Residential schools were boarding schools for Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) children and youth, financed by the federal government but staffed and run by several Christian religious institutions.  Children were separated from their families and communities, sometimes by force, and lived in and attended classes at the schools for most of the year. Often, the residential schools were located far from the students’ home communities. The schools were in existence for well over 100 years, and successive generations of children and families from the same communities endured this experience.
Understandably, the impacts were severe. This history was hidden for many years, until Survivors of the system were able to find the strength and courage to tell their stories.  This lead to one of the largest class action lawsuits in Canada’s history. Though it will take time and commitment to heal the relationship between Indigenous Peoples and Canada, the reconciliation process has begun.

This impactful work is based on the Life Story of Elder Mary Courchene during her time in Residential Schools that channels her story of truth, resistance, healing and the reclamation of identity, language, culture and community for herself and her family. We are incredibly proud of this work and are excited to share it with everyone.

We see this curriculum as a living document to be used throughout the school year to help students (and staff) better understand the impacts of Residential Schools. The hope is for classrooms to engage in multiple lessons over a period of time, versus the one-day event to honour Orange Shirt Day.

The curriculum is for middle and senior years level but many pieces can be used and adapted for early years. Elder Mary's story is one of resistance, healing and love. Her truth is a gift to all that will both preserve her story and honour her life's work as an educator and elder who has always so generously shared her story so that children, youth and adults can learn truth and walk the path of reconciliation. We recognize how impactful it will be for all schools across Manitoba and Canada, to have a resource such as this one, Resistance on the Giimooch (Giimooch in Anishinaabemowin means in secret).​

Rupertsland Organization for Teaching and Learning has developed some excellent resources to learn about the Métis history in Alberta that are recommended for all educators. Resources are continually being added as they are created and approved in support of educators’ learning and teaching.

Shattering the Silence is a Saskatchewan Project of Heart interactive ebook that uncovers the history of Indian residential schools in Saskatchewan.
Written in 2017 by the Faculty of Education at the University of Regina, this document discovers the reality of residential schools in Saskatchewan. It is a great resource for teachers, students and the community that covers many topics and all the residential schools in the province.

This ebook is part of Project of Heart, which is a commemorative project that facilitates student learning about residential schools. The project is an inquiry-based, collaborative, intergenerational, and artistic journey to examine the history and legacy of Indian residential schools in Canada, leading to the acknowledgment of the losses incurred by former students, their families and communities.

The Sixties Scoop refers to a period in Saskatchewan’s history when Indigenous children were removed from their parents and communities by provincial child welfare services. Status, non-status, Métis and Inuit children were placed for adoption and/or foster care and were raised outside of their communities without the influences of their Indigenous culture, values and languages. This section contains a list of resources and curriculum connections for teachers to address with their students.

This is a link to the Ministry of Education's site and Sixties Scoop Resources.

This booklet is written by Spirit Bear as a youth-friendly guide to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) 94 Calls to Action.

In 2008, a group called the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was made. Their job was to listen to stories about residential schools and then write the stories down so we can learn from our mistakes. In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission announced their 94 Calls to Action. These are 94 activities all governments, courts, businesses, schools, and people living in Canada can do to help fix the mistakes of the past and present so that all children – including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children – can grow up happy, healthy, safe, and proud of who they are.

A teacher’s guide from the 2022 Treaty Education Summer Institute which uses storytelling as a portal to explore Treaties.

This site has been created to support school staffs to work together to expand their understanding of truth and reconciliation as well as the history and legacy of residential schools. It contains tools and resources to support important conversations and professional development opportunities.
This space will continue to grow and evolve as resources are identified and experiences are shared. The intent is that this site will be created collaboratively, in the true nature of reconciliation. Please join the discussion to share what your school is doing to support student understanding and to help bring about reconciliation in our province and our country.

Use the navigation on the left to get started.

Learn more by navigating the more detailed menu below.

"This learning module is designed to help teachers and other educational professionals become comfortable with the topic of reconciliation so that they can begin incorporating this important topic into their work with their students.

