Aboriginal Canada Portal

Resources for Teachers



Educational Resources

Aboriginal Arithmetic  
Aboriginal Arithmetic is an article for Canada Foundation for Innovation, describing the efforts of a Mohawk professor at the First Nations University of Canada in Regina to engage Aboriginal students in mathematics.
Source: Innovation Canada
Aboriginal Issues Books  
This page presents books on Aboriginal issues, law, education, and western history, featuring book covers, chapters and prices.
Source: Purich Publishing Ltd.
Aboriginal Learning Materials  
From this page, access is provided to resources such as online books which may be used at home or in the classroom.
Source: National Adult Literacy Database (NALD)
Aboriginal Literatures in Canada – A Teacher's Resource Guide (PDF)  
Encourages the teaching of Aboriginal literature in English high school curricula across the country because Aboriginal students deserve to be taught texts they can relate to and, because non-Aboriginal students should be educated about Aboriginals.
Source: Curriculum Services Canada
Aboriginal School Books – First Language Children's Literature  
The books Nortext helps publish are almost always in first languages containing stories and illustrations created in the communities by Aboriginal authors and illustrators.
Source: Nortext
Angelique – Our Canadian Girl  
Historical fiction about Angelique, a girl who lived in the 1860s, when the buffalo hunt was an important part of Métis life. Part of a series of historical books for young readers.
Source: Penguin Books Canada Ltd.
Books  
This page features books intended for Mi'kmaq Language Curriculum.
Source: Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw Language Centre of Excellence
Classroom Edition  
The information contained in Canadian Classroom can play an instrumental role in breaking down barriers and increase understanding between individuals, communities and cultures.
Source: Aboriginal Multi-Media Society (AMMSA)
First Nations Periodical Index  
Contains journals of mainly Canadian Native content. This Index is a tool providing access to information about First Nations for students, educators, instructors, researchers and the general public.
First Nations SchoolNet Program  
Links to the six non-profit Regional Management Organizations who worked with Industry Canada to deliver the program to First Nations schools.
Government of Canada Source: Government of Canada; Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)
GoodMinds.com  
Native-owned and operated business located on the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, providing one-stop-shopping for the very best in Native Educational ressources.
Gryphon Productions Ltd.  
Award-winning video productions, many aimed at Native American, First Nations communities, organizations, government, schools and hospitals.
Kakwa  
In addition to providing artefact replicas for educational programs, Kakwa's presentations on traditional skills such as hide-tanning, stone tool-making, and earth pigments have been featured in museums, historic parks, and schools across Canada.
Learning Resources  
Contains all learning resources commissioned for the Virtual Museum, in addition to many of the Gabriel Dumont Institute's proven educational resources from the past.
Source: The Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture
Native People's Literature – English Titles – Read up on it  
Biographical notes of books by and about Aboriginal peoples, which features book covers and book descriptions, and specifies target groups.
Government of Canada Source: Government of Canada; Library and Archives Canada
Native People's Literature – French Titles – Read up on it  
This page showcases native people's literature in French for children, from Library and Archives Canada's 1993 "Read Up On It" program.
Government of Canada Source: Government of Canada; Library and Archives Canada
People in their World  
People in Their World fosters intercultural understanding by creating opportunities for learning experiences.
Ukaliq – The Arctic Hare  
Government of Canada Source: Government of Canada; Canadian Museum of Nature
Vidéanthrop Inc. (In French Only)  
Vidéanthrop holds an impressive collection of images (illustrations and slides) pertaining to the prehistory and the history of Indians and Inuit.

