Selected Web Resources
ARPDC First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Moodle Courses for Grades 1 - 12
The ARPDC moodle courses and resources are formatted to align with the learning outcomes from the Alberta Program of Studies. There are over 85 courses related to English, Math, Science, and Social with resources which include First Nations, Métis, or Inuit content or perspectives. The resources embedded in the courses are intended to serve as options for educators to consider in their curricular programming. The overarching goal is for educators to connect with their regional First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Communities for guidance on appropriate resources to effectively teach First Nations, Métis, and Inuit perspectives and content to all students.
Aboriginal Tourism Association of Canada
The Aboriginal Tourism Association of Canada (ATAC) is a non-profit organization that is committed to growing and promoting a sustainable, culturally rich Aboriginal tourism industry in Canada. The following link offers one-stop access to information for and about Aboriginal Canadians; offering information on First Nation, Métis and Inuit cultures, the different regions, as well as events you can partake in.
Aboriginal Literatures in Canada: A Teacher's Resource Guide
This resource, which is available for download without cost, is designed to encourage and support the teaching of Aboriginal literature in Canadian secondary schools. It contains commentaries and extensive bibliographies on literature from six Aboriginal cultures: Mi'kmaq, Six Nations, Anishnabe (Ojibway), Cree, Métis and Okanagan. Developed by educators Renate Eigenbrod, Georgina Kakegamic and Josias Fiddler, this resource received funding from The Curriculum Foundation.
The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society
The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society (AMMSA) is an independent Aboriginal communications organization dedicated to covering news, information and entertainment relevant to Aboriginal peoples while maintaining a profound respect for their values, principles and traditions. Of special interest to teachers are the sections titled “People of Honour” and the “Buffalo Spirit,” which highlight the achievements of important Canadian aboriginal role models.
Alberta Education
Policy framework: First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Policy Framework is a realignment of the department's 1987 Policy Statement on Native Education in Alberta, now archived on archive.org. While successes were achieved through the 1987 policy, Alberta Learning seeks to ensure that all policy directions remain relevant to the educational needs of today's Aboriginal learners.
Program of Studies
Assembly of First Nations
The Assembly of First Nations is a national lobby organization, which represents the more than 630 First Nation's communities in Canada. As such, it present the views of First Nations on such topics as Aboriginal and Treaty Rights, Economic Development, Education, Languages and Literacy, Health, Housing, Social Development, Justice, Taxation, Land Claims and the Environment.
Blackfoot Nation
Official site of the Blackfoot Nation. Includes a language pronunciation guide and a selection of important or commonly used phrases.
Blackfoot Language
This website gives information in regards to the Blackfoot Language. It includes linguistic description, phonetic, alphabet, as well as resources, information and links on Blackfoot Culture.
Cradleboard Teaching Project
Founded by Buffy Sainte-Marie in 1996, the Cradleboard Teaching Project is designed to create curriculum units that present a Native American point of view. These units engage students in interactive dialogue with peers living elsewhere in the country. Cradleboard is a multidisciplinary project that maximizes what many schools are already doing.
Cree Language
A variety of resources that can assist you with teaching Cree language.
Dreamcatcher Tour
Begun in 1997 by Canadian singer and actor Tom Jackson, the Dreamcatcher Tour is an initiative designed to help reduce the high suicide rate among young people in some of Canada’s remote communities. In addition to featuring performances by Jackson, the annual tours include a keynote address and interactive workshops on such topics as stress, mental health, suicide prevention and coping. Revenue from concert admission supports local programs and charities for youth. Jackson is also the driving force behind the Huron Carole Benefit Concert Series, an annual initiative to raise money for the Canadian Association of Food Banks.
Elders: Elder Wisdom in the Classroom
Written by Ramona Big Head, as an extension of "Walking Together: First Nations, Métis and Inuit Perspectives in Curriculum", and published by Alberta Education, "Elder Wisdom in the Classroom" discusses the protocols of inviting Elders into your classroom, as well as information on how to utilize their knowledge and experiences of ceremonies and ways of being in a classroom setting.
Exploring Aboriginal Art in Canada
Available for download without cost, this resource is designed to help Grades 9 to 12 students develop their literacy skills by exploring the visual arts. Developed by educators Larry Maenpaa and Clarice Kloezeman, this resource was made possible by a grant from The Curriculum Foundation.
Four Worlds International Institute for Human and Community Development
The Four Worlds International Institute for Human and Community Development is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals, families, organizations, communities and nations build a healthy and sustainable future for the human family. The institute focuses on integrating the traditional teachings of North American tribal peoples with the best that western science and technology has to offer.
