Treasures of Canada Webquest

Students learn about various themes in Canadian history, including aboriginal history and cultures, French-Canadian history, and immigration to Canada between 1800 and 2000. Working both independently and in small groups, they assume the roles of museum curators of their choice, search the Canadian Museum of Civilization's database, select artifacts for an exhibition targeting high school students, and make a presentation.

Gentle Warrior was written by students and staff at Allison Bernard Memorial High School in Eskasoni, Cape Breton, Canada in tribute to Mi'kmaq poet and Eskasoni native, Rita Joe. The track features lead vocals by Kalolin Johnson, the rap styling of Devon Paul and powwow chanting by Thunder Herney. Gentle Warrior was created with the support of the National Arts Centre of Canada.

Curriculum Objectives:
- To increase awareness of the residential school system as a major part of the European colonizing effort against Aboriginal peoples, resulting in significant intergenerational impacts.
- To increase awareness and understanding of what Nishnawbe Aski Nation (Ontario) members experienced while attending the 13 residential schools in the region.
- To promote awareness in reclaiming language, culture and skills that were lost as a result of residential schools.
- To promote individual healing in the context of rebuilding links with families, communities and Elders.

Complete lessons (2013, 2002) based on Ontario Curriculum.
Grades 9-12.

The information and insights contained in this document will be of interest to anyone involved in bringing local knowledge to bear in school curriculum. Drawing upon the efforts of many people over a period of several years, Sidney Stephens has managed to distill and synthesize the critical ingredients for making the teaching of science relevant and meaningful in culturally adaptable ways. This handbook will provide teachers invaluable assistance with the task of developing and teaching "culturally responsive science curriculum."

There is mounting evidence that curricular and teaching practices that link schooling to the surrounding cultural and physical environment produce positive results on all indicators of student and school performance. This handbook reflects the most current pedagogical principles that move educational practice from teaching about culture as another discrete subject to teaching through the local culture as a way to bring depth, breadth and significance to all aspects of the curriculum.

During World War II, Charles “Checker” Tomkins fought the enemy with a different kind of weapon. As a code talker in the Canadian military, he used his knowledge of the native Cree language to help develop a top-secret communication system to defeat the Germans.

Socially-based Curriculum Unit

This unit, developed for ENG3E (English, Grade 11, Workplace Preparation - Ontario), uses W.P. Kinsella’s short story anthology Dance Me Outside for a study of the past and present treatment of Natives in Canada, but also for an understanding of the behaviour of non-Natives.

The big ideas that students will understand include: tolerance, awareness, and acceptance of Native culture. The key knowledge concepts include:
- learning about different types of values and value systems as they apply to individuals and different cultures;
- learning more about the definitions of stereotypes, discrimination and racism as they apply to the stories studied;
- learning about standard and non-standard language usage and their place in different societies;
- differentiating between connotation and denotation.

Skills that the students will learn as a result of this unit include reading for meaning and analysis, and critical thinking skills.

The unit culminates in a comparison of the book with its film adaptation.

A Guide for Parents and Families of Aboriginal Students

This resource covers the following topics:
How Can My Involvement Benefit My Child?
How Can I Help My Child’s Learning?
Ideas for Parents and Families of Students in Early Years
Ideas for Parents and Families of Students in Middle School Years
Ideas for Parents and Families of Students in High School
School Partnerships in My Child’s Learning
What Questions Can I Ask About My Child’s Learning?
What Should I Do If An Issue Arises?
Other Sources of Help and Information

This site offers a database of lessons and units searchable by content and cultural standards, cultural region and grade level.

Aboriginal children under age 14 make up 7% of all children in Canada and the Aboriginal population is the fastest growing demographic in this country. Eighty percent of Aboriginal children attend off-reserve provincial schools. In terms of school success, there are significant gaps in learning outcomes and graduation rates between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students.

This site provides many links to articles and resources that discuss this issue and provide examples of how different provinces are striving to close that gap and improve the educational opportunities to help Aboriginal students meets academic success.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in an igloo?It would be pretty cold compared to the houses we live in now. Could you imagine living with over forty other people in one big house? Living with that many people would be like sharing a house with your whole class and all the teachers in your school!

The environment that we live in affects everything that we do. Canada is a country with a lot of different environments. There are parts of Canada where the temperature is freezing and all you can see is snow for most of the year. There are places where it rains a lot of the time and places where it is very dry. There are places that have mountains and some that are flat. There are rivers, lakes and oceans. Canada has a very diverse landscape.

