Resources for Teachers

Educational Resources

Aboriginal Arithmetic

Aboriginal Arithmetic is an article for Canada Foundation for Innovation, describing the efforts of a Mohawk professor at the First Nations University of Canada in Regina to engage Aboriginal students in mathematics.

Source: Innovation Canada

Aboriginal Issues Books

This page presents books on Aboriginal issues, law, education, and western history, featuring book covers, chapters and prices.

Source: Purich Publishing Ltd.

Aboriginal Learning Materials

From this page, access is provided to resources such as online books which may be used at home or in the classroom.

Source: National Adult Literacy Database (NALD)

Aboriginal Literatures in Canada – A Teacher's Resource Guide

Encourages the teaching of Aboriginal literature in English high school curricula across the country because Aboriginal students deserve to be taught texts they can relate to and, because non-Aboriginal students should be educated about Aboriginals.

Source: Curriculum Services Canada

Aboriginal Perspectives

Source: Government of Canada; National Film Board of Canada

Aboriginal Resources and Services

This site provides access to a full variety of Aboriginal resources within Canada, both through Library and Archives' collections and services and in partnership with numerous Aboriginal institutions.

Source: Government of Canada; Library and Archives Canada

Aboriginal School Books – First Language Children's Literature

The books Nortext helps publish are almost always in first languages containing stories and illustrations created in the communities by Aboriginal authors and illustrators.

Source: Nortext

Aboriginal Youth Justice (PDF)

Aboriginal Youth Justice provides information about Canada’s youth justice system to students from both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities.

Source: Public Legal Education Association (PLEA)

Angelique – Our Canadian Girl

Historical fiction about Angelique, a girl who lived in the 1860s, when the buffalo hunt was an important part of Métis life. Part of a series of historical books for young readers.

Source: Penguin Books Canada Ltd.

Books

This page features books intended for Mi'kmaq Language Curriculum.

Source: Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw Language Centre of Excellence

Classroom Edition

The information contained in Canadian Classroom can play an instrumental role in breaking down barriers and increase understanding between individuals, communities and cultures.

Source: Aboriginal Multi-Media Society (AMMSA)

First Nations

Series of links to elementary ressources pertaining to various First Nations issues.

Source: CanTeach

First Nations Films

First Nations Films through Motion Visual creates award-winning television documentary films for, by and about Indigenous people.

First Nations Periodical Index

Contains journals of mainly Canadian Native content. This Index is a tool providing access to information about First Nations for students, educators, instructors, researchers and the general public.

GoodMinds.com

Native-owned and operated business located on the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, providing one-stop-shopping for the very best in Native Educational ressources.

Gryphon Productions Ltd.

Award-winning video productions, many aimed at Native American, First Nations communities, organizations, government, schools and hospitals.

Kakwa

In addition to providing artefact replicas for educational programs, Kakwa's presentations on traditional skills such as hide-tanning, stone tool-making, and earth pigments have been featured in museums, historic parks, and schools across Canada.

Learning Resources

In traditional Métis society, education was informal and was passed down to youth from the Elders or the "Old People".

Source: The Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture

Native Dance Teachers Homepage

Native Drums Teachers Homepage

Native People's Literature – English Titles – Read up on it

Biographical notes of books by and about Aboriginal peoples, which features book covers and book descriptions, and specifies target groups.

Source: Government of Canada; Library and Archives Canada

Native People's Literature – French Titles – Read up on it

This page showcases native people's literature in French for children, from Library and Archives Canada's 1993 "Read Up On It" program.

Source: Government of Canada; Library and Archives Canada

People in their World

People in Their World fosters intercultural understanding by creating opportunities for learning experiences.

Resources

Source: Dragonfly Consulting Services Canada

Ukaliq – The Arctic Hare

Produced by the Canadian Museum of Nature, this page provides a wealth of information about the Arctic hare, a small, fur-covered mammal that lives in a cold environment.

Source: Government of Canada; Canadian Museum of Nature

Vidéanthrop Inc. (In French Only)

Vidéanthrop holds an impressive collection of images (illustrations and slides) pertaining to the prehistory and the history of Indians and Inuit.

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Lesson Plans and Activities

Aboriginal Elders: A Grade 12 Unit Lesson Plan

This document from the Faculty of Education at University of British Columbia is a grade-12 unit plan on Aboriginal elders designed to be used by teachers engaged in Aboriginal education.

Source: University of British Columbia

Aboriginal Societies of Canada – The Atlas of Canada

This page provides a lesson outline for grades 4 or 5 designed to help students learn about human settlement patterns of Aboriginal peoples.

Source: Government of Canada; Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)

Aboriginal Voices in Canadian Contemporary Art

This lesson plan presents Canadian contemporary art by artists of Aboriginal ancestry.

