FILM RESOURCE: "Kuper Island: Healing Circle"

http://vimeo.com/50154878

This documentary offers first hand accounts of Kuper Island residential school survivors and children of these survivors, vividly outlining the true experiences of these First Nations peoples. The film has a somber feel to it, offering raw emotion expressed by these damaged generations of families due to the harmful effects the forceful removal from their cultures had on them and their families. This film would be best utilized in grades 10 through 12 classrooms as some of the tragic stories of the survivors are quite graphically descriptive. However, the real emotion shown in this film is a great way to teach students about historical empathy while teaching them the Aboriginal history of residential schooling as well.

PRESENTATION RESOURCE (SD 34, Abbotsford)

Aboriginal Education Center – School District Program
The online presentation handbook is available online at:
http://start.sd34.bc.ca/aboriginal/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/CP-handbook-2012



This website is full of different Aboriginal education presentation opportunities the Abbotsford school district offers. Elizabeth Zapanov, Aboriginal education resource provider, suggests the ‘First Nations Government’ 2-class presentation. It is delivered by two First Nations Education Center workers and can be geared toward any grade level. The presentation provides students with a full backgroud, pre-Confederation to present day, of how the First Nations government systems have altered from their traditional forms as a result of colonization. There are also many more presentation opportunities, which the online handbook outlines.

Textbook Resource: You Are Asked to Witness: The Sto:lo in Canada’s Pacific Coast History

You Are Asked to Witness: The Sto:lo in Canada’s Pacific Coast History

Edited by Keith Thor Carlson

This textbook offers an overview of the Sto:lo First Nations history from pre-colonization to the present day. The book begins by introducing who the Sto:lo First Nations people are; what does it mean to be a Pacific Coast Sto:lo? It moves on to describe the first encounters between the Sto:lo and the white colonizers. The book details the process of government coercion and then ventures into describing what a ‘Xwelitem’ world looked like after colonization, a Halquemeylem word meaning a world in which a Sto:lo exists alongside white colonizers. The book continues to describe the importance of the Sto:lo land and resources and how the division of these two key components of their culture has been discussed/debated over the years. And finally, the book closes with oral narratives, or first hand accounts of Sto:lo First Nations, outlining the importance of the oral history tradition in the Sto:lo culture. This textbook would be a great resource to use when focusing in depth on one First Nations group or even using the example of the Sto:lo experience as representative of many Pacific Coast First Nations groups.

Field Trip: Sto:lo Nation Longhouse Program

Field Trip: Sto:lo Nation Longhouse Program (Chilliwack)

Telephone: 604-858-3366

Responding to the Provincial School’s implementation of a First Nations unit in all Social Studies classrooms, the Sto:lo Nation has developed an experiential program for both elementary and high school students. The students are exposed to different stations set up at the Coqualeetza Longhouse such as bannock making, carving, leaving, drum making, cedar bark, the Halqu’emeylem language, Slahal gambling game, ceremonial dancing, cedar root basket making, and beading. The Longhouse program was created in order to provide teachers and students with local access to experiencing Sto:lo ways of life and ways of knowing first hand. The Sto:lo traditions and philosophies or life and introduced and are designed, within this program, to supplement the in-class curriculum. This experiential presentation can be geared toward any grade level and is a wonderful way to allow students to experience local First Nations history first hand.

Aboriginal Education Bibliography on First Nations Topics or by First Nations Authors

Aboriginal Education Bibliography on First Nations Topics or by First Nations Authors”

Compiled by John Chenoweth and Jean Kiegerl of Merritt Secondary School, this bibliography provides an extensive list of works on issues pertaining to Aboriginal education. As a new teacher, this bibliography would be a great resource to get started on an Aboriginal education unit.

Video: The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: “They Came for the Children”

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, “They Came for the Children” 

This is a comprehensive history of the residential school program that operated in Canada under the control of the Federal Government and a variety of church denominations for well over 100 years. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission puts together a valuable account of the history and impact of the residential schools that is very readable and aimed at creating an understanding of how the residential schools have shaped Aboriginal communities today. This video is easily accessible and available to put into the hands of your students for a research project or for jus general information.

