To search for performance standards and suggested activities for each topic and grade check out the FNESC recommendation.  Professional development and lesson plans can be found on the Indspire website.

We have a wide variety of First Peoples: Canada Resources that you can access via Insignia, Overdrive, and via our Subscriptions.  For more information watch this short video here.  Then check out the correlations and themes below on this page.

When reading some of our beautiful picture books you may want to ask questions that lead to connections, predictions, and visualization. You may want to tie into checking materials for stereotyping, language and Canadian content which authentically represents Indigenous Peoples today.   For ideas on how to do this follow these lesson plan ideas from StrongNations. Authentic cultural stories can also be found through publishers like Medicine Wheel Education.

You may also want to share Indigenous Peoples history through our unit study kits.  Some of the concepts you may want to explore include respect, understanding, forgiveness, justice and restoration.

You may also want to read First Nations 101 to get a complete understanding/history of First Nations peoples.  We have several copies in our physical commons.  When sharing picture books with your students help them to identify with stereotyping via images, use of language and terminology.  Help students understand Indigenous peoples living in your area by going on field trips to Indigenous events,  listening to oral storytelling,  and researching peoples via their place of living.

This video shares the reasons why reconciliation is encouraged for all educators and families in our school.

Themes

Romans 12:10.  “Be devoted to one another in love.  Honour one another above yourselves.”

Indigenous Peoples Overview – Independence

Power in Western culture was based on dominance, but in tribal traditions, it meant respecting the right for independence. In contrast to obedience models of discipline, Native teaching was designed to build respect and teach inner discipline. From earliest childhood, children were encouraged to make decisions, solve problems, and show personal responsibility. Adults modeled, nurtured, taught values, and gave feedback, but children were given abundant opportunities to make choices without coercion. It means that people can rely on you and trust you at all times.

Source –  Circle of Courage a model of Native American philosophy.

Activities

Activities 

Activities

Activities

Activities

Activities

Activities

  • Discuss – plant cycle and harvesting
  • Make a Bentwood Box

Activities

Learning Commons Resources

We have a wide variety of books and curriculum that cover this topic.

Curriculum Examples

  • Nations of the Northwest Coast
  • River of Salmon People
  • Keepers of the earth : native stories and environmental activities for children
  • First Nations and early explorers
  • The Displacement of Native Peoples
  • A Stranger at Home

Search Terms

Use the following keywords to search for resources:

  • First nations
  • Folklore
  • Indians of North America
  • Residential Schools

To enter the Search Portal, click on the button below or through the main navigation bar at the top of any page on this site.

Log Into Search Portal

Subscriptions

Click on this link to BC Digital Classroom and scroll down to choose the Canoe Kids icon.

Fill in the username/password from the Subscriptions page in the Search Portal.

In the 4 Canoes magazines and eBooks, you will find articles featuring various indigenous communities, which were vetted by the communities about which they were written.  This is considered a very accurate resource for indigenous integration.  Look for a full description under “Subscriptions” in the main menu above.

Log in to Discovery Education Canada and search for Social Studies topics and Canadian Studies.  There will be topics such as:  Ancient Times, Colonial, Confederation, Canada’s Role in World History, Government, Geography, Famous People, Economic System, Culture and French Canada, most of which will include some First Nations or First Peoples content.

Discovery Education Streaming Plus offers students award-winning digital or multimedia content.  (K-12 content)  Look for a full description under “Subscriptions” in the main menu above.

The ERAC K-12 Resource Collection will show recommended book lists under the grade you choose.  For indigenous integration, you can search “First Nations”, “First Peoples” and “aboriginal”.  This site will also give you ideas of books to search for in the OverDrive library or your local public library.

The ERAC K-12 Resource Collection (ERAC = Educational Resource Acquisition Consortium) identifies and evaluates learning resources from the Ministry of Education perspective.  Look for a full description under “Subscriptions” in the main menu above.

Log in to KnowBC and search by going to an encyclopedia or book and searching it.

KnowBC is the leading general reference site for British Columbia, including such resources as the Encyclopedia of British Columbia and other reference works.  (Gr. K-12)  Look for a full description under “Subscriptions” in the main menu above.

First log in to Learn360 before you choose a topic or “click” on a link.  Once in Learn360 select a topic such as First Peoples or First Nations, then filter for the appropriate grade range.

Learn360 is a media-on-demand service or digital video library for Gr. K-12, with digital, audio and other support materials.  Look for a full description under “Subscriptions” in the main menu above.