Indigenous History Month

June is National Indigenous History Month. Throughout the entire year, we, at the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB), are committed to ongoing learning, speaking the truth, and to reconciliation.

We have compiled resources for further learning as well as resources for Indigenous students and families below:

Week One: What is Indigenous History Month?

Books

We Were Not the Savages by Daniel Paul
First Peoples in Canada by Alan D. McMillan and Eldon Yellowhorn
21 Things You May Not Know About The Indian Act by Bob Joseph - Also check out Bob Joseph's blog.

Kindergarten/Primary Resources

Kindergarten/Primary Resources:

Junior/Intermediate/Senior Resources

Junior/Intermediate Resources:

National Indigenous History Month - CBC Kids

Intermediate/Senior Resources:

National Indigenous History Month - Why It’s Important

Phil Fontaine: Canada’s Three Founding Nations video

Junior/Intermediate/Senior Resources:

How to refer to Indigenous Peoples

Resources for All Grades

Read Aloud

I Hope by Monique Gray Smith
Encounter by Brittany Luby
The Sharing Circle by Theresa Corky Larsen-Jonasson, Allison Parker

Week Two: Indigenous Excellence

Books

Perception – A Photo Series by KC Adams

Braided Learning –Illuminating Indigenous Presence Through Story by Susan Dion

My Conversations with Canadians by Lee Maracle

Kindergarten/Primary Resources

Spirit Bear & Friends – A Love We Know

Junior/Intermediate/Senior Resources

Junior Resources:

Spirit Bear & Friends – A Love We Know

Junior/Intermediate/Senior Resources:

Paul Seesequasis - Indigenous archive art exhibit + see his book Blanket Toss Under the Midnight Sun – Portraits of Everyday Life in Eight Indigenous Communities
Cindy Blackstock - Canadian Human Rights Tribunal on First Nations child welfare

Intermediate/Senior Resources:

Autumn Peltier
- There’s also a documentary on Crave called ‘The Water Walker’ along with resources on OnCore
Cindy Blackstock - Reconciliation: Mere co-existence, New Foundation, or Mutual Celebration? - Video
Interview with Beedahbin Peltier on empowering students to connect with Indigenous knowledges
Jesse Thistle
Wab Kinew  (plus his book: Walking in Two Worlds)
Jody Wilson Raybold (Books: ‘Indian’ in the Cabinet and True Reconciliation

Resources for All Grades

First Nations and Family Caring Society

Life, living, relatives, and creation with Beedahin Peltier and Kylie Fox-Peltier:  1 hr 27min
Spoken Word Poem ‘Leaks’ by Leanne Simpson
Grassy Narrow First Nations – Youth Song - Home to Me
Joe Pitawanakwat - Creator’s Garden
David Robertson: https://www.darobertson.ca/
Beany John – Hoop Dancer
Katie Yu, 17, of Iqaluit Takes Home Silver at National Youth Skills Event

Governor General of Canada - Mary Simon
Science North video (Indigenous STEM: From Canoes to NASA with Dominic Beaudry)
You Were Chosen To Be Here - Matt Epp & Isaac Murdoch ft. Shannon Paul
Aysanabee (Singer/Song writer)- We Were Here and live from the Junos featuring Northern Cree
Alanis Obomsawin
RoseAnne Archibald elected 1st female national chief of Assembly of First Nations
Cherie Dimaline

Read Aloud

The Day I Became Number 54 by Lorrie Gallant
Go Show the World by Wab Kinew
Beautiful You, Beautiful Me by Tasha Spillett-Sumner
When We are Kind by Monique Gray Smith
With Our Orange Hearts by Phyllis Webstad
Meet Tom Longbottom by Elizabeth MacLeod
What's My Superpower? - by Aviaq Johnston

Week Three: Language and Land

Books

Language:

Land:

Land Based Education – Embracing the Rhythms of the Earth from an Indigenous Perspective by Herman J. Mitchell, PhD
Unsettling Canada by A National Wake-Up Call; Arthur Manuel (also a podcast)
Truth and Conviction by Donald Marshall Jr. And the Mi’kmaw Quest for Justice; L. Jane McMillan
Braiding Sweetgrass and Braiding Sweetgrass for Youth by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Kindergarten/Primary Resources

Language:

Ojibwe Counting Song

Land:

Junior/Intermediate/Senior Resources

Language - Junior/Intermediate/Senior Resources:

Mapping Indigenous Languages in Canada

Land - Junior/Intermediate Resources:

Land - Junior/Intermediate/Senior Resources:

Land Acknowledgment – Conversation Starter; Baroness Von Sketch
Jake Skeets: Daybreak (Poem and analysis from Poetry Unbound)
Bob Randall, Yankunytjatjara elder of Australia - Do We Own the Land video.

Land - Intermediate/Senior Resources:

Resources for All Grades

Language:

Land:

Learn about the land on which you live. Explore territories/treaties/languages: https://native-land.ca/
David Robertson speaking about his book - On The Trapline (in school libraries)

Read Aloud

Language:

You Hold Me Up by Monique Gray Smith
Way Back Then by Neil Christopher
We All Play by Julie Flett
Nibi is water by Joanne Roberston translated by Shirley Williams and Isadore Toulouse
It's a Mitig by Bridget George
Meennunyakaa / Blueberry Patch by Jennifer Leason, translated by Norman Chartrand
The Giving Tree by Leah Dorion, translated by Norman Fleury

Land:

On the Trapline by David Roberston
Be a Good Ancestor by Leona Prince and Gabrielle Prince
Berry Song by Michaela Goade
Stand Like a Cedar by Nicola I. Campbell
This is How I Know: A Book About Seasons by Brittany Luby
Lesson from Mother Earth by Elaine McLeod
We Give Our Thanks by Sara General Odadrihonyanisoh

Week Four: ReconciliACTION and Resurgence

Books

Resurgence

Wayi Wah-Indigenous Pedagogies : An Act for Reconciliation and Anti-Racist Education

In this Together – 15 Stories of Truth and Reconciliation by Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail
Becoming Kin by Patty Krawec

Junior/Intermediate/Senior Resources

Junior/Intermediate/Senior Resources:

Intermediate/Senior Resources:

University of Waterloo to waive tuition fees for Indigenous students

Resources for All Grades

Resources for All Grades:

Gardening With A Purpose: How You Can Honour Residential School Survivors
Check out The Indigenous Foundation (TIF)
Take the free course Home on Native Land
Take the free course Indigenous Canada from the University of Alberta
Tracks Program
Take the Facing History and Ourselves course Stolen Lives (Teaching the History and Legacies of Canada’s Residential Schools) and get the $150 reimbursed upon completion
Follow Indigenous people on social media and amplify voices:

- @MSIFN
- @Pam_Palmater
- @TanyaTalaga
- @Notorious Cree
- @DCDSBIndigenousEd
- @Songstress28 (Brandi Morin)
- @Nigannwewidam (Nigaan Sinclair)
- @dhkBeau
- @DaveAlexRoberts
- @TheDHTaylor
- @IndigenousWome4 (Indigenous Women’s Collective)
- @MetisNationOn
- @IndigiNewsMedia
- @FallonFarinacci
Indigenous Creators to Follow

Read Aloud

When We Were Alone by David Robertson and Julie Flett

Finding My Talk by Rebecca Thomas
When We are Kind by Monique Gray Smith
Birdsong by Julie Flett
Dakota Talks about Treaties by Kelly Crawford, Isadore Toulouse Bebamikawe, Shirley Williams
When I was Eight by Margaret Pokiak-Fenton