The following resources have been compiled largely at higher levels of administration; including by school districts, provincial school boards, and government agencies. Each is very comprehensive and offers a variety of resources in terms of lesson plans, outcomes, curricular connections, and literature. The sources are aimed at a variety of levels from kindergarten through grade 12. A useful professional development activity might be to analyze a selection of these sources for quality, applicability, related themes, and unique aspects or elements. (P.S. Each image is hyperlinked to the original resource) The Four Directions Interactive Teachings is a collaborative resource created through Canadian Heritage, Canada’s Cultural Gateway, and The National Indigenous Literacy Association. It introduces five tribes across Canada through engaging videos which explain crucial elements of each of the tribes. One may navigate through the various elements for each tribe; for example, information about ceremonies, structures, and the importance of each of the directions for the Cree people. The website also includes teacher resources for each tribe at various educational levels from primary through high school. The First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) has also created a resource on residential schools and reconciliation for grade 5, 10, and 11/12. They offer detailed lessons, progressions, curricular connections, and supplementary resources such as books, videos, and handouts. They offer high-level critical thinking activities that encourage critical thinking; each at an age appropriate level. This is a resource produced by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. It is targeted at ages 8-11 and id developed thematically with themes such as transportation, communities, families, and environment. Each unit provides main ideas and objectives, background information for the teacher, and classroom activities. One thing I do notice about this one is it is primarily devoted to “traditional” practices. That is, it does not frame Aboriginal cultures as a current and ongoing culture of practices and understandings, but rather relegates it to the past. It would need to be supplemented or framed correctly to be used well. For example, perhaps examining Western and Aboriginal cultures in the past, and then comparing the present. This is also a compilation of resources by FNESC. It analyzes a large selection of literature for use with grades K-9. It provides descriptions of each, reading levels, curricular areas, themes, and the nation represented. One caveat of this one is its organization, which is alphabetical rather than by grade level, theme, or subject. It makes it a bit arduous to find what you need, but you can easily tag the pages that will be of interest to you for quick reference later! This is a hyperlinked document. It provides brief descriptions and links to a variety of Canadian Aboriginal resources. These are arranged thematically with topics such as Aboriginal arts, activism, history, and social problems. The compiled resources are targeted to a variety of age groups, but will take a bit of further investigation to find what you are looking for! Again produced by FNESC, this resource varies from those above in that it provides a framework of background, understandings, and attitudes for educators. It directly speaks to the apprehension teachers might feel in authentically integrating Aboriginal perspectives. It highlights themes and ways of knowing that are important to indigenous cultures before going on to present a selection of complete, and detailed, classroom units for grades K-3. Shared Learning is a document produced by the Aboriginal Education Enhancements Branch of the British Columbia Ministry of Education. The resource begins with an overview of the document and its uses and then provides information on the history, foundations and attitudes needed to utilize the resource. It is organized thematically and by age group, so the same themes carry through all age groups in age appropriate ways. Each component is further divided into the sections of Shared Learnings, Instructional Strategies, and Resources. An addition benefit of this resource is that it positions Aboriginal cultures as contemporary and evolving, not as a relic of the past.
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