The Water Walker by Anishinaabe author, illustrator and water protection activist Joanne Robertson tells the true story of Josephine Mandamin, an Ojibwe grandmother who walks to protect Nibi (water) for future generations.
This article on the Local Love website looks at how the trauma from residential schools can impact individuals and communities today. It looks at how intergenerational trauma has mental and physical effects and how to stop the cycle of intergenerational trauma and how can on heal from it.
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Learn about Indigenous Justice and Reconciliation through The Healing and Reconciliation Program in restoring right relations. Use the Presbyterian Church website and engage in the path of learning and un-learning through their resources.
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The Anglican Church of Canada is encouraging people to get involved in reconciliation, truth-telling, and healing through faith by incorporating reconciliation, right-relationship, and justice seeking.
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Learn more about the residential school experience. Read ‘Lessons Learned’, a report by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which shares experiences of residential school survivors and shapes future work towards truth-telling, reconciliation, and healing.
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Listen to residential school survivor stories: Legacy of Hope Foundation. Over the last twenty years, the Legacy of Hope Foundation has developed a collection of videos to educate and foster awareness of the impacts of the Residential School System.
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Eagle and the Crow, a story of peace, friendship and respect, as told by Vern Severight (Cote First Nation) on July 6, 2020
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Picking up the Pieces follows the journey of making the Witness Blanket – a national monument that commemorates the experiences of residential school survivors across Canada.
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Watch the NFB’s Stories Are in Our Bones
Filmmaker Janine Windolph takes her young sons fishing with their kokum, a residential school survivor who retains a deep knowledge and memory of the land. The act of reconnecting with their homeland is a cultural and familial healing journey for the boys, who are growing up in the city.
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N’we Jinan works to amplify voices and stories of Indigenous youth by providing tools to create communication. They work to validate the narratives and experiences of young people and supplies platforms, like Facebook, through which they can share with and further relate to their greater community.
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Learn more about Smudging using the Smudging Chart Cree Resource developed by Janine Wildcat for the Ermineskin Cree Nation. Cree translation provided by Betty Simon.
Read MoreThe National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is the permanent home for all statements, documents, and other materials gathered by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Learn more about their work.
The centre created this video to explain their work keeping the issues of Truth and Reconciliation alive.
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Learn about the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) by visiting this website that is specific to the process of the inquiry. Or dive into this important new title addressing issues around Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women: Keetsahnak: Our Murdered and Missing Indigenous Sisters reveals “the tension between personal, political, and public action. . .as the contributors look at the roots of violence and how it diminishes life for all. Together, they create a model for anti-violence work from an Indigenous perspective.”
Read MoreIndigenous Youth Voices is a project that seeks to gather input from Inuit, Métis and First Nations youth across Canada on how best to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 66 to deliver programs that can empower and support Indigenous Youth. Read this CBC article about the project!
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These online courses and films provide a comprehensive, customized anti-racist education in line with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action. With you, they aim to promote a renewed relationship between Indigenous Peoples and Canadian Settlers through transformative multi-media learning.
Read MoreOffice of The Treaty Commissioner Website
In March 2017, the Office of the Treaty Commissioner invited 45 youth between the ages of 18 and 30 years to gather and imagine their lives 40 years in the future—in a time when Reconciliation has been successful. Read about their vision for Reconciliation.
Read MoreLearn about a project by Canadian Roots Exchange. The Youth Reconciliation Initiative (YRI) invites Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth to train, envision and build nation-wide reconciliation. From Coast to Coast, these youth raise awareness, connect Canadian citizens and build conciliation across Canada.
Read MoreThe online magazine alive offers an article on “Aboriginal Medicine: Four Canadian plants with the power to heal” by Cara McKenna.
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This CBC News article includes a short video and looks at a program at Wanuskewin Heritage Park —a walking tour of medicinal plants used by Indigenous peoples. Or read Braiding Sweet: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer. “As a botanist, Robin Wall Kimmerer has been trained to ask questions of nature with the tools of science. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, she embraces the notion that plants and animals are our oldest teachers.” A delicious read.
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One Thunderous Voice is a project that brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth to engage in e-journalism projects at community events focused on Truth and Reconciliation. Teachers and students from two schools have joined forces: the Constable Robin Cameron Education Complex at Beardy’s & Okemasis Cree Nation, and Aden Bowman Collegiate Institute in Saskatoon, SK.
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The Native Drums web project is a diverse dialogue on culture, history and traditional knowledge with Indigenous cultural partners, educational institutions, government and private industry. Centred around the central themes of drums and music of Canadian First Peoples, Native Drums traces the history, mythology, and significance of the drum in traditional societies of Canada’s Eastern Woodlands, compared with Western Coastal regions in terms of history, arts and culture.
Read MoreThis 10 song album by Gord Downie (the Tragically Hip) tells the story of 12-year-old Chanie Wenjack of Marten Falls First Nation. Young Chanie escaped from Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School in 1966 and died while trying to make his way home.
