LibGuides: Indigenous Education Teacher Resources & Professional Learning: Cross-Curricular Teacher Resources

#Next150 Challenge

The #Next150Challenge is a campaign out of the Indian Horse website. Each week, a 'challenge' to learn about a particular topic is issued, along with supporting material consisting of introductory information, videos, links, and social media. The challenge can be followed without registration, however registration does connect you with individuals across Canada who have signed up. Time estimates for each challenge/learning are provided.

#Next150Challenge

Previous week challenges include:

Grade/Course Subject Guides

Please note: indigenous content has been embedded into all Grades 1-6 social studies subject guides.

Canadian Library Month
by Sheila Cornelisse Last Updated Jun 17, 2022 7 views this year
Grade 10: First Nations, Métis, and Inuit in Canada (NAC20)
by Marg Mannseichner Last Updated Dec 2, 2024 547 views this year
Grade 11: Contemporary First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Issues and Perspectives (NDA3M)
by Linda Cummings Last Updated Dec 16, 2024 258 views this year
Grade 11: Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Métis and Inuit Voices NBE 3C / 3U / 3E
by Marg Mannseichner Last Updated Dec 19, 2024 1174 views this year
Grade 9: Expressions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Cultures (NAC10)
by Marg Mannseichner Last Updated Dec 18, 2024 785 views this year
iLead
by Marg Mannseichner Last Updated Dec 6, 2024 149 views this year
Indigenous Book Club 3
by Patricia Sutherland Last Updated Jan 22, 2021 10 views this year
Indigenous Book Club 4: Speaking Our Truth
by Patricia Sutherland Last Updated Dec 10, 2021 5 views this year
Indigenous Culture & Language
by Patricia Sutherland Last Updated Nov 17, 2020 107 views this year
Indigenous Education Teacher Resources & Professional Learning
by Patricia Sutherland Last Updated Nov 27, 2024 926 views this year
Issues of Indigenous Peoples in a Global Context NDW4M
by Linda Cummings Last Updated Dec 2, 2024 153 views this year
Métis People of Canada
by Marg Mannseichner Last Updated Nov 12, 2024 98 views this year
National Indigenous History Month 2021
by Patricia Sutherland Last Updated Oct 6, 2021 2 views this year
National Indigenous History Month 2024
by Marg Mannseichner Last Updated Jun 18, 2024 133 views this year
NBE & TRC+4 Teacher Share & Support
by Marg Mannseichner Last Updated Dec 12, 2022 40 views this year
Pink Shirt Day / La Journée du chandail rose
by Sheila Cornelisse Last Updated Jan 26, 2024 49 views this year
Spring
by Sheila Cornelisse Last Updated Nov 22, 2024 29 views this year
Sq'ad'adang : UCDSB Indigenous Poster Project for Teaching & Learning
by Marg Mannseichner Last Updated Dec 18, 2024 1053 views this year
Student Life
by Patricia Sutherland Last Updated Dec 13, 2024 905 views this year
UCDSB Indigenous Secondary School Literacy Course
by Linda Cummings Last Updated Dec 16, 2024 36 views this year

Teacher Resources & Lesson Plans

ON-Core Indigenous Studies Catalogue Fall 2024
All of these resources are available for streaming through ON-Core. Access ON-Core from the VLC Games and Databases tab. ON-Core is a Board-licensed database. Ask your Learning Commons Technician for the login credentials.

First Nations, Métis & Inuit Education Association of Ontario This link opens in a new window
EN/FR - Username/password required
A collection of websites, interactive games, lesson plans etc. categorized by subject.

Earth to Tables Legacies Project
Multiformat website with facilitator guides. "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 and food sovereignty, and anti-racism in the food movement."
NEW! Métis Nation of Ontario: Education Kits
Includes downloadable resources, including flash cards, sash bookmark, information sheets etc., Also available for request - Education Kit.
Deepening Knowledge: Lesson Plans for Aboriginal Education
This site by the University of Toronto: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) has teacher and student resources pertaining to Aboriginal Education.
Infusing Indigenous Perspectives in K-12 Teaching
Subject guide developed by OISE to help Initial Teacher Education students find materials that centre or focus on First Nations, Métis, and Inuit worldviews, experiences and knowledges for teaching in the K-12 classroom.
McCord Museum - Indigenous Cultures Education Kit.
With the Indigenous cultures education kit, teachers can broaden their social sciences, science and technology and French curriculums by using the content to spark reflection and consolidate learnings. Has French Resource content.