In the past, First Nations were the only people living in Canada.They are the First Nations because they were the first occupants of North America. In Canada, each First Nation had to adapt to their environment in different ways. The houses they built, the food they ate, and the activities they did were all greatly affected by the environment they lived in.

Here you can look at three different aboriginal cultures from three different parts of Canada: the Huron, the Haida, and the Inuit. You can compare them to see how different their ways of life were because of where they lived.

Teaching resources available.

This site includes the following: (plus other information pertaining to Aboriginal Education in Manitoba and Canada)

It's Our Time: First Nations Education Tool Kit Teacher's Guide (National and Manitoba)
Creating Racism-Free Schools through Critical/Courageous Conversations on Race
Critical/Courageous Conversations on Race: What your child is learning at school and how you can help

Indigenous people from every region of Canada served in the armed forces during the Second World War, fighting in every major battle and campaign of the conflict. To serve their country, Indigenous people had to overcome unique cultural challenges. Their courage, sacrifices, and accomplishments are a continuing source of pride to their families, communities, and all Canadians.

This site outlines the many outstanding accomplishments of Indigenous people in WWII.

This is an Indigenous Studies Portal Research Tool with links for the following areas:
economic development
indigenous knowledge
spirituality
arts and literature
research methods
science
governance
health
education
culture and society
law
history
miscellaneous

Welcome to the Teacher’s Guide for Indigenous War Heroes, developed by the Wasauksing War Hero and Native Veteran’s Educational Awareness and Commemoration Project. The guide and associated website use the story of Francis Pegahmagabow as a launching point to provide educators and students with a framework and resources for understanding the military contributions of First World War Indigenous soldiers, as well as the cultural and political landscapes in which they lived.

The lesson plans explore the connections Francis Pegahmagabow’s life story has with many Indigenous veterans, thus helping illustrate the larger picture of Canada’s historical relationship with local Indigenous peoples. However, it is important to note there are always a diversity of stories and experiences in any complex situation. Not all Indigenous veterans’ experiences will be the same, and all unique stories are valuable contributions to our overall understanding of history.

This YouTube channel offers many videos with Indigenous content.

Please subscribe for more INAC videos: http://goo.gl/esyayp

Get more INAC: http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/

From St. John's Newfoundland, to Haida Gwaii, British Columbia and Cape Dorset, Nunavut, Aboriginal and northern people and communities across Canada have success stories to share.

Through this website you can learn about community-driven efforts to improve the lives of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal individuals, families and communities.

Throughout Canada's history, Indigenous peoples have helped shape this land into the country we know today. Before Canada became a country, Britain's military alliances with First Nations were a key part of the defensive network of British North America.
During the War of 1812, First Nations warriors and Métis fighters played important roles in the defence of these British territories against invading American forces. Thousands of First Nations warriors and Métis fighters fought beside British troops and Canadian settler militias during the war.
These Indigenous allies were often accompanied by officials from the Indian Department who spoke Indigenous languages and who could help First Nations war chiefs and British military commanders speak to each other.
First Nations and Métis communities sided with the British during the war because they shared a common goal: to resist American expansion. More than 10,000 First Nations warriors from the great lakes region and the St. Lawrence Valley participated in nearly every major battle.
For British military leaders such as Major-General Sir Isaac Brock, commander of Britain's forces, First Nations warriors strengthened local garrisons and were seen as exceptional fighters.
In Canada, the war was fought on three main fronts: in the western great lakes region, the Niagara region and the St. Lawrence region. In each region First Nations warriors helped repel the invading American forces.
First Nations warriors from the Ojibwa and Dakota fought at the Battle of Michilimackinac. The Ojibwa, Odawa, Pottawatomi and Shawnee fought at the capture of Detroit. Six Nations warriors fought during the battles of Queenston Heights and Beaver Dams. The Algonquin, Mohawk, Huron and Abenaki fought at the Battle of Châteauguay.
According to several British commanders, these important battles were won in large part because of the participation of their Indigenous allies.

Discover the heritage and traditions of the Innu through their stories and material culture.

Available in French and English.

According to Innu oral tradition, the world is an island created by wolverine and mink after a great flood. The archaeological record shows that the Innu and their ancestors have occupied a large portion of Labrador and eastern Quebec for two thousand or more years. The Innu refer to this territory as "Nitassinan."

The site includes:
Introduction
Travel
Exhibit Gallery
Collections
People and Places