Estimated Completion Time: 30 to 60 minutes

This learning module was developed by Joanna Sanders while working to complete a Certificate in Reconciliation Studies that is offered by the First Nations University of Canada."

Everyone benefits when there is a greater understanding and appreciation of Treaties and the Treaty relationship.

This issue of Canada’s History explores the history of Treaties and the Treaty relationship and is an important first step in sharing First Nations perspectives.

It has been developed with contributors who have helped to incorporate the spirit and intent of Treaty making. The contributors, drawn from across the country, bring expertise and insights that help us to understand the continuing relevance of Treaties and the Treaty relationship.

Treaties and the Treaty Relationship Educational Package.

Visit the site to download the information.

Living Sky School Division teachers and consultants share their units and lessons that highlight Treaty Essential learnings. The resource list will continue to grow over time. We welcome your feedback and contributions to this collection of units.

Grade 1 - 7 Plains Cree Hand Drumming Overview

Grade 3 - Lifestyle changes after signing treaty unit

Grade 4 - Residential Schools unit

Grade 4 - Whose Voice? The Conquerors unit
Understanding worldview when learning about the treaties. Use drama and role play to create scenarios with the real characters from history. (Arts Ed/ELA/Treaty Ed)
Grade 5 - 12 - Response to Art viewing sheet with discussion, background and activity
Video with artist talking about her art work about residential schools

Grade 5 – Social Studies - Canada and Aboriginal Heritage unit
Review: Jeopardy Game
Grade 6 – ELA – Heroes/Models/Peacemakers unit

Grade 6 – Arts Education – Métis Identity & Jigging unit

Grade 7 – Ecosystems & Indigenous Knowledge: “Healing Garden”unit
Sacred Plants (3 min. audio file: Oral Storytelling, from CBC Re/Vision Quest podcast "Elders")

Grade 8 – Social Studies - We Are All Treaty People unit

This amazing resource looks at FNME from grades 1 to 9 with an inquiry approach. The key questions are examined for the grades including treaty relationships, spirit and intent, historical context, and treaty promises and provisions.

Following that a specific resource for each grade is included!

These Ministry of Education Treaty Education Learning Resource Guides outline:

Treaty Education - Key Questions for K-4, 5-9
Treaty Education Outcomes and Indicators
Inquiry Questions for each grade
Teacher Background Information
Suggested Resources

This Saskatchewan Ministry of Education documents outlines all of the Treaty Education outcome and indicators for Kindergarten to Grade 12.

The Kindergarten to Grade 9 Treaty Education Learning Resource is designed for teachers to assist them in integrating the Treaty content and perspective with Saskatchewan’s curricula and is based on the inquiry method of teaching. It provides information about Treaties, First Nations people and the history of what is now known as Saskatchewan, as well as sample learning experiences, assessment ideas and suggested resource materials to support teachers in the development of their lessons.

Resources are organized by grade and outcome.

Visit the site to download the resource.

Welcome to the Teacher’s area.
As a teacher, we know that you are extremely busy. To assist in the delivery process, we have a batch of PowerPoint documents that are available and ready for you to use. You can use these while teaching about Treaties in their classroom, providing an in-service to your colleagues, or to further your own Treaty knowledge. We hope you find these PowerPoint and additional resources valuable and we will continue to grow these resources for educators.

This simulation is designed to provide students with a first hand, personal experience of the treaty making process. The insight they gain from this simulation will assist them in their understanding of treaty and its impact on the lives of First Nation peoples. This simulation is targeted at middle years to senior students.

"Making the Shift" is a monthly newsletter by Natural Curiosity. The September 2022 edition features lots of information and activities related to Truth and Reconciliation.

A few of the Educator Resources include:
- Orange Shirt Day Resources
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation Residential School Resources
- Truth & Reconciliation Discussion Guide from Scholastics Canada
- Take Me Outside Indigenous Resources
- Residential School Survivor Stories
- And much more!