Leading difficult classroom discussions
This guide was created to assist teachers in having sensitive or difficult classroom discussions.

Learning First Peoples Classroom Resources: First Nations Education Steering Committee (BC)
Resources developed by the First Nations Education Steering Committee and the First Nations Schools Association, in collaboration with teachers and partners. Covers the following subject areas: English Language Arts, Science Social Studies and Mathematics courses.
Math Knowledge Network: Indigenous Knowledge COP
Click on the math videos link under: IK CoP Video Series (September 2018). Includes videos on Exploring Math Through Drumming, On the Land, Construction of a Lodge
Contemporary Indigenous Arts in the Classroom (Ontario Art Gallery)
Elementary lesson plan: Superhero Plant Trading Cards. Secondary lesson plan: (re)Mapping Place
Intersecting Ojibwe Art Curriculum
Series of cross-curricular lesson plans integrating art and community knowledge across subject areas. Suitable for K-8. Hosted by University of Manitoba.
Canadian Language Museum
Clickable panels for 3 exhibits available: 'Speaking the Inuit Way', Cree: The People's Language; and 'Beyond Words'
The Secret Life of Canada Podcasts (CBC) - Teaching Guides
Podcasts include: The Indian Act; Secret Life of the North; The Secret Life of Water. Teacher guides include: Lesson plan; Slideshow ; Ad-free audio for download; Activity sheets;
Original Voices (CBC Indigenous)
"Language is more than what we use to communicate. It is our identity. It is our ancestry. It is our legacy. Explore the many diverse Indigenous languages that exist across the country." Includes interactive map, information on language, culture, stories - video & audio
Interactive Map: Food Security in Nunavut
Map series from ArcGIS -
Woodland Cultural Centre: The Significance of Corn to the Haudenosaunee people
15 minute video, suitable for Grades 6+ covering Three Sisters stories, science, nutrition, history. Also includes link to receive 'making a corncob keychain' workshop video.
Natural Curiosity - educator's resource
NEW! Self-Guided Learning Series
Designed for self-guided learning, this free program includes a 5-part instructional video series that provides an introductory exploration of Natural Curiosity’s four-branch environmental inquiry framework, deepened by Indigenous perspectives.
Heartdrum ~ Indigenous Imprint of HarperCollins
Teacher guides for - Ancestor Approved, The Sea in Winter, Healer of the Water Monster, Sisters of the Neversea and Jo Jo Makoons:The Used-to-be best Friend

Primary Resources

See also: Residential Schools - Primary Resources

Indigenous Heritage - Library and Archives Canada
Indigenous documentary heritage found in the holdings of Library and Archives Canada (LAC) reflects the exemplary contributions of Indigenous peoples to this country's political, social, economic and cultural development.
First Nations in Canada
First Nations in Canada is an educational resource designed for use by young Canadians; high school educators and students; Aboriginal communities; and anyone interested in First Nations history. Its aim is to help readers understand the significant developments affecting First Nations communities from the pre-Contact era (before the arrival of Europeans) up to the present day.
First Peoples of Canada - Canadian Museum of History
This virtual exhibition looks at some facets of the history of Canada's Aboriginal peoples, underlining their fight for cultural survival and indicating the wealth of their modern-day contributions. It is based largely on information and artifacts presented in the First Peoples Hall of the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
The Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture
This website is the most comprehensive attempt to chronicle traditional Métis history and culture on the World Wide Web and contains a wealth of primary documents – oral history interviews, photographs and various archival documents – in visual, audio and video files.
Treaty-Ontario
Learn more about the treaties, treaty relationships and treaty rights that shape Ontario.
Treaties, Surrenders and Agreements
Library and Archives Canada (LAC) holds an extensive, but not a complete, collection of historic Canadian Indian treaties, land surrenders, and related agreements.The collection contains documents that span more than 275 years, including a May 1680 seigneurial grant to the Jesuits in New France and a 1956 adhesion to western Treaty 6 (1876).
Interactive map of Historic Treaties
Interactive map showing historic treaties located in nine provinces and three territories covering nearly 50% of Canada's land mass
Censuses of Canada - 1665 - 1871 - Aboriginal Peoples
See link "Table made up from the Memoirs of 1736 and 1763"

