This unit deals with how people first came to live in the part of the world which today we call the Northwest Territories. It focuses on stories of the First Peoples of this land which have evolved over many generations. Some of these stories may be unfamiliar to you. The stories themselves, and how we learn to tell and hear them, provide critical insights to how people have lived and understood this land we now live in.

A teacher’s guide from the 2022 Treaty Education Summer Institute which uses storytelling as a portal to explore Treaties.

The First Peoples of Canada recognize certain members of their communities for their ability as storytellers. The skillful art of storytelling is passed down from one generation to another by chosen, recognized or hereditary storytellers.

Some stories are shared at certain times of the year, in designated areas and on special occasions. As well, parents, family members and Elders share their knowledge with the younger generations in the course of their daily activities.

The stories we want to share with you here are from the Inuvialuit, the Algonquin, the Métis and Cree, the Nisga'a, the Abenaki and the Mi'kmaq. They are told through movement, song and dance, using symbols and imagination. They teach us about the origin of sacred objects and ceremonies, and our relationship to the animals, plants, rocks and each other.

Through Mala's Eyes takes a look at the Inuit community and helps students understand and appreciate one of the diverse cultures that exist within Canada. This resource looks at the life of an Inuit community in northern Quebec, through the eyes of Mala, a twelve year old Inuk boy. Through his first person narratives, Mala provides interesting background information about life in his community.

Downloadable teaching resource provided.

This is an excellent resource for teaching students about Inuit life. This resource speaks directly to students as it is given from the point of view of a twelve year old child. Students ages nine to fourteen should enjoy relating to these stories. It is rare to find a resource about Inuit life that is this modern, positive and engaging.
There are a variety of activities included within the resource, and teachers are encouraged to choose those which best apply to their classroom. There is also a lot of good background information provided in the resource, such as a glossary of Inuit terms and the Inuit alphabet. As well, online links are provided for more information.

"Listen to traditional stories and creation stories told by six Indigenous storytellers from communities across Canada. Each recording is available in the respective Indigenous language and in English, and French transcripts are available."

This guide is a teacher resource containing several classroom activities that explore the stories shared in the Voices from Here video series. Download the education guide and use the worksheets

This series is a charming and often humorous look at the contemporary life of a Cree community. Set in a fictitious community in northern Saskatchewan, the animation stories follow the exploits of young Raven, Talon and their cousin T-Bear as they face challenges and learn valuable life lessons.

Educators can use the series to teach children about Cree culture and about universal themes such as honouring tradition, cooperation, self-esteem and ethics. This series is also available in French and Cree versions.

This series is a charming and often humorous look at the contemporary life of a Cree community. Set in a fictitious community in northern Saskatchewan, the animation stories follow the exploits of young Raven, Talon and their cousin T-Bear as they face challenges and learn valuable life lessons.

Educators can use the series to teach children about Cree culture and about universal themes such as honouring tradition, cooperation, self-esteem and ethics. This series is also available in English and French versions.

Students will learn about The Water Walker, Josephine Mandamin, and discuss and research topics related to the protection of our water sources. Students will then take their research and consider how advancements in technology over the past 50 years (specifically transportation and and business (shipping, manufacturing) have impacted the local water supplies.This lesson was created through a partnership between CodeVA and the Virginia Tribal Education Consortium (VTEC). 

The First Nations University, Indigenous Continuing Education Centre (ICEC), is proud to offer an exclusive tutorial introducing the National Centre for Collaboration in Indigenous Education (NCCIE) website and its on-line Teaching Resource Centre for Indigenous and non-Indigenous educators. The Teaching Resource Centre is an invaluable tool for all educators. The lesson plans are searchable by subject and grade. Each lesson plan comes complete with learning outcomes, a teacher’s guide,
activities, assessment guidelines, and materials. Lesson plans and videos were co-developed with community partners across Canada in the spirit of reciprocity – to contribute to the growing educational resources that highlight Indigenous perspectives.

The tutorial is designed to highlight the educational videos, stories, and lessons available on the NCCIE website and support learners and educators in their journey of knowing and understanding Indigenous education.

The tutorial will:
• Describe where to locate useful educational resources (e.g., videos, stories, and lessons) on the NCCIE website.
• Identify resources that may be useful in your educational journey or in your teaching practice.
• Examine and implement a variety of website resources into your courses and contexts.
• Assess the support you may need to deliver website content.
• Design a plan for implementing resources from the NCCIE website.

Topics include:
- Resource Guide Overview
- History of the NCCIE (The National Centre for Collaboration in Indigenous Education
- Integrating Indigenous Content into the Classroom
- Navigating the NCCIE Website
- Four Directions Model for Indigenous Education
- Using a Medicine Wheel in the Classroom
- Integrating Indigenous Content into the Classroom
- Relationship-Building with Indigenous Communities
- Adaptations of lessons to different provincial curricula