Glenbow Museum – Niitsitapiisini: Our Way of Life
Information on this webpage is offered in Blackfoot, English, or French and includes a flash or html experience detailing the culture and history of the Blackfoot peoples.
Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump
This is the official site of Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump. This explains a traditional way that the Plains People hunted long ago.
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) supports Aboriginal people (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) and Northerners in their efforts to improve and develop healthier more sustainable communities that are able to participate more fully in the development of Canada. In education, the Government of Canada is working in partnership with First Nations to improve the quality of education for students and improve outcomes. To learn more about AANDC's mandate, statutes, and agreements click here. To learn more about their role in education visit their Education Section, which includes information on K-12 education, post-secondary education, bursaries, and more.
National Resources Canada
Natural Resources Canada has an excellent selection of maps that provide information on such aspects of aboriginal life as languages spoken and population by census-division boundaries.
Nitsitapiisinni - Stories and Spaces: Exploring Kainai Plants and Culture
Includes information of different environment's vegetation and its use in Blackfoot culture. This webpage also include classroom resources, videos detailing the history of plant use and healing etc., as well as photos, artwork, and a plant index.
Society for Safe and Caring Schools and Communities (SACSC)
As part of its Toward a Safe and Caring Curriculum program, SACSC has published a series of curriculum materials that, among other things, incorporate aspects of First Nations, Métis and Inuit culture into the curriculum. In the case of elementary resources, separate binders are available for each grade level from K to 6. The secondary resources consist of unit and lesson plans. Teachers can submit lesson plans online and are paid an honorarium if their materials are published. SACSC has also published Safe and Caring Schools for Aboriginal Students: A Guide for Teachers, and Safe and Caring Schools for Two Spirit Youth: A Guide for Teachers and Students, which are both available in PDF.
"Walking Together: First Nations, Métis and Inuit Perspectives in Curriculum"
Professional digital resource designed to help educators understand the holistic nature of FNMI ways of knowing. Includes information on: First Nation, Metis, and Inuit Worldviews; Oral Tradition; Elders; Symbolism and Traditions; Connections to the Land; Indigenous Pedagogy et al.
Where Are The Children?
"Healing the Legacy of the Residential Schools, a touring exhibition that explores the history and legacy of Canada’s Residential School System through Survivor stories, archival photographs, and documents, curated by Iroquois artist Jeff Thomas."
The ARPDC moodle courses and resources are formatted to align with the learning outcomes from the Alberta Program of Studies. There are over 85 courses related to English, Math, Science, and Social with resources which include First Nations, Métis, or Inuit content or perspectives. The resources embedded in the courses are intended to serve as options for educators to consider in their curricular programming. The overarching goal is for educators to connect with their regional First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Communities for guidance on appropriate resources to effectively teach First Nations, Métis, and Inuit perspectives and content to all students.
Aboriginal Tourism Association of Canada
The Aboriginal Tourism Association of Canada (ATAC) is a non-profit organization that is committed to growing and promoting a sustainable, culturally rich Aboriginal tourism industry in Canada. The following link offers one-stop access to information for and about Aboriginal Canadians; offering information on First Nation, Métis and Inuit cultures, the different regions, as well as events you can partake in.
Aboriginal Literatures in Canada: A Teacher's Resource Guide
This resource, which is available for download without cost, is designed to encourage and support the teaching of Aboriginal literature in Canadian secondary schools. It contains commentaries and extensive bibliographies on literature from six Aboriginal cultures: Mi'kmaq, Six Nations, Anishnabe (Ojibway), Cree, Métis and Okanagan. Developed by educators Renate Eigenbrod, Georgina Kakegamic and Josias Fiddler, this resource received funding from The Curriculum Foundation.
The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society
The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society (AMMSA) is an independent Aboriginal communications organization dedicated to covering news, information and entertainment relevant to Aboriginal peoples while maintaining a profound respect for their values, principles and traditions. Of special interest to teachers are the sections titled “People of Honour” and the “Buffalo Spirit,” which highlight the achievements of important Canadian aboriginal role models.
Alberta Education
Policy framework: First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Policy Framework is a realignment of the department's 1987 Policy Statement on Native Education in Alberta, now archived on archive.org. While successes were achieved through the 1987 policy, Alberta Learning seeks to ensure that all policy directions remain relevant to the educational needs of today's Aboriginal learners.
Program of Studies
Assembly of First Nations
The Assembly of First Nations is a national lobby organization, which represents the more than 630 First Nation's communities in Canada. As such, it present the views of First Nations on such topics as Aboriginal and Treaty Rights, Economic Development, Education, Languages and Literacy, Health, Housing, Social Development, Justice, Taxation, Land Claims and the Environment.