Akwesasne TV--Akwesasne History Project

Akwesasne History Project: 60's Scoop (gr 9-12)
The 60’s Scoop was a governmental policy that placed indigenous children in non-native homes for fostering and adoption. An Akwesasronon survivor shares her story about severed ties with family, culture and language, and the policy changes created to focus on keeping families together.
Akwesasne History Project: Residential Schools (gr 7-12)
Akwesasne elders discuss their childhood memories of their days at residential schools as they can relate to the haunting recollections and a shroud of sadness that’s exists for many indigenous people today who attended residential schools in Canada.
Akwesasne History Project: Border Crossing (gr 7-12)
The Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation straddles the international border between the US and Canada, despite the fact that Mohawks have inhabited the area for many centuries. The Akwesasne History Project spoke with tribal elders about their experiences with the border over the years.
Akwesasne History Project: St. Lawrence Seaway (gr 5-12)
n 1954, construction on the St. Lawrence Seaway project began, covering almost 300 kilometers of navigation construction from Montreal to Lake Erie. Though local employment was suddenly available for Akwesasronon, the cost included the erosion and flooding of the lands, toxic waste, and a complete disturbance of the ecosystem. Listen as elders recall times before the Seaway became part of our lives. (In collaboration with AMBE, Iohahi:io and Katenies Research and Management Services.
The Voices of our Children and Youth Project Covid-19 Safety (gr 4-6)
At the students' request, The Voices of Our Children and Youth Project held a virtual class for the Grade 5 and 6 Kana:takon School Students on COVID 19 safety. (The Voices of our Children and Youth Project started in 2018 with funding by CIHR with the goal of capacity building and teaching the youth of Akwesasne about injury prevention.)

Akwesasne Voices of our Youth & History Project Video Links ppt

NEW! Inuksuit Presentation

NEW! Resource for UCDSB teachers - Inuksuit Presentation by Heidi Langille providing the history, purpose and importance of Inuksuits to the Inuit.

For a copy of the powerpoint presentation with audio, or link to the presentation YouTube video, please contact Patricia Sutherland.

Recommended Resources for Inquiries

TRC+ Inquiry Resource Curation Worksheet
Planning tool for selecting authentic learning resources for classroom inquiries

STEP 1: ENTRY POINT (Books/News)

Visit "Literature & Books" for recommended books by grade/level.

List of Indigenous Periodicals/Newspapers in Canada
CBC Kids News Topics will range from news and sports to pop culture and the environment, approached in a "safe and age-appropriate manner."

STEP 2: REFERENCE & VOCABULARY

Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada This link opens in a new window
Reference maps of Indigenous Canada, information and historical photos on Truth and Reconciliation, First Nations, Metis & Inuit Peoples, as well a glossary of common Indigenous terms.
Canadian Encyclopedia This link opens in a new window
French/English. A comprehensive and authoritative general Canadian reference work. Also includes quizzes, games, multimedia, and links to other resources.

STEP 3: DIGGING DEEPER

(See also Subject Guides for resources by subject/grade)

VLC Quick Guide to Subject/Grade Resources

Canada in Context This link opens in a new window
Online experience of contextual information on a broad range of Canadian topics, people, places and events.
ON-Core : Core Curriculum On-Demand This link opens in a new window
Streaming and downloadable video, 100% Canadian and aligned to the Ontario Curriculum.
Global Issues in Context This link opens in a new window
International viewpoints on a range of cross discipline global issues, topics and current events. Database contains topic and country portals for detailed analysis.