Top of page

Lesson Plans and Activities

Aboriginal Elders: A Grade 12 Unit Lesson Plan  
Source: University of British Columbia
Aboriginal People of the Canadian North  
This page provides various links to different subjects pertaining to Aboriginal Peoples of the Canadian North.
Source: University of Saskatchewan
Aboriginal Voices in Canadian Contemporary Art  
This lesson plan presents Canadian contemporary art by artists of Aboriginal ancestry.
Source: National Gallery of Canada
Blueprint for the Future  
Project of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation that provides Aboriginal youth with a forum where they can be exposed to a variety of educational and employment-related information.
Source: National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (NAAF)
Connecting Youth in Canada – Webcast Series  
This project is all about youth talking to youth - finding out how other teenagers live, what they think, where they're coming from.
Government of Canada Source: Government of Canada; Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)
Contemporary Inuit Sculpture  
The purpose of this lesson is to eliminate the notion of homogeneity in contemporary Inuit art and show the diverse thematic and artistic approaches of the artists.
Source: National Gallery of Canada
Culture and its Meaning  
This educational kit was designed to allow students to examine Aboriginal culture in Alberta from a historical and contemporary perspective.
Source: Edukits.ca
Different Visions: First Nations Leaders in Early Canada (Grades 7-8)  
The following lesson examines the recorded speeches of two First Nations leaders and compares their content.
Source: Early Canadiana Online
Different Visions: First Nations Leaders in Early Canada (Grades 9-12)  
The following lesson examines the recorded speeches of two First Nations leaders and compares their content.
Source: Early Canadiana Online
First Nations Contributions  
This educational kit examines the accomplishments and backgrounds of many First Nation people from Canada's past and present and honours their contributions.
Source: Edukits.ca
First Peoples Section  
This page offers links to Inuit history, snow travel and Aboriginal fishing.
Government of Canada Source: Government of Canada; Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC)
For Educators – Ukaliq – The Arctic Hare  
This section of the Museum of Nature's module on the arctic hare offers a range of educational and fun activities linked to science curricula to help educators with lesson planning.
Government of Canada Source: Government of Canada; Canadian Museum of Nature
Games from the Aboriginal People of North America  
These games will work well in classrooms to meet educational objectives. They are significant examples of a natural learning environment and the mathematical concepts that can be abstracted from them.
Inuit Education, An: Honouring a Past, Creating a Future – For Teachers  
In these activities, students will examine the role of the government in Inuit education, evaluate archival media for bias and stereotyping, and create a newspaper supplement on the federal government's education of Inuit children.
Government of Canada Source: Government of Canada; Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)
Inuit of the Canadian Arctic, The  
This project for grade 3 students focused on the culture of the Inuit, and helped students develop an awareness that communities are founded on traditions and customs and that changes occur over time.
Source: Galileo Educational Network
Inuit Regions, The (Map)  
This page describes all aspects of the Inuvialuit region, which is located in the northwestern part of the Northwest Territories.
Source: Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Inukshuk – Heritage Minutes  
Source: Historica
Jacques Cartier – Exploration – Heritage Minutes  
As part of the acclaimed Historica Minutes, this one-minute movie portrays Jacques Cartier, one of Canada's celebrated explorers who plunged into that "unknown country" pursuing riches, fame and adventure.
Source: Historica
Kids from Kanata  
Seeks to develop supportive and respectful cross-cultural relationships between Native and non-Native communities through a process of historical education, an evaluation of current realities and visions, etc.
Kids' Stop  
The simple activities included in each Learning Circle have been designed to help students learn more about First Nations and related issues through fun and interactive exercises.
Government of Canada Source: Government of Canada; Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)
Language and Culture  
This educational kit for Aboriginal students in Alberta focuses on the relationship between language and culture and the impact of history upon language.
Source: Edukits.ca
Louis Riel – First Nations – Heritage Minutes  
As part of the acclaimed Historica Minutes, this one-minute movie portrays Louis Riel, the Métis leader and founder of Manitoba.
Source: Historica
Nicolett – Exploration – Heritage Minutes  
As part of the acclaimed Historica Minutes, this one-minute movie portrays Jean Nicollet, one of Canada's celebrated explorers who plunged into that "unknown country" pursuing riches, fame and adventure.
Source: Historica
Origin and Settlement  
This educational kit for Aboriginal students in Alberta explores various Aboriginal origin theories, as well as traditional and post-contact education systems and discussion of Aboriginal languages and linguistic roots.
Source: Edukits.ca
Our Story – Aboriginal Writing Challenge  
Source: The Dominion Institute
Peacemaker – First Nations – Heritage Minutes  
As part of the acclaimed Historica Minutes, this one-minute movie depicts the Great Peace, which can be traced back more than 1,500 years and has lasted to the present day.
Source: Historica
Print and Drawings in Contemporary Inuit Art  
This lesson plan provides an introduction to the contemporary Inuit art prints and drawings in the National Gallery of Canada’s collection. The works chosen are from five important print shops located in the four major regions of Arctic Canada.
Source: National Gallery of Canada
Rekindling Traditions – Cross-Cultural Science and Technology Units Project  
The goal is to make Western science and engineering accessible to Aboriginal students in ways that nurture their own cultural identities.
Source: Cameo Access Program for Engineering and Science (CAPES)
Sila  
SILA is an innovative e-learning website that connects people directly to the stunning Arctic environment and a rich Inuit cultural universe.
Sitting Bull – Heritage Minutes  
As part of the acclaimed Historica Minutes, this one-minute movie portrays Sitting Bull which symbolized the conflict between settlers and native American culture over lifestyles, land, and resources.
Source: Historica
Spirituality and Creation  
This educational kit allows Aboriginal students in Alberta to explore the role of Elders in the pre-contact, contact, and modern eras, with an emphasis on storytelling as a sacred aspect of Aboriginal culture.
Source: Edukits.ca
Syrup – Settling Canada – Heritage Minutes  
As part of the acclaimed Historica Minutes, this one-minute depicts the story of collecting and processing the sweet sap of the sugar maple known and valued by the native peoples of eastern North America long before the arrival of European settlers.
Source: Historica
Teachers Resource Kit  
Source: Four Directions Teachings

Top of page