Source: National Gallery of Canada

An Inuit Woman's Art – Classroom Activities and Projects

Our Boots: An Inuit Woman's Art is an exhibition based on the research of Jill Oakes and Rick Riewe, who documented the process of Inuit boot or kamik–making.

Source: Bata Shoe Museum

Blueprint for the Future

Project of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation that provides Aboriginal youth with a forum where they can be exposed to a variety of educational and employment-related information.

Source: National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (NAAF)

Contemporary Inuit Sculpture

The purpose of this lesson is to eliminate the notion of homogeneity in contemporary Inuit art and show the diverse thematic and artistic approaches of the artists.

Source: National Gallery of Canada

For Educators – Ukaliq – The Arctic Hare

This section of the Museum of Nature's module on the arctic hare offers a range of educational and fun activities linked to science curricula to help educators with lesson planning.

Source: Government of Canada; Canadian Museum of Nature

Fun With Drama (Plays about Métis stories)

Games from the Aboriginal People of North America

These games will work well in classrooms to meet educational objectives. They are significant examples of a natural learning environment and the mathematical concepts that can be abstracted from them.

History and Origins

Source: Resources for Rethinking

Inuit Education: Sharing Information – For Teachers

In these activities, students will examine the role of the government in Inuit education, evaluate archival media for bias and stereotyping, and create a newspaper supplement on the federal government's education of Inuit children.

Source: Government of Canada; Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

Inuit of the Canadian Arctic, The

This project for grade 3 students focused on the culture of the Inuit, and helped students develop an awareness that communities are founded on traditions and customs and that changes occur over time.

Source: Galileo Educational Network

Inukshuk – Historica Minutes

This page features a one-minute video on the inukshuk, an Inuit sculpture, and provides information on their lifestyle and culture.

Source: Historica

Jacques Cartier – Exploration – Heritage Minutes

As part of the acclaimed Historica Minutes, this one-minute movie portrays Jacques Cartier, one of Canada's celebrated explorers who plunged into that "unknown country" pursuing riches, fame and adventure.

Source: Historica

Jean Nicolett – Exploration – Historica Minutes

As part of the acclaimed Historica Minutes, this one-minute movie portrays Jean Nicollet, one of Canada's celebrated explorers who plunged into that "unknown country" pursuing riches, fame and adventure.

Source: Historica

Kids from Kanata

Seeks to develop supportive and respectful cross-cultural relationships between Native and non-Native communities through a process of historical education, an evaluation of current realities and visions, etc.

Kids' Stop

The simple activities included in each Learning Circle have been designed to help students learn more about First Nations and related issues through fun and interactive exercises.

Source: Government of Canada; Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC)

Louis Riel – First Nations – Historica Minutes

As part of the acclaimed Historica Minutes, this one-minute movie portrays Louis Riel, the Métis leader and founder of Manitoba.

Source: Historica Dominion Institute

Our Story – Aboriginal Writing Challenge

Our Story is a national short story contest aiming to educate Canadians about the defining moments in history that have shaped this country and its Aboriginal people.

Source: The Dominion Institute

Pathway to Wellness Handbook (Grades 4 to 6)

This activity book was developed for children in grades 4 to 6 to teach them healthy eating and active living in an effort to help prevent Type 2 diabetes.

Source: National Aboriginal Diabetes Association

Peacemaker – First Nations – Historica Minutes

As part of the acclaimed Historica Minutes, this one-minute movie depicts the Great Peace, which can be traced back more than 1,500 years and has lasted to the present day.

Source: Historica

Print and Drawings in Contemporary Inuit Art

This lesson plan provides an introduction to the contemporary Inuit art prints and drawings in the National Gallery of Canada's collection. The works chosen are from five important print shops located in the four major regions of Arctic Canada.

Source: National Gallery of Canada

Rekindling Traditions – Cross-Cultural Science and Technology Units Project

The goal is to make Western science and engineering accessible to Aboriginal students in ways that nurture their own cultural identities.

Source: Cameo Access Program for Engineering and Science (CAPES)

Resources

Source: Dragonfly Consulting Services Canada

Sila

SILA is an innovative e-learning website that connects people directly to the stunning Arctic environment and a rich Inuit cultural universe.

Sitting Bull – Historica Minutes

As part of the acclaimed Historica Minutes, this one-minute movie portrays Sitting Bull which symbolized the conflict between settlers and native American culture over lifestyles, land, and resources.

Source: Historica

Syrup – Settling Canada – Historica Minutes

As part of the acclaimed Historica Minutes, this one-minute depicts the story of collecting and processing the sweet sap of the sugar maple known and valued by the native peoples of eastern North America long before the arrival of European settlers.

Source: Historica

Teachers Resource Kit

This page provides a Teachers Resource Kit and various learning activities on five Canadian First Nations designed for junior, intermediate, and senior students.

Source: Four Directions Teachings

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