Social Studies:
BC First Peoples 12 – 2022 Edition
Sq’ewlets: A:wkw – Our Belonging : Sq’ewlets is a Stó:lō-Coast Salish Community in the Fraser River Valley in British Columbia. This website includes “things our ancestors made and used. Archaeologists call these ‘artifacts’.” This virtual picture archive is part of the Virtual Museum of Canada.
Stó:lō Past and Present : “This video was graciously loaned to Mission District 75 by the Coqualeetza Cultural Education Centre for the sole purpose of educating our students and educators.” — Joseph Heslip
First Peoples’ Cultural Council: BC Interactive Heritage Map
“Indigenous Peoples within B.C. live in exceptionally diverse territories that are intrinsically linked to their cultural heritage, which can include ideas, experiences, worldviews, objects, forms of expression, practices, knowledge, spirituality, kinship ties and places. To learn more about Indigenous cultural heritage places, use the search bar at the top of the page or click on any of the tabs below.”
The Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture (Primary, Intermediate, Middle School High School)
- Includes Exhibits, Learning Resources and Where Two Worlds Meet Teacher’s Guide with lesson plans.
Grade 4 Cross-Curricular Teacher Guide : This resource provides teachers and students with information and instruction on the Métis people and their culture. The objective of the Guide is to answer the
question “Who Are the Métis?” this resource can be used in conjunction with the book The Flower and Beadwork People
See also: MPSD Siwal Si’wes Library Métis Collection in Destiny (print and digital resources)
See academic articles listed here in the Métis-specific bibliography.
Museum of Anthropology (MOA) at UBC : ERAC reviewed and listed. MOA is a museum dedicated to the world of arts and culture with special emphasis on First Nations peoples and other cultural communities of British Columbia, Canada. (Primary, Intermediate, Middle School, High School)
Historica Canada: Historica Canada aims to build awareness of Canadian history and citizenship. (Indigenous History section can be found here.) It includes an Indigenous Perspectives Education Guide for teachers. This organization also includes the online Canadian Encyclopedia (Indigenous Peoples section can be found here) and Heritage Minutes. It also operates the Ottawa-based Encounters with Canada program. All programs are offered in both official languages. Intermediate, Middle School,. High School)
Historica Canada: Historica Canada a pour mission de sensibiliser le public à l’histoire et la citoyenneté canadiennes. (La section Histoire autochtone peut être trouvée ici.) Il comprend un Guide Pédagogoqiue Perspectives Autochtones pour les enseignants. Cette organisation comprend également L’Encyclopédie Canadienne (On peut trouver la section des Peuples autochtones ici.) et plusieurs vidéos d’un programme appelé Minutes du Patrimoine. Le site offre également le programme Rencontres du Canada, une occasion unique pour les adolescents canadiens de rencontrer d’autres jeunes de partout à travers le pays. Tous les programmes sont offerts dans les deux langues officielles (les Écoles élémentaires, les Écoles intermédiaires, les Écoles secondaires).
Canada’s First Peoples : Provides text and pictures related to FNMI culture and history. Great for students research. (Intermediate, Middle School, High School)
First Nations Historical Timeline : This is a printable timeline showing the development of the relationship between Europeans and First Nations from 1763 to 2012. (Middle School, High School)
Land Rights: UBC information related to Indigenous land rights found on their website indigenousfoundations.arts.ubc.ca. (High School, ProD)
A Sacred Trust : The Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. This video shares a history of the New Credit First Nation with Europeans from first contact to the present. Treaties and territory claims are included. (High School)
Beaded Timeline : The representation of time immemorial and understanding why we acknowledge traditional territory can be challenging. A great way to visually represent the length of time First Peoples have lived in what we now know as British Columbia is to build a beaded timeline. The beaded timeline helps students and teachers understand why we acknowledge traditional territory. This lesson is from Delta Public School District. (Elementary School, Middle School)
How to Facilitate a Talk Circle : Students will experience the cultural practice of a Talking Circle and follow the expected protocols. This detailed lesson comes from Delta Public School District. (Elementary School, Middle School)
We Are All Related : To encourage children to explore their cultural background and identity through discussions, listening and sharing in a talking circle. A great introductory lesson to start the year! This detailed lesson plan comes from Delta Public School District. (Elementary School, Middle School)
