Education is what got us here, and education is what will get us out. - Justice Murray Sinclair
Teaching Treaty Education and to Indigenous students can be difficult for educators that do not know where to start. I believe that literature is a great vehicle to teach students this crucial content. Here is a fantastic website about Children's books about Residential Schools to introduce a very needed conversation about Canada's history. I used this resource to build my grade 7/8 lesson plan about identity for pre-internship in March 2018.
While teaching grade 9, I started the school year with The Marrow Thieves, by Cherie Dimaline, an Indigenous female author.
Since this novel was a contender of the 2019 Global Read Aloud, there were companion resources developed for student use around the world. I altered and changed as I saw fit.
Zinger's - The Marrow Thieves Google Slides (my edited version)
This includes vocabulary, connections to our world Also included are links to videos, handouts, examples, assignments, etc.
GRA19: Marrow Thieves - SIgnPost Notes - Google Docs
GRA19: The Marrow Thieves Google Slides (original)
Marrow Thieves_Cherie Dimaline Educator's Resource - Google Docs
My grade 9s worked hard, please take a look at their work below about themes from The Marrow Thieves. I have removed all identifying information.
Since this novel was a contender of the 2019 Global Read Aloud, there were companion resources developed for student use around the world. I altered and changed as I saw fit.
Zinger's - The Marrow Thieves Google Slides (my edited version)
This includes vocabulary, connections to our world Also included are links to videos, handouts, examples, assignments, etc.
GRA19: Marrow Thieves - SIgnPost Notes - Google Docs
GRA19: The Marrow Thieves Google Slides (original)
Marrow Thieves_Cherie Dimaline Educator's Resource - Google Docs
My grade 9s worked hard, please take a look at their work below about themes from The Marrow Thieves. I have removed all identifying information.
Storybooks are an excellent way to engage students and introduce concepts.
In my Pre-Internship unit I utilized multiple storybooks, including I Am Not A Number by Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer. The connections that this story has with identity makes it relatable for all students, regardless of their race or racial history. |
The Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Centre (SICC) website is a great resource. It provides video and audio testimonials from Aboriginal Elders in Saskatchewan providing a wide range of stories of experiences from themes of language and youth to culture. In addition, the website provides history of the various cultures around Saskatchewan as well as the SICC's upcoming events. This is such a good resource because it is relevant to our province. Check it out here!
In addition, this resource breaks up the Indian Act and explains it in a way that is easy to understand. Here it is! My favourite resource for teaching Indigenous Education, which include the history of Canada and the Indigenous peoples' involvement, is the Blanket Exercise. It involves a dram experience for all participants. The experience triggers emotions by involving personal testimonies of Indigenous peoples of Canada. |
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Education can be a starting point to move towards reconciliation and closing learning gaps due to inequitable services. The Ministry outlines provincial imperatives and strategies for achieving framework goals. As with everything, this cannot be taken at face value. Instead, please refer to these documents with a critical lens. This is not the only work that needs to be done in our collective efforts towards reconciliation.
"Inspiring Success" was referenced in the Ministry of Education First Nation and Métis Education Plan. A similar resource, A Time for Significant Leadership (2010). |
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