Educational Resources

Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia, Zach Parrott

Focus: Secondary students

Summary: In Canada, the term Indigenous Peoples (or Aboriginal Peoples) refers to First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples. These are the original inhabitants of the land that is now Canada. In the 2016 census by Statistics Canada, over 1.6 million people in Canada identified as Indigenous, making up 4.9 per cent of the national population. Though severely threatened — and in certain cases extinguished — by colonial forces, Indigenous culture, language and social systems have shaped the development of Canada and continue to grow and thrive despite extreme adversity.

Source: L’ encyclopédie Canadienne

À l’intention des étudiants au secondaire

Résumé: Au Canada, le terme peuples autochtones fait référence aux Premières Nations, aux Métis et aux Inuits. Ces peuples sont les premiers habitants de la terre qui est maintenant le Canada. Lors du recensement de 2016 mené par Statistique Canada, plus de 1,6 million de personnes au Canada ont déclaré s’identifier en tant qu’Autochtones, ce qui représente 4,9 % de la population nationale. Gravement menacés, et dans certains cas anéantis, par les forces coloniales, la culture, la langue et les systèmes sociaux des Autochtones n’en ont pas moins façonné le développement du Canada, et ils continuent de s’épanouir et de prospérer malgré une extrême adversité.

Source: University of Saskatchewan

Focus: Students 9-12

Summary: Over 200 entries about Saskatchewan’s Indigenous history for you to discover.

In 2005 the Canadian Plains Research Centre, University of Regina Press created the single, largest, educational publishing project in Saskatchewan’s history, the Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan, to celebrate Saskatchewan’s centennial anniversary. Within this encyclopedia were a significant number of resources that documented Saskatchewan’s numerous Indigenous Peoples histories, significant figures and events. With permission from the University of Regina Press, the Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching and Learning (GMCTL), and Indigenous Voices offer these resources on our website as they were originally published.

Our goal in providing these articles is to offer a starting point for the many people who are interested in learning more about the histories of the Indigenous Peoples of Saskatchewan. These great resources are not be perfect examples of historical and contemporary truths, due to the ever-changing nature of truth in Canada, but they do provide a broad overview to answer many questions and to stimulate many conversations. We encourage readers to use these resources with a constructive and critical perspective.

Source: Legacies – Earth to Table 

Focus: Secondary students

Summary: The Earth to Tables Legacies educational package is a collection of stories growing out of our conversations over five years. We have chosen to bring those stories to life through short videos and photo essays, so you can see the people and their diverse relationships with earth and tables, so you can hear their voices and imagine a dialogue with them. The Earth to Tables Legacies video introduces you to the project, the places, the people, and some of the themes that emerged from the five-year exchange.

Climate crises, a global pandemic, food riots, diet-related diseases – all are telling us that the industrial food system threatens our health and the survival of the planet, and deepens systemic inequities, racism, and poverty. 

These are the stories of food activists from Turtle Island (North America) – young and old, Indigenous and settler – who share a vision for food justice and food sovereignty, from Earth to Tables.

The Earth to Tables Legacies educational package offers 10 videos and 11 photo essays that use food as an entry to pressing issues, such as Indigenous-settler relations, food justice, food sovereignty, and anti-racism in the food movement.

Source: CBC Podcast

Focus: Secondary students

Summary: Can the foundation of Canada be traced back to Indigenous waterways and trade routes? What is the past, present, and future of this precious resource? This episode of  The Secret Life of Canada explores the importance of water to traditional trade and transportation routes, analyzes how settlement impacted Indigenous access to land and water, and investigates the current water crisis in Canada.

Possible teaching connections include Geography, History, Social Studies, Indigenous Studies, Civics, and Anthropology. 

Source: FSNA BC

Focus: Secondary students

Summary: A Toolkit for Raising the Attendance Rates of First Nations Students in BC – Draft (2020) is intended to help First Nations and First Nations schools consider issues related to student attendance at school, including why attendance is an important issue, some of the reasons why students might not be in school, and what can be done to help.

The information will ideally be of interest to people who work with First Nations students who are enrolled in a variety of education settings – public schools, First Nations schools, First Nations adult education centres, and independent schools. It is hoped that the information will be helpful to school staff, community members who support students, First Nations Parents Clubs, and any other people who support First Nations students. 

Source: OTF/FEO

Focus: Secondary students

Summary: You will find valuable information about various organizations, with links to their websites and resources to help you plan your education and professional development.

New links to other resources will be added as they become available. We therefore invite you to visit this site often.

The OTF Teacher Resources – Web Resources tool is available to assist all teachers.

Source: Indigenous Education: The National Centre for Collaboration

Focus: Indigenous education – Grades 5-12

Summary: This lesson plan focuses on guiding students to explore resiliency. Through the three main activities, students explore definitions and examples of resiliency from their own experiences and the experiences of others.

Source: The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Focus: Secondary Students

Summary: First Nations, Métis and Inuit music and dance embody cultural identity. For example, “First Nations people had songs for grieving, for birth, for joy, for prayer, and for so many other significant ceremonies and events. No ceremony, feast, or event could function without the prayers, dances, and songs of the First Nations people. Singers, drummers, and ceremonial people are treated with respect and honour for their gift of song.”  The First Nations, Métis, and Inuit spirit and intent of music and dance is at the heart of music and dance.

First Nations music and dance were outlawed by the Indian Act as a tool of forced assimilation and cultural destruction. As a result, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit music and dance went underground for many years. During the dark times of cultural persecution and banishment, the Métis jig remained, due to its European origins and Inuit forms of music and dance were marginalized.

Source: Saskatchewan Polytechnic

Focus: Secondary students

Summary: The Indigenous Student Success Strategy was developed to provide all Indigenous students with a student experience that incorporates Indigenous ways of learning and knowing into every aspect of your education. Our services include:

 • A summer transition program.

 • Access to Indigenous students’ centres.

 • Indigenous student advisors.

 • Financial support through a number of scholarships and bursaries.

 We also employ an Indigenous community liaison to raise awareness about Sask Polytech in Indigenous communities, both urban and rural.