Video: N’we Jinan Artists – “ONLY BE US”

The band “N’we Jinan” travels across the country and helps indigenous students write and produce their own songs and videos. This particular video is with local students from the Chu Chua band which is located in Barriere. The students write their own lyrics about their lives, their struggles, their dreams and their emotions. It is a powerful song about being true to yourself and any student, no matter their culture, can relate to it. Music is a great resource to use in class as students can easily connect and engage with it.

Book: Stolen Words

This picture book looks into the impact that residential schools had on young indigenous children. The story is about a grandfather sharing with his granddaughter how he lost his language and culture when he was taken to a residential school in his childhood. This age appropriate picture book can be used to introduce the pain of residential schools to younger students and the impact that it still has today.  It also looks at the importance of family relationships and how loved ones can help the healing process.

Website: First Nations Education Steering Committee

The FNESC website has a large quantity of amazing resources for the classroom but I focused on the science resources for first peoples. The webpage has a guide that provides resources for educators for implementing indigenous knowledge within science lessons and activities. It is very much community based and outlines many units where students can explore their relationship with the environment and wildlife. The first peoples science units are a great way to incorporate culturally appropriate material in the classroom while staying true to the Truth and Reconciliation of Canada.

References

First Nations Education Steering Committee. (n.d) Science First Peoples. Retrieved from http://www.fnesc.ca/science-first-peoples/

Florence, M. (2017). Stolen Words. Toronto: Second Story Press.

Nwe Jinan. (2017, December 19). N’we Jinan Artists – “ONLY BE US” // Simpcw First Nation, B.C. Reterived from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W-FgGArxw0

Winfrey, O. (2002). Oprah Winfrey Quotes. LibQuotes. Retrieved from https://libquotes.com/oprah-winfrey