Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada
Time: 1 - 2.5 hours
Bookings available: every other week on Wednesdays.
Age: activities are suitable for grades 2-12
Space requirement: this atlas is 11 m x 8 m and will require booking half of a gym, or commons area
Potential Themes:
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General overview of Indigenous communities
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Connection to the Land and Demographics
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Universal Declaration of Human Rights
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Indigenous Governance
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Climate Change
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Indigenous Languages
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Timeline of Indigenous History and Colonization
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Residential Schools
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Treaties, Land Disputes, Agreements and Rights
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Trade Routes and Traplines
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Seasonal Cycles and Migration Patterns
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Notable People
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Seasonal changes
contact Sheryl Newton or click here for more info
Blanket Exercise
Time: 2 - 2.5 hours
Age: two versions are available, grade 5 and grade 11/12
Space requirement: large classroom, gym, outdoors
Themes: The Blanket Exercise provides an overview of Indigenous rights in Canada that explores the major themes and findings of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP). This immersive experience, students will help students understand:
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How colonization of BC and Canada has impacted Indigenous people
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Nation to nation relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada
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How this relationship has been damaged
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How you can work towards reconciliation - “the restoration of friendly relationships”
contact chills@sd22.bc.ca for more info
Blanket Exercise
Time: 2 - 2.5 hours
Age: two versions are available, grade 5 and grade 11/12
Space requirement: large classroom, gym, outdoors
Themes: The Blanket Exercise provides an overview of Indigenous rights in Canada that explores the major themes and findings of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP). This immersive experience, students will help students understand:
-
How colonization of BC and Canada has impacted Indigenous people
-
Nation to nation relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada
-
How this relationship has been damaged
-
How you can work towards reconciliation - “the restoration of friendly relationships”
contact Sheryl Newton for more info
Beading
Time: 1.5 - 2 hours
Age: grade 9+
Materials: Please note teachers are responsible for providing beads and materials. See this document for more information.
Beaded Timeline: Students will learn about the history of the syilx and the events that impacted Indigenous people from the Royal Proclamation 1763 until present day. Events covered include the 1862 Small Pox epidemic, formation of reserves in the Okanagan, the Indian Act and more.
Other beading activities and offerings include:
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beaded lanyard (2 double blocks, 4 hours 80 minutes)
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beaded pins (1 double block, 2 hours 40 minutes)
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loom beading (1 block +, 1 hour 20 minutes +)
contact Sheryl Newton for more info
Drumming and Singing
Time: 45 minutes, 20 minutes for Kindergarten
Age: all ages
Space requirement: classroom, music room, outside
Content: Students will learn the different protocols for drumming and singing while learning 2-3 songs.
contact Sheryl Newton for booking and more info
Government, Policy, and Current Events
Time: 1-3 classes (plus initial teacher meeting)
Age: grades 4-12
Space requirement: classroom, outside, gym (depending on activities)
Content: Through conversation, we will co-create and facilitate a short unit for your class. It starts with sending an e-mail to me and we will set up a time to meet. After that, I will come into your class and co-facilitate with you for 1 to 3 classes. Indigenous pedagogical practice will go hand in hand with the teaching of these topics. These collaborative classes will be tailored to your grade level and class. All activities will include interactive lessons on topics such as traditional governance, The Indian Act, and land claims.
Land-Based Learning
Time: 2-4 classes (plus initial teacher meeting)
Age: grades K-12
Space requirement: classroom, outside
Content: Land-based learning that incorporates your curriculum with Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Reach out through e-mail and we will set up an initial meeting to design land based activities that work best for your group of students. Some possibilities are outdoors (land walks, water lessons, traditional games), but we can also look at ways to bring in land-based learning right into your classroom (artifact based learning on hunting or other harvesting). Land based learning takes time, so after our initial meet, we will book between 2-4 dates that work with you and your class. It is possible to have more than one class work together on this.
Contemporary Indigenous Painting and Drawing: Natural Pigment Watercolour
Time: 1-4 classes
Age: grades 9-12
Space requirement: art room or classroom with sink
Content:
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Look at Contemporary Indigenous Artists working today
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Process and Indigenous Protocol for Harvesting and Creating Natural pigment paints/dyes
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Demonstration of basic watercolour techniques
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Students create a watercolour artwork using Natural pigment paints