The Quilt of Belonging : “The Quilt of Belonging consists of 263 11-inch fabric squares, 70 representing all Aboriginal groups, 193 featuring all immigrant nationalities in Canada and the Canadian block.” When you search a First Nations People, you will find the story of the quilt block creation and a description of the culture. (Middle School, High School, ProD)
Aboriginal First Nations: Our Own Names and Locations : Map of Canada that includes Indigenous place names and locations. Click on “or here“ on this webpage for full size map version with ability to “mouse click” for magnification. This map found within Aboriginal Multi-Media Society‘s website. (Middle, Secondary, ProD)
Native American Facts for Kids : This is a Native American developed website created by a “non-profit organization working to preserve and promote American Indian languages. We encourage students, especially older kids, to look through our main information on American Indian tribes to get the best feel for the cultures they are studying. This “Facts For Kids” section was designed to provide simple online information about American Indians in an easy-to-read question and answer format.” (Please note that students will need to made be aware of what is trusted information and what is advertising.) (Intermediate, Middle, Secondary)
BC Aboriginal Legends and Symbology : Created for the Squamish Lilwat Cultural Centre website, this page describes BC animals and what each represents within BC First Nations people’s culture and traditions, as well as brief versions of some traditional stories. This page is a place to begin an inquiry about the included animals as symbols and about First Nations traditional stories. (Intermediate, Middle School High School)
Aboriginal Education Strategy : Practical teaching strategies for the elementary classroom : Lesson plans from the Ontario Ministry of Education. “Download these professionally developed teaching strategies, designed to help Ontario teachers bring Aboriginal perspectives into the classroom.” Provides context for specific competencies and First Nations content. (Primary, Intermediate, Middle School)
Cree Cultural Institute-Lessons : Excellent and detailed Social Studies and Language Arts lessons with included lesson plans, worksheets, assessment rubrics (with some lessons), and connected virtual museum artifacts for each lesson. Cree Myths and Traditional Stories included. (Primary, Intermediate, Middle School, High School)
Aboriginal Perspectives: A Teacher’s Toolkit : “A new collection of electronic resources from the [Ontario] Ministry of Education to help elementary and secondary teachers bring Aboriginal perspectives into their classrooms.” Teaching Strategies and lesson plans are available on the ministry’s website. (Primary, Intermediate, Middle School, High School)
Dancing to Eagle Spirit Society : A well organized presentation of Indigenous culture and practices. “The purpose of the society is to advance Native American healing and spiritual principles for aboriginal and non-aboriginal people…. To educate the public on the Sweat lodge ceremony and other Native American spiritual practices.” (High School, ProD)
Pre-Contact
Voices of the Canoe (MOA) : Lesson plans (For Teachers) from UBC’s Museum of Anthropology. A variety of subjects and themes are covered with an inquiry based approach. Units include What is Indigenous Knowledge? (All ages) , What is Historical Consciousness? (All ages), What is Evidence and How Do We Use It? (Gr. 8-10), Cultural Expression of the Canoe (Gr. 12), Colonialism and the Canoe (Gr. 9), Mapping (Gr. 8), Oral Tradition and the Canoe (Gr. 12), Origin Stories and the Canoe (Gr. 8), Resources and the Canoe (Gr. 7), Witnesses to BC History: Evaluating Primary Sources (Gr. 11)
Native-land.ca : A site that includes an interactive traditional map, a short must read teacher’s guide, resource links, and acknowledgement of territory guide. This resource challenges us to think critically about what maps are and how they are determined. (Intermediate, Middle School High School, ProD)
First Peoples Language Map of B.C. : ERAC reviewed and listed. British Columbia is home to 203 First Nations communities and an amazing diversity of Indigenous languages; approximately 60% of the First Nations languages of Canada are spoken in B.C. On this map, you can access indexes of all the languages, First Nations and Community Champions. (Middle School, High School, ProD)
Aboriginal First Nations : Our Own Names and Locations : The map of Canadian First Nations pre-European contact by Allan Yerxa, Read about the creation of this map here. (Middle School, High School)
NFB – Indigenous Cinema in the Classroom : Videos created by indigenous film makers. This website includes videos for Primay/Intermediate (Ages 6-11), Middle (Ages 12-14), Secondary (Ages 15-18) and Educators (ProD).
Hauyat: Explore Our Territory : Discover ancient clam beds, archaeological digs and more in this virtual tour of Hauyat Territory, located on Hunter Island in Queen Charlotte Sound, BC. A video offering you an overview of the Heiltsuk people of Hauyat can be found here.
Unreserved Videos : Tuesday Teachings (CBC) : Every other Tuesday, the CBC Radio program, Unreserved, posts videos offering Indigenous Teachings.
Siwal Si'wes Digital Library 