Inuit Knowledge and Climate Change

The 2010 documentary Inuit Knowledge and Climate Change shares observations by Inuit elders of the severe environmental changes they are witnessing in the place and space in which they live.

"Imagine how this feels: The land and weather are turning erratic and dangerous. Warmer, unpredictable winds are coming from strange directions. Severe floods threaten to wash away towns. And native animals, the food supply, aren't behaving as they used to, their bodies less capable in the changing climate (. . .). 

These are the drastic conditions Northern Canadians, whose lives depend from childhood on their knowledge of the most minute details of the Arctic land and skies, say they see all around them. These observations by Inuit elders are detailed in a groundbreaking new documentary, Inuit Knowledge and Climate Change, by acclaimed Nunavut filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk ( The Fast Runner, The Journals of Knud Rasmussen) and environmental scientist Ian Mauro." (The Globe and Mail)

Teacher's guide for graphic novel 7 Generations

Here is a link to a teacher's guide for 7 Generations, the four-part graphic novel series written by David Alexander Robertson. 7 Generations follows the story of one Aboriginal family from 19th century to the present day. The following synopsis of each book is taken from the teacher's guide, which was written by Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair.

Book 1, Stone introduces Edwin, a young, lost Aboriginal man who must understand his family’s past if he is to have any future. In this book, Edwin learns about the life of his ancestor Stone, a young Plains Cree man who lived in the 19th century. 

In Book 2, Scars, Edwin continues his quest to learn about, understand, and embrace his family’s past. His mother tells him the story of White Cloud, an ancestor who was alive during the smallpox epidemic of 1870–1871. 

Book 3: Ends/Begins tells the story of Edwin’s father and his residential school experience. 

Book 4: The Pact is a story of redemption, as father and son reconcile their past and begin a new journey

Fatty Legs novel study

Here is a link to a novel study for Fatty Legs, a children's book on the residential school experience of Margaret Pokiak–Fenton. This text is suitable for Grades 5-8.

The link includes a two-part webinar for teachers who are interested in using Fatty Legs in their classroom. Part 1 introduces you to the author, Christy Jordan-Fenton, as well as Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, the subject of the book. Part 2 has Kerry Aiken, a Grade 7 teacher, explain how she used Fatty Legs in her classroom.

The link also includes questions and handouts you can use with your students.

Controversial herring fishery on the west coast of BC angers Heiltsuk First Nation

Falling on deaf ears: Heiltsuk leaders plead their case to gillnet fishers.

 Photo credit: Tavish Campbell/ Pacific Wild

The Heiltsuk First Nation of coastal BC has been fighting to protect herring that spawn in their traditional territory.  After a 10 year moratorium on the commercial herring fishery, the DFO opened up a secret fishery against the consent of the Heiltsuk. The following resource list can be used by teachers to explore issues such traditional First Nations' rights to resources, use of the RCMP to intimidate and control First Nations people, ecological and environmental justice, as well as traditional Aboriginal harvesting methods.  

Resources

Court case: Regina vs. Gladstone. (1996).  Summary found 12 April 2015 at http://casebrief.wikia.com/wiki/R_v_Gladstone

DFO. (2014). Stock assessment and management advice for British Columbia Pacific herring: 2014 status and 2015 forecast. Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada. Retrieved 6 April 2015 from http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/publications/sar-as/2014/2014_060-eng.pdf.

Hume, M. (2015, Apr 1). Heiltsuk First Nation claims victory over disputed herring fishery. The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 6 April 2015 from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/heiltsuk-first-nation-claims-victory-over-disputed-herring-fishery/article23757390/.

Gillis, D. (2015, Apr 5). The untold story behind the central coast herring fishery fiasco. TheCommonsenseCanadian.ca.  Retrieved 6 April 2015 from http://commonsensecanadian.ca/the-untold-story-behind-the-central-coast-herring-fishery-fiasco/.

PacificWild.Org. (2015).

Pacific Wild. 2015. DFO clings to bad science, refuses to close herring fishery in Area 7. [Motion picture].   Produced by PacificWild.org. Retrieved 6 April 2015 from https://vimeo.com/pacificwild.

Pacific Wild. (2015). First Nation defends herring against DFO’s stealth fishery, bad science. [Motion picture]. Produced by PacificWild.org. Retrieved 6 April 2015 from https://vimeo.com/123069376.

Pacific Wild. 2015. Herring Migration. [Motion picture]. Produced by PacificWild.org. Retrieved 6 April 2015 from https://vimeo.com/123541464.

Prystupa, M. (2015, Feb 28). Feds to reopen herring fishery despite objections by First Nations and scientists. Vancouver Observer. Retrieved 6 April 2015 from http://www.vancouverobserver.com/news/feds-reopen-herring-fishery-over-scientist-and-first-nations-objections.

Prystupa, M. (2015, Mar 23). Heiltsuk heartbroken by herring fishery re-start, with RCMP protection. Vancouver Observer. Retrieved 6 April 2015 from http://www.vancouverobserver.com/news/heiltsuk-heartbroken-herring-fisherys-re-start-rcmp-protection.

Thompson, C. (2014, Apr 7). Central Coast First Nation wins victory in fight over herring fishery. Coast Mountain News. Retrieved 6 April 2015 from http://www.coastmountainnews.com/news/254239351.html.

Thompson, C.  (2015, Apr 6). Controversial herring fishery on Central Coast closed after protests, occupation. Coast Mountain News. Retrieved 6 April 2015 from http://www.coastmountainnews.com/news/298811791.html

Welch, C. (2015, Feb 12). Fighting over herring: the little fish that feeds multitudes. National Geographic. Retrieved 6 April 2015 from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2015/02/150211-herring-decline-british-columbia-fishery-seabirds-environment/.

Animated story-telling in 8 languages

The Saskatchewan Indian Cultural Center has a lot of great information including links to animated stories that are translated in 8 different languages. 
Link to animation project.

The Gift of Language and Culture

The Gift of Language and Culture Website is an Aboriginal language site developed by the Lac La Ronge Indian Band (LLRIB) Curriculum Resource Unit (CRU). The language site’s focal point is on Instructional Curriculum development for Nursery to Grade 9. There are many other features such as, Native stories, songs, and talking pictures. Native language Vocabulary Exercises are available in Flash for people of all ages to learn Cree TH, Y, or N dialect and even Dene. The site features Aboriginal language Resources for use in schools or at home.
http://www.giftoflanguageandculture.ca/

Promising practices in Aboriginal education

This website will allow educators, researchers and others to learn from the experiences of others about strategies described elsewhere that have been found to be successful in enhancing learning opportunities and improving educational success for Aboriginal students.  There is a massive amount of useful information here!!
http://www.maei-ppw.ca/Advisory_Group_Bios.html