Blackfoot Nation
Official site of the Blackfoot Nation. Includes a language pronunciation guide and a selection of important or commonly used phrases.
Blackfoot Language
This website gives information in regards to the Blackfoot Language. It includes linguistic description, phonetic, alphabet, as well as resources, information and links on Blackfoot Culture.
Cradleboard Teaching Project
Founded by Buffy Sainte-Marie in 1996, the Cradleboard Teaching Project is designed to create curriculum units that present a Native American point of view. These units engage students in interactive dialogue with peers living elsewhere in the country. Cradleboard is a multidisciplinary project that maximizes what many schools are already doing.
Cree Language
A variety of resources that can assist you with teaching Cree language.
Dreamcatcher Tour
Begun in 1997 by Canadian singer and actor Tom Jackson, the Dreamcatcher Tour is an initiative designed to help reduce the high suicide rate among young people in some of Canada’s remote communities. In addition to featuring performances by Jackson, the annual tours include a keynote address and interactive workshops on such topics as stress, mental health, suicide prevention and coping. Revenue from concert admission supports local programs and charities for youth. Jackson is also the driving force behind the Huron Carole Benefit Concert Series, an annual initiative to raise money for the Canadian Association of Food Banks.
Elders: Elder Wisdom in the Classroom
Written by Ramona Big Head, as an extension of "Walking Together: First Nations, Métis and Inuit Perspectives in Curriculum", and published by Alberta Education, "Elder Wisdom in the Classroom" discusses the protocols of inviting Elders into your classroom, as well as information on how to utilize their knowledge and experiences of ceremonies and ways of being in a classroom setting.
Exploring Aboriginal Art in Canada
Available for download without cost, this resource is designed to help Grades 9 to 12 students develop their literacy skills by exploring the visual arts. Developed by educators Larry Maenpaa and Clarice Kloezeman, this resource was made possible by a grant from The Curriculum Foundation.
Four Worlds International Institute for Human and Community Development
The Four Worlds International Institute for Human and Community Development is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals, families, organizations, communities and nations build a healthy and sustainable future for the human family. The institute focuses on integrating the traditional teachings of North American tribal peoples with the best that western science and technology has to offer.
Glenbow Museum – Niitsitapiisini: Our Way of Life
Information on this webpage is offered in Blackfoot, English, or French and includes a flash or html experience detailing the culture and history of the Blackfoot peoples.
Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump
This is the official site of Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump. This explains a traditional way that the Plains People hunted long ago.
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) supports Aboriginal people (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) and Northerners in their efforts to improve and develop healthier more sustainable communities that are able to participate more fully in the development of Canada. In education, the Government of Canada is working in partnership with First Nations to improve the quality of education for students and improve outcomes. To learn more about AANDC's mandate, statutes, and agreements click here. To learn more about their role in education visit their Education Section, which includes information on K-12 education, post-secondary education, bursaries, and more.
National Resources Canada
Natural Resources Canada has an excellent selection of maps that provide information on such aspects of aboriginal life as languages spoken and population by census-division boundaries.
Nitsitapiisinni - Stories and Spaces: Exploring Kainai Plants and Culture
Includes information of different environment's vegetation and its use in Blackfoot culture. This webpage also include classroom resources, videos detailing the history of plant use and healing etc., as well as photos, artwork, and a plant index.
Society for Safe and Caring Schools and Communities (SACSC)
As part of its Toward a Safe and Caring Curriculum program, SACSC has published a series of curriculum materials that, among other things, incorporate aspects of First Nations, Métis and Inuit culture into the curriculum. In the case of elementary resources, separate binders are available for each grade level from K to 6. The secondary resources consist of unit and lesson plans. Teachers can submit lesson plans online and are paid an honorarium if their materials are published. SACSC has also published Safe and Caring Schools for Aboriginal Students: A Guide for Teachers, and Safe and Caring Schools for Two Spirit Youth: A Guide for Teachers and Students, which are both available in PDF.
"Walking Together: First Nations, Métis and Inuit Perspectives in Curriculum"
Professional digital resource designed to help educators understand the holistic nature of FNMI ways of knowing. Includes information on: First Nation, Metis, and Inuit Worldviews; Oral Tradition; Elders; Symbolism and Traditions; Connections to the Land; Indigenous Pedagogy et al.
Where Are The Children?
"Healing the Legacy of the Residential Schools, a touring exhibition that explores the history and legacy of Canada’s Residential School System through Survivor stories, archival photographs, and documents, curated by Iroquois artist Jeff Thomas."