Resources for the Classroom

Up-to-date national news coverage of about the Indigenous peoples, both in videos and in newspaper articles, are accessible on this link. It also features movies, TV shows, and docuseries, all of which could be useful classroom resources.

The stories in this document are e-books from The Westcoast Reader, a newspaper for adults who are improving their English language reading skills. The articles are divided into 3 reading levels and include reading comprehension and literacy exercises.

This interactive website contains explanations, audio clips, video clips, links and more that instructors can choose from when incorporating Indigenous voices into their curriculum. Topics to explore include kinship, Aboriginal and Treaty rights, healing historical trauma, worldviews, oral tradition, elders, symbolism and traditions, connection to the land, Indigenous pedagogy, culture and language, wellbeing, and traditional environmental knowledge.

This 28-episode podcast shares the story of the connections between Indigenous peoples and Black peoples on Turtle Island.

This is a toolkit for being an Indigenous ally in Treaty 7 territory (Calgary).

Includes interactive works of visual art that reflect the vision and voices of Indigenous youth in Canada. The art panels were created by youth from a variety of provinces and territories across Canada. They are accompanied by videos of Indigenous youth explaining what the concept of human rights means to them.

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights features multimodal stories that learners can explore. Many of the stories are connected to reconciliation and stories of indigenous people in Canada, including, for example,

• What if you were taken from your family?
• Nursing and Indigenous people’s health: reconciliation in practice
• The murder of Elzéar Goulet and the struggle for Métis rights
• Why reconciliation? Why now?
• Dick Patrick: An Indigenous veteran’s fight for inclusion
• Childhood denied
• Bringing the potlatch home

This 2-minute video provides a definition and overview of the word “Indigenous,” suitable for intermediate ESL learners.

This 6-minute video shares Tasha Hubbard’s narration of the history of Indigenous peoples in the prairies. Tasha Hubbard is a First Nations/Cree filmmaker and educator.

This is a 4-minute video about the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

In this 4-minute video, Chief Robert Joseph narrates his personal experience surviving residential school and his views on the importance of Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.

This link includes a series of personal stories of Indigenous peoples, some in written form, and some documented through short videos.

This is an 18-minute documentary of survivors from residential schools.

This 22-minute video documentary describes the crimes committed against children at St. Anne’s Residential School in Northern Ontario.

Wab Kinew walks through 500 years of Indigenous history in a 2-minute video and in a video series.

This website provides information on important topics related to the histories, politics, and cultures of Indigenous peoples of Canada. Topics covered include identity, land and rights, governance, culture, and global Indigenous issues.

This virtual museum houses a collection of history, biographies, and community events, and learning resources highlighting the Métis history and culture. Learning resources include lesson plans, materials, and other resources intended for grade school but which could be used as reference in adult learning.

This interactive map locates and identifies First Nation places, community websites, and profiles.

Thomas King challenges how the media stereotypically portrayed the First Nations peoples. This video explores how First Nations peoples in Canada and changing that view and empowering themselves.

This link provides student materials, teacher’s guides, and audios for CLB 5, 6, 7, and 8 learners.

This article on Indigenous Peoples in Manitoba is suitable for CLB 5 learners. As well, there is a CLB 3–4 version of the article and a supporting video.

A selection of films, documentaries, animation, education, and interactive works can be streamed free of charge or downloaded for a small fee. Search for works related to Indigenous peoples and First Nations. Users can sign up for free to for additional access to a variety of resources.

The link provides information about the Inuit peoples and their culture.

This video is a digital story that explores reconciliation from the perspectives of an Indigenous scholar and a non-Indigenous allied scholar.

In this video, Dr. Tiffany Prete summarizes her first year of an archival and oral history research project to explore, reveal, and record significant aspects of the Blood Indian Residential School (IRS) history. She narrates the process of uncovering her people’s history as she reflects her own engagement being an intergenerational survivor of the residential school.

Indigenous Elders speak to newcomers in Alberta about body, mind, and spirit.

Indigenous Elders speak to newcomers in Alberta about barriers.

Indigenous Elders speak to newcomers in Alberta about identity.

Indigenous Elders speak to newcomers in Alberta about respect.

Indigenous Elders speak to newcomers in Alberta about Residential schools.

This resource includes videos as well as a CLB 4 Curriculum Guide linked to the videos. The guide includes classroom activities on the following topics: First Nations culture, history, current issues and future challenges; Métis culture; Inuit history, culture, and future challenges.

Select Indigenous Voices in the Classroom, then scroll down. You can download curriculum booklets, or access materials on the TIES/Learn Learning management system. You may need to log in as a guest.

This resource includes a curriculum booklet with handouts and classroom activities, along with links to audio/video recordings. The focus is on Canadian Indigenous cultural topics, rather than complex historical information, with the goal of providing points of connection between CLB 2 immigrant learners and the Indigenous peoples of Canada.

Select Indigenous Voices in the Classroom, then scroll down. You can download curriculum booklets, or access materials on the TIES/Learn Learning management system. You may need to log in as a guest.

This resource includes a curriculum booklet with handouts and classroom activities, along with links to audio/video recordings. Topics addressed include Reconciliation, Residential schools, Indigenous child welfare, Indigenous education, Indigenous health, justice, UNDRIP, Church apologies, museums, youth programs, missing children and burial information, media/sports/business and reconciliation.

Select Indigenous Voices in the Classroom, then scroll down. You can download curriculum booklets, or access materials on the TIES/Learn Learning management system. You may need to log in as a guest.

This link contains a list of videos about Indigenous peoples.

In this 5-minute video, Eddy Robinson encourages Canadians to first listen and understand what has happened to Indigenous peoples before attempting to help.

This document lists the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

This resource guide includes best practices for teaching Indigenous content, as well as lesson plans and content that can be incorporated into the class. Materials are designed for Grades 1–12, but some of the lesson ideas may be relevant to some ESL contexts.

This 49-minute documentary narrates the story of Residential Schools from the perspective of three survivors. It is based on a book by Robert P. Wells and was produced by John Sanfilippo.

The following are suggestions of novels that could be used in class: