of Indigenous sovereignty, while the descendants of the Cree signatories contend its original purpose to share the land and its resources has been misunderstood and not upheld. Enlightening as it is entertaining, Trick or Treaty? succinctly and powerfully portrays one community’s attempts to enforce their treaty rights and protect their lands, while also revealing the complexities of contemporary treaty agreements. Trick or Treaty? made history as the first film by an Indigenous filmmaker to be part of the Masters section at TIFF when it screened there in 2014. "
We are all Treaty People
Treaties Recognition Week started in 2016 in order to honour treaties and to educate people about treaty rights and treaty relationships.
Treaties Recognition Week is the first week of November every year, from Monday to Friday.
Resources (Websites, Maps, Videos)
Treaties (Government of Ontario)
Ontario First Nations and treaties map (PDF) (Government of Ontario)
Videos: Indigenous voices on treaties (Government of Ontario)
Native Land (interactive live maps of all treaties)
Treaties in Canada Education Guide (PDF) (Historica Canada)
Treaties Recognition Week Resources (Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario)
Treaties with Indigenous Peoples in Canada (Canadian Encyclopedia)
We Speak for the Land: A summary report of discussions under the treaty strategy (2018) (Government of Ontario)
Nation-to-Nation Governance Lesson Plans
Gdoo-Sastamookii Mi: Understanding Our Nation to Relationship (Anishinabek Nation)
Elementary: Social Studies; History and Geography (Grade 1- 8) (EduGains)
Michif - Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research: http://www.metismuseum.ca/michif_dictionary.php
Michif to Go (Android): http://www.metismuseum.ca/michif-app/
Below, you will find grade-specific resources with links to the curricula of British Columbia, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories.
Grade 5: Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation: First Nations Education Steering Committee and the First Nations Schools Association (focus on British Columbia)
Teaching Mathematics in a First Peoples Context: Grades 8 and 9 - First Nations Education Steering Committee
G10: The Residential School System in Canada: Understanding the Past – Seeking Reconciliation – Building Hope for Tomorrow: Government of Northwest Territories, Government of Nunavut, and the Legacy of Hope Foundation
Grade 10: Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation: First Nations Education Steering Committee and the First Nations Schools Association (focus on British Columbia)
Grade 9 & 11: From Apology to Reconciliation: A Guide for Grade 9 and 11 Social Studies Teachers in Manitoba
Grade 11/12: Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation - Book 1: First Nations Education Steering Committee and the First Nations Schools Association (focus on British Columbia)
Grade 11/12: Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation - Book 2: First Nations Education Steering Committee and the First Nations Schools Association (focus on British Columbia)
Below are links to two consecutive lessons as a start to a unit on Colonization. They were created as a prerequisite for my AQ course CONT 526: First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples: Understanding Traditional Teachings, Histories, Current Issues and Cultures, Specialist.
G12 : Human Development throughout the Lifespan (HHG4M) & Canada: History, Identity, and Culture (CHI4U) (ONTARIO)
Identity, Linguistic Socialization & Cultural Imperialism
Create a safe and inclusive classroom in which all cultures, ethnicities, beliefs and identities are valued and seen as a source of strength;
Actively teach critical and creative thinking skills which are so necessary in order to reject racist viewpoints and to question dominant narratives;
Incorporate FNMI histories, perspectives, cultures, issues, beliefs, experiences, etc. into your teaching by using authentic resources;
Build a relationship of trust with the FNMI community - invite members to speak, to teach, to share and to be part of any celebration;
Invite the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) to come present a workshop on culture, language, jigging, etc;
Always verify with the schools Indigenous department or community Elder to ensure that all people and relationships are being honoured through any teaching or action (some things like making dreamcatchers or certain drumming ceremonies can only be performed by someone from the community in a specific position;
Invite an Elder or community member for an evening event for parents and students and the entire community (this may be the first time any of them meet someone from a FNMI community and can hear experiences first-hand);
Invite FNMI storytellers - ex.: Shannon Thunderbird and Sandy Horne;
Invite FNMI artists into the classroom to share about their artform and the stories behind their art - Native Women in the Arts;
Start the day or any important gathering with a territorial acknowledgment. Be sure to teach the significance of the acknowledgement;
Start an Indigenous Language class / club & invite a students / teacher or an Elder from that language community to lead;
Mark September 30, Orange Tee-shirt Day, with your class / school. Be sure to teach everyone about the significance o this day (the time when FNMI children were forcefully taken from their homes to be sent to residential schools);
Celebrate Indigenous History Month in June and National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21. Use these days as opportunities to learn, engage with FNMI peoples and celebrate culture and diversity;
Participate in Project of Heart
Visit museums and art galleries to learn about FNMI art - Indigenous Collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario and Bay of Spirits Gallery;
Organize an exchange trip with Indigenous students to learn more about their culture;
Speak to your Administration and Guidance Department about creating more school-wide learning opportunities about FNMI issues (gratitude practice, field trips, social justice action projects);
Create PD for administrators and staff at the school and invite other other independent school staff to benefit;
Lobby MPs, OCT, ministries for funding and support for FNMI students;