Read More“Beyond the Secret Path” on CBC
From musicians to visual and performance artists to authors, learn more about six Indigenous artists making powerful work about Reconciliation.
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The Tyee talks about Fatty Legs
The Education of Augie Merasty
CBC Book List of 15 Memoirs by Indigenous Writers
If autobiographies are your thing, here are a few titles that will get you started—including The Education of Augie Merasty, Richard Wagamese’s One Native Life, and The Reason You Walk by Wab Kinew. These titles will educate and transform you.
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Indigenous Children’s TV Shows
The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network has many Indigenous children’s TV shows to choose from, including for example Louis Says, a show about an Aboriginal elder who speaks mostly Cree and a 10-year old boy who speaks only English. Some episodes can also be watched online.
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CBC Reading List for Young Readers
Use these lists as a source of great books, comics and stories for kids, youth and teens.
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Use the following links to learn about opportunities to attend Indigenous events and powwows. If you’re unsure about who can attend, feel free to contact event organizers.
Office of the Treaty Commissioner’s Events Calendar
Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre for SK events & programming
IndigenousTourism.ca for national events
Visit the Orange Shirt Day website to learn about how to participate and use this opportunity to educate others about Residential Schools. Wear an Orange Shirt Day, set aside time to connect with local Reconciliation events, or learn on your own.
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Elder in the Making is a 95 minute documentary about a Blackfoot First Nation man and a Chinese Canadian newcomer embarking on a spiritual journey across traditional Blackfoot territory rediscovering their shared heritage.
Read MoreHeartspeak is about sharing stories that inspire and providing inspirational educational media to support well-being and success. In this segment, Senator Murray Sinclair (Chair, Truth & Reconciliation Commission) provides background on the history of residential schools and the work of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission. He highlights the need to teach the history and intergenerational impact of residential schools and our shared responsibility to forge a new relationship of mutual respect and trust.
Read MoreStolen Children is an 18 minute video from CBC News show The National, which demonstrates how Residential Schools affected survivors and their children and grandchildren.
Read MoreMuffins for Granny Excerpt
Telling the urgent story of how the Canadian residential school system affected her grandmother’s life, filmmaker Nadia McLaren weaves together home movies with accounts from seven other survivors to document this painful period of Canadian history.
We Were Children at the National Film Board
This National Film Board film explores the residential school experience through the perspective of two children. This film has disturbing content that would not make it suitable for youth.
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In 2015, the Wawahte book was made into an educational documentary that combines archival images with clips of Residential School survivors sharing their stories.
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10 Children’s Books About Residential Schools
“The following ten books reflect on the residential school experience in different ways. They have all been identified as age-appropriate for children under 12 by reputable organizations.”
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Visit the National Film Board website to see their rich online collection of Indigenous-made films.
Read More“The KAIROS Blanket Exercise™ program is a unique, participatory history lesson – developed in collaboration with Indigenous Elders, knowledge keepers and educators – that fosters truth, understanding, respect and reconciliation among Indigenous and non-indigenous peoples.” Many local organizations now offer facilitation for this exercise. It’s an incredible learning experience to continue your journey of Reconciliation.
Read MoreWhat are your talents, skills and passions? Connect with Indigenous organizations in your community and offer your skills. You’ll build relationships, meet Elders, and learn about authentic engagement along the way.
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Communications Guide Download the ayisinowak: A Communications Guide to learn how, when and why it is respectful to present tobacco. “Tobacco is one of the four sacred medicines, and a tobacco offering is a universal protocol among First Nations people.”
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Learn about Elders “The role of Elders is integral in the preservation and maintenance of Saskatchewan First Nations cultures.” Use the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre as a resource to connect with an Elder in your community. For background and protocol information, use ayisīnowak: A Communications Guide developed by the City of Saskatoon, in partnership with the Saskatchewan Indigenous Cultural Centre and Office of the Treaty Commissioner.
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Eagle Feather Event News
Office of the Treaty Commissioner Event Listings
Further your journey of Reconciliation by attending events in your community. Volunteer with the organizers, meet new people, learn about Indigenous culture and history, and share your experiences.
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TRC List of Residential Schools
Photo Credit BiblioArchives, Government of Canada
The Canadian Federal Government embraced the residential school model for Aboriginal education from 1880 until 1996 when the last school was closed. Visit the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation website to learn about residential schools and their legacy.
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Things to know about Traditional Medicine
Traditional foods in British Columbia
Understanding Indigenous health and wellness is often connected to food and medicine. The First Nations Health Authority provides insight into the traditional foods and medicines of particular Indigenous communities.
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Learn About Indigenous Medicinal Plants
“Medicine is all around us. For centuries, Indigenous peoples found all of the medicine they needed on the land, using plants to treat a variety of ailments and conditions.” Learn more from the guides at Wanuskewin.
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Do you have questions about residential schools and reconciliation, but don’t know who or where to ask? Do you want to do your part, however big or small, to help the country heal but don’t know how?
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