Color Coded for Resource Identification:

Classroom Resource - Can be utilized with students for their learning

Teacher Resource - Can be used by a teacher for professional development
Classroom Resource with Approval - Can be used with students but should be reviewed for
appropriateness first

Resources:
The History of the Blackfeet and the Blackfoot Confederacy by Charles River Editors: This is a
slightly outdated resource that still contains some benefits. It gives a very basic overview and
history of the Blackfoot people in Canada and America. As an American resource it uses some
outdated language and contains some outdated perspectives on First Nations people. Overall, it is
a decent teacher resource to learn about the Blackfoot people, so long as one is a critical reader
and can read through some of the problematic ideologies and language.

Spirit Bear and the Children Make History (video): This video does an excellent job of
illustrating the history and essence of Jordan’s Principle. The video is engaging and educational
(though slightly juvenile). I think it is an excellent resource to utilize with children of all ages
because it states things in simple language that anyone can understand. I look forward to using it
in my class. It is about half an hour long and could be used as an individual lesson or could be
used with additional resources for a mini-unit or part of a more robust unit.

Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese: This would be great for a higher level novel study
(probably only Grade 12 due to sensitive content matter). It details the specific experiences of a
boy who attends a Residential school. It does an excellent job of creating a bond between the
narrator and the reader and provides you with a concrete image of why Residential schools were
so damaging and the lasting effects they have had on our First Nations, Metis, and Inuit
communities. It can be extremely graphic at times so it may need to be proofed by an
administrator if it were ever to be used. *The movie is also an excellent resource and stays very
true to the source material*

The Barren Grounds by David A. Robertson: I am planning on utilizing this as some form of
novel study for either my ELA or LLI classes. It is an absolutely remarkable novel that blends
realism with fantasy in a way that promotes learning about First Nations people in Canada. It
follows a pair of Cree foster children who discover a magical world based on Cree legends. It
incorporates language, traditions, and worldviews of Canada’s Indigenous groups in a way that
encourages students to learn as well as seek out other learning opportunities. I think that the
narrator’s (Morgan) lack of knowledge about Cree culture is an excellent way to provide the
reader with more information in a way that feels comfortable and natural.
From the Ashes by Jesse Thistle: This novel is quite graphic and may not be suitable as a
classroom resource, but it does help to build my personal understanding of the issues and
struggles that colonialism has caused. It tells the story of the author’s (Jesse Thistle) life and how
he has been affected by the history of violence that First Nations, Metis, and Inuit groups have
been through. This is a story of hope with a very dark centre as you observe the hardships and
trauma that Jesse Thistle endured. I ultimately think that this book is an excellent resource to
learn about some of the hardships that our student’s family members may be going through or
have experienced.

Black Water: Family, Legacy, and Blood Memory by David A. Robertson: This book is based on
the real life story of the author’s return to his family’s traditional trapline. It speaks of his
experience as a Metis boy who grew up with little knowledge of his cultural heritage and his
rediscovery of his cultural background. It is an excellent resource that speaks of the importance
of celebrating Indigeneity and the beauty of participating in cultural practices. It challenges some
of our beliefs of bilingualism, cultural sensitivity, and the disservice we do to FNMI students by
not integrating their culture into our educational system. Chapters of this book could be used as
literary analysis in either Social Studies or Language Arts classes or it could be used as
professional development for teachers to unpack some of their previously held beliefs and help
them to support students of Indigenous heritage.

Coyote Tales by Thomas King: This book would be an excellent choice for a short read aloud in
class or as a Short Story Analysis. It is a collection of short enjoyable stories about Coyote the
Trickster. It is fun and simple and would be great for students of any age. These stories are quite
positive and showcase some of the wonder and optimism that can be found within Indigenous
stories. (Maybe read this to 7MS in June?)

Medicine Walk by Richard Wagamese: This novel, much like the author’s other novel Indian
Horse, would potentially work as an advanced novel study for higher grades. It tells the story of
a young man and his estranged alcoholic father and their travels to their people’s traditional
lands. This book is fairly graphic and would likely be inappropriate as a student resource. It was
enjoyable as a story and can help to expand upon one’s understanding of family, trauma, and
addiction.

Fatty Legs by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton: This book is an alternative
for if I cannot do The Barren Grounds as my novel study. As this is a shorter novel, I would
chunk the novel into plot points (exposition, conflict, climax) and create a project for students to
complete for each section. This story is equal parts inspiring and heartbreaking. I think it would
work well with my grade seven class as they continue to develop their understanding of
Residential Schools. This would be a good resource to read to students as well during the final
weeks of school.