SD79: Aboriginal Curriculum Integration Project

Aboriginal Curriculum Integration Project 

As the title suggests, the aim of this resource is to encourage the integration of Aboriginal education into the classroom. There are a number of sample lesson plans for Social Studies that are linked to the BC PLOs. These lessons include a number of valuable primary and secondary sources that can be used to supplement lesson plans. 

Book: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian

The Absolutely True Diary of aPart Time Indian

Sherman Alexie and Ellen Forney

 

In this young adult fictional novel, Sherman Alexie writes from the perspective of a young Aboriginal boy, Junior, growing up on a reserve in Washington State. Junior makes the transition from the reserve school to a public school. The story depicts the struggle that many Aboriginal youths face in living between two very different worlds. This novel would be beneficial for many students, as it gives a powerful insight into the struggles facing individuals in many Aboriginal communities. That said, the book is gritty and contains some materials that may not be appropriate for younger students; grade 10 is probably the earliest the book should be used. 

The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America

The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account ofNative People in North America 

Thomas King

In his work, Thomas King admirably tackles the larger history of Aboriginals in North America, yet at the same time, he offers his personal experiences, thoughts and anecdotes about living as an “Indian” in the United States and Canada. King offers great insights into how non-Natives and Natives have interacted in the past and in the present. This book is a good read for those looking for an introduction to Aboriginal history and education, and for those looking to understand more about how history impacts communities and individuals.

Textbook Resource High Interest Aboriginal Theme Book Strategies

High Interest Aboriginal Theme Book Strategies

Resource Package complied by the Langley School District and can be ordered online at http://www.langleyschooldistrictpublications.com

This book contains teaching strategies and information on how to approach Aboriginal Education through the explanation of culture-rich stories. The resource book can be used to teach all grades from K-10. The resource package contains six Aboriginal texts from Aboriginal authors that address specific themes, while addressing the values, beliefs, traditions, history and language of the Aboriginal Peoples. Therefore by using this resource book, you are given the opportunity to enrich the classroom with the importance of oral history and story-telling that is crucial to the understanding of Aboriginal Education. 

Field Trip Resource: Fraser River Discovery Centre

Fraser River Discovery Centre: 

788 Quayside Drive
New Westminster, BC, Canada V3M 6Z6
Phone: 604-521-8401 Fax: 604-521-9401
Email: info[at]fraserriverdiscovery[dot]org

Incorporating Aboriginal Education into the classroom is a part of the Prescribed Learning Outcomes that are included in the BC curriculum. The Fraser River Discovery Center has developed educational programs that target K-7. The Discovery Center’s provides “displaying exhibits and hands-on programmes, while presenting the river’s contribution to the life, history and future of British Columbia and its people.” The Discovery center has two specialized river school programs that target Aboriginal Education. The program “Our Bones are Made of Salmon” allows the students to explore the relationship between Aboriginal people and salmon along the Fraser River through films, and hands on experiences with authentic fishing tools. “The Trading Trail program” allows the student to become an “archaeologist” and physically become involved in searching the river’s edge to find artifacts. The students then get the opportunity to understand the terms of trading like it was in the past between First Nations and Europeans. 

Math First Peoples Resource Guide

Math First Peoples Resource Guide

First Nations Education Steering Committee has created this website and provided multiple resource guides to help teachers incorporate Aboriginal Education in a interdisciplinary setting. The resource guide that is recommended is teaching grade 8-9 mathematics in an Aboriginal context. The resource guide is “Math First Peoples”, this guide then provides a great opportunity to include history, culture, and aboriginal perspective in the Math classroom. It provides a challenging but practical outlook on how the First Nations People would use Mathematics in daily life. By teaching these unit plans, you are completing the provincially prescribed standards but with a real to life outlook that focuses on the importance of culture and Canada’s history. 

Online Film Database

Film/Online Resource

http://www.cbc.ca/aboriginal/

This website contains many documentaries, shows, and archival resources that provide visual information on Aboriginal Education. There are also current issues that are being documented which are a great resource to have students think critically and have a chance to create a “plan of action” on what can be done in regards to the issues that are facing society in the present day. Hot topics such as poverty on the reserves are discussed in some of the video clips. This gives the student to learn through multi-media and use the internet to learn about issues that are facing the Aboriginal population in Canada. 

