June is National Indigenous History Month

June is National Indigenous History Month, and June 21st is Indigenous Peoples’ Day!

Below you will find a collection of favourite resources for integrating Indigenous Knowledge, perspectives, and history into your classroom. In addition, our friends over at the Outdoor Learning School and Store have put together a list of 30 recommended resources and learning opportunities that we have included below! You can find their complete list of resources by clicking here.

You can also view all of the Outdoor Learning School & Store Indigenous Learning Resources by clicking here.

Resources for All Ages:

• Moccasin Identifier: Founded by Carolyn King in partnership with Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and The Greenbelt Foundation. Moccasin Identifier is an Indigenous-led initiative dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of Indigenous Treaties and history across Canada. As part of their mission, they have developed grade-level lesson plans and videos to support their goal to cover Canada in Moccasins, creating visual and educational reminders of the significance of Treaties and the Indigenous relationships to the land.
• NCCIE Lesson Plan Database: a comprehensive database of ready-to-use lesson plans for K-12! Includes curriculum connections, grade levels, and estimated length of time required for each lesson!
• This Indigenous Math Resource from UBC has resources, lesson plans, and guides on how to incorporate Indigenous Knowledge across all grade levels when teaching math. This is a great resource to find lesson plans that can easily be integrated and taken outside.
• Lessons from the Earth: Downloadable guides include curriculum connections, lesson plans, and inquiry-based activities. This project was created by FNMIEAO and works to bring Indigenous Systems and Knowledge into the classroom.
• Natural Curiosity: Outside of their beautiful guide that highlights the importance of integrating Indigenous Perspectives into learners’ environmental inquiry, Natural Curiosity has some amazing resources and guides for integrating Indigenous Knowledge into your outdoor teaching practice.
• BC Education Indigenous Knowledge and Perspectives in the K-12 Curriculum is a great document for finding clear connections that can be made to most Canadian school-age curricula.

K-3: 

• English/ Social Studies: Lessons from the Earth: Primary Age Kit – explores 7 big themes through the resource, each with supporting videos and sample lesson plans with curriculum-connected activities.
• Science: The Seasons: This lesson looks at sugar maple trees throughout the seasons and is designed for young learners. It is written as one lesson plan but could easily be developed into multiple shorter lessons or unit plans as the children explore the different activities and aspects of learning about sugar maple trees.
• Wellness: Teaching Relationships: Heartbeat of the Earth –  As part of 2024 TMO Week, Rise Up Indigenous Wellness’ Launa and Sherelle shared activities to foster a connection between your learners and the land (check out the recording here!). Laura’s book, Heartbeat of the Earth provides further ideas for teaching about our relationship to the earth.
• Phys Ed: Parks and Recs of Ontario has a large resource of Indigenous Games for Children from across Turtle Island.
• English/ Social Studies/ Science: Water Walker Teacher Guide and Resource: This guide is a great resource for how to discuss and integrate water teachings into your classroom. This guide can be used on its own or to accompany the picture book “The Water Walker”.
• Books for Primary/ Early Years Learners: Whispers of the Earth: A Journey through Indigenous Wisdom, Walking Together: Two-Eyed Seeing Children’s Book, Dreaming Alongside, Cedar School Decodable Series

Grade 4-8: 

• Relationship: Consent from the Land with Spruce Boughs lesson plan focuses on how the Dene practice consent with the land when harvesting spruce boughs for their wall tents. A great resource for fostering consent and respect for the land.
• Cross-Curricular: Lessons from the Earth 4-6 Kit / Lessons from the Earth 7-8 Kit explores 7 big themes through the resource, each with supporting videos and sample lesson plans with curriculum-connected activities.
• Science/ Math: Lessons from Beyond: As an extension of the Lesson from the Earth Project, this complimentary guide specifically integrates teaching science and astronomy through an Indigenous Knowledge lens.
• Science/ English: Lessons from the Night Sky: The purpose of this series of 7 lesson activities is to enrich students’ understanding and to gain an appreciation of Indigenous Science and Western Science in astronomy.
• Science/ Social Studies/ Relationship: Indigenous STEAM has an interactive and comprehensive guide/ unit plan for integrating water activities to prompt scientific inquiry with a focus on water in its varied forms. To view the full unit guide click here.
• Books for Intermediate/Middle School Learners: Orange Shirt Day: Books & Educational Resource Package, Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation, Strong Stories: Bundle of 48 Indigenous Books

Grade 9-12:

• Science/Cross-Curricular: Bison Unit from NCCIE – This 5 lesson series integrates language, nutrition, science, and social studies with Indigenous Ways of Knowing through exploring the importance of the Bison. This is a great resource for Science Educators looking for connections in chemistry and biology! Lesson 1 focuses on the connection between Humans and the Natural World. Lesson 2 teaches foundational knowledge about the importance and teachings associated with Bisons. Lesson 3 focuses on Harvesting and Hunting Practices, and Lessons 4 and 5 focus on the preparing and tanning process.
• Math: Inuit Technologies and Math Lessons – using kayaks and Igloos, this lesson plan supports integrating Indigenous Knowledge with STEM.
• Books for Secondary/Post-Secondary Learners: Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults, The Journey Forward: 2 Novellas on Reconciliation for Youth, Groundswell: Indigenous Knowledge and a Call to Action for Climate Change

Resources for Educators

Books for Educators:

• Speaking Our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation Teacher Set
• Wayi Wah! Indigenous Pedagogies: An Act for Reconciliation and Anti-Racist Education
• Heartbeat of the Earth: A Handbook on Connecting Children to Nature through Indigenous Teachings

Virtual Workshops for Educators: 

• August 6: Creative Writing with Richard Van Camp
• August 20: Drawing in Nature with Leah Marie Dorion
• August 27: Drumming for Well-being with Bill Helin

Resources en Français

• Curiosité naturelle, 2e édition: Ressource pour l’enseignante ou l’enseignant
• Livres Taanishi: Michif et Français
• Laisse un bel héritage

Reconciliation Books for Adults

• 52 Ways to Reconcile: How to Walk with Indigenous Peoples on the Path to Healing
• Unreconciled: Family, Truth, and Indigenous Resistance
• Black Water: Family, Legacy, and Blood Memory

Indigenous Plant Knowledge Books for Adults

• Held by the Land: A Guide to Indigenous Plants for Wellness
• Medicines to Help Us: Traditional Métis Plant Use
• Revered Roots: Ancestral Teachings and Wisdom of Wild, Edible, and Medicinal Plants
• Plants Have So Much to Give Us, All We Have to Do Is Ask

Introductory Indigenous Language Online Courses for Adults

• Kanyen’keha (Mohawk) Introductory Language Course
• Skarù·ręʔ (Tuscarora) Introductory Language Course
• Mi’kmaq (Mi’kmaw) Introductory Language Course

Indigenous Learning Online Courses for Adults

• 4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning – read the reviews! Super early bird closes June 30.
• 4 saisons de la réconciliation
• Connecting Children to Nature through Indigenous Teachings

Use the discount code  CERT20 to receive 20% off all course offerings!