Text Resource: “Aboriginal Peoples: Building for the Future”

Text Resource:Aboriginal Peoples: Building for the Future

Kevin Reed

This is a very easy to read, slim textbook catered towards students. It contains photographs, works of art, illustrations, charts and graphs and tells the story of Aboriginal peoples in Canada in the 20^th century as opposed to solely suppression in history. It explores the changing cultures, achievements, views on major events and issues, and the continuing fight for self-government. This is a great resource to use when trying to get away from a purely historical perspective on Aboriginal studies.

Field/Tour Resource: “The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC)”

"The Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre (SLCC)"

Located in Whistler, the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre includes what they call an ‘exhibit tour’ and is an excellent place for students to experience Aboriginal culture first hand. This includes a traditional welcome, an educational film highlighting traditional territories, historical and modern cultures of the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations, and a museum and exhibit tour led by an Aboriginal guide. The tour includes historical events, territory maps, traditional dwellings and how they met shelter needs, how canoes were crafted to meet transportation needs, regalia, identity, society and culture. After the tour students will make a traditional craft in the cedar longhouse and engage in storytelling with their Squamish and Lil’wat hosts. The tour can be catered towards the age group and specific topics.

Presentation Resource: “First Nations Wildcrafters, BC: specializing in cultural resources and other value added forest products and services"

"First Nations Wildcrafters, BC: specializing in cultural resources and other value added forest products and services"

(This picture shows the size of trees some of which were cut down and then left by loggers, from First Nations Wildcrafters Facebook page)

This is a family operated business owned by a Tseshaht First Nations member. The business specializes in non timber and other value added forest products and services. They use traditional ecological knowledge and cultural values. First Nations Wildcrafters, BC can provide in school level workshops. They also provide scheduled tours of their operations on the Tseshaht Indian Reserve and forest site tours in the forest in which they operate their harvesting and resource management models. An example of their in school presentation, ‘Sustainability and Traditional Knowledge and Values’ can be implemented into an environment unit or understanding Aboriginal relationships with the environment.

Document Resource: “Full Circle: First Nations, Metis, Inuit Ways of Knowing

Document Resource: "Full Circle, Metis, Inuit Ways of Knowing

This pdf document was produced in conjunction with the previously posted video by the OSSTF by members who self-identify as First Nations, Métis, or who have worked extensively with Aboriginal students. The package consists of a circle of four quadrants: health, land, residential schools, and identity. Each of these themes has up to ten lessons within it. They were developed for use by teachers of history, civics, social sciences, careers, English, and science. Many great tips and tricks on how to efficiently teach Aboriginal histories and current events.

Video Resource: “Full Circle: First Nations, Métis, Inuit Ways of Knowing”

Full Circle: First Nations, Metis, Inuit Ways of Knowing

This video, on the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation website, consists of the stories of six different teenagers on their journey towards self-identity. Each student is unique in his and her own way yet they share a common thread as they are all members of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples, First Nations, Inuit or Métis. This is an excellent video to show students from 8-12 as an introduction to Aboriginal topics or as the core component of a lesson itself. This video can also used to show certain clips (suicide issues among Aboriginal peoples, achievements by Aboriginal peoples, Aboriginal students who feel they don’t fit in, etc.).

Book Resource: “First Nations in the Twenty-First Century: Contemporary Educational Frontiers”

"First Nations in the Twenty-First Century: Contemporary Educational Frontiers"

John W Friesen & Virginia Lyons Friesen

This book deals with the issues in education in progressing with Aboriginal issues. The book highlights the progress Aboriginal communities have made in the 21^st century, however, there are a number of related frontiers in education that need to be conquered in order for Canada’s First Nations to gain further equality with other Canadians. Six of these frontiers are outlined in this book. First is the issue of spirituality and how to integrate it into the education of Aboriginal youth. Other frontiers include the role of Elders in education, the preservation of Aboriginal language, self-identity, development of culturally aware curricula, and the training of teachers in Aboriginal communities. 

This is an excellent resource for teachers who are new to teaching Aboriginal students and require an outlet for understanding that they need and how to deliver.