5 Resources To Address Truth and Reconciliation Week in your Classroom

Residential school victims shoes on Parliament Hill

With Truth and Reconciliation Week just around the corner, many educators begin to explore these complex topics with learners. Just as no two people are the same, there is no “one size fits all” approach to discussing truth and reconciliation. Each of us has a lens through which we perceive the world. Our family history, personal experiences, and culture shape this viewpoint. Below are five activities you can use to support learners beginning their journey to truth and reconciliation.  

Truth and Reconciliation in Literature

Use age-appropriate literature by Indigenous authors to approach truth and reconciliation with learners. 

This blog post shares ten books written by Indigenous authors, appropriate for Kindergarten to Grade 12. You may wish to use one of these books in your classroom as a discussion starter. Alternatively, the book you share could inspire an art project, creative writing activity, drama presentation, or social action initiative. 

Reconciliation Through Calls to Action

Watch this video with your learners: Truth and Reconciliation For Residential Schools.

It reviews the history of residential schools, the meaning of truth and reconciliation, and shares examples of communities looking to raise awareness about the TRC’s 94 Calls to Action.

After watching this video, consider asking learners to review the 94 Calls to Action and choose one that inspires them. Ask learners: What can individuals, schools, or communities do to honour this call to action? You may encourage learners to engage in a group discussion, create a short written reflection, or represent their thinking through art. 

Cultural Assimilation Policies

Discuss cultural assimilation with learners. Encourage them to write poems inspired by George Ella Lyon’s famous poem “Where I’m From.” 

This activity introduces learners to the concept of cultural assimilation. Using “Where I’m From” as a guide, encourage learners to reflect on their family and cultural history through poetry. Alternatively, you may wish to encourage learners to interview a residential school Survivor and write a poem from their perspective, with permission. This is an opportunity to discuss sensitivity and empathy with learners. 

Residential School Survivors

Encourage learners to use this activity to reflect on their perspectives about reconciliation: Your Thoughts about Reconciliation.

Learners will use their descriptive writing skills to reflect on the experiences of residential school Survivors. Alternatively, learners can reflect on their own experience learning about residential schools. They can use art, oral storytelling or drama to convey their message. 

Indigenous Languages

Discuss how the residential school system affected Indigenous languages in Canada and where many of these languages stand today. 

Learners have the opportunity to reflect on what they already know about Indigenous languages in Canada. They will identify what they would like to learn and assemble various facts to understand Indigenous languages. Consider challenging your learners to research beyond the information provided on the handout.

If you want to know more about events during Truth and Reconciliation Week or learn more about Truth and Reconciliation, check out our blog post, Truth and Reconciliation Week: Learning through Action.

Indigenous Languages and Secret Path: Resources for High School Educators

The school year hasn’t quite begun, but many educators are planning what they will teach this year. To help prepare for Secret Path Week, we are sharing new resources we created over the summer for high school educators.

The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund: Secret Path Resources

Once again, we’ve teamed up with our friends at The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund to create a series of free resources based on Secret Path, the multimedia project by Gord Downie, retelling the story of Chanie Wenjack’s flight from residential school. This project includes a graphic novel, album, and animated film. 

Incorporating Language Revitalization

In honour of the United Nations International Year of Indigenous Languages, the resources position Chanie Wenjack’s story as an opportunity to explore Indigenous languages and how they relate to Indigenous rights on a local, regional, national, and global scale.

As learners complete the activities in this kit, they will develop literacy, research, communication, and empathy skills. They will learn about various Indigenous languages and revitalization efforts. Learners will share what they learn with others in their communities. This kit is best suited for high school level Indigenous studies, English language arts, and social studies. 

Legacy Schools Program

We will provide the Indigenous Languages and Secret Path resource kit to educators participating in The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund’s Legacy Schools Program. We hope this kit acts as a catalyst to bring Indigenous languages, cultures, histories, and perspectives into classrooms. Access the complete resource kit through the links below. 

Indigenous Languages and Secret Path Resource Kit

Educator Guide

This Educator Guide will help you position Chanie Wenjack’s story and Secret Path as starting points for exploring Indigenous languages in Canada and worldwide.

Indigenous Languages and Secret Path

Did you know that the United Nations declared 2019 the International Year of Indigenous Languages? What connections can we draw between Chanie Wenjack’s experiences at residential school and language revitalization today? Let’s think about the importance of Indigenous languages and rights as we watch a Secret Path movie clip.

Finding a Secret Path: Mapping Activity

In Secret Path, Chanie Wenjack can not read the map he takes on his escape from residential school. How do you think he felt? This mapping activity helps us reflect and discuss how language and language loss affect finding our place in the world.

Indigenous Languages in Canada: KWL Chart and Infographic Analysis

The residential school system interrupted the transmission of many Indigenous languages between generations. Still, many of these languages survive and thrive. Let’s explore how Indigenous Peoples continue strengthening and revitalizing languages today.

Indigenous Languages: Worldviews and Revitalization

Why do Indigenous languages hold so much meaning for the people that speak them? Wahiakeron Gilbert and Diane Labelle from Kahnawake speak about the importance of Kanien’kehá:ka in their worldview. They discuss the effects of residential schooling on the language and how people are teaching and learning the language today.

Research Activity: Indigenous Languages Here and Now

How much do you know about Indigenous languages in Canada? How about in your region or community? Research Indigenous languages and create a visual representation (infographic or fact-sheet) to teach others what you learn.

Indigenous Languages Inquiry Project

What do you want to learn about Indigenous languages and language revitalization? What do you think other people should know? Take positive action and direct your learning. Choose an inquiry question, plan your research, and present your learning to the people around you.

Annotated Bibliography: Indigenous Languages and Languages Revitalization

Reconciliation asks that educators listen, learn, and grow with their learners. This educator handout offers a starting bibliography of Indigenous perspectives to help you continue past Secret Path and deepen your knowledge of Indigenous history, education, and languages in Canada. You may even want to share these resources with your learners!

Resources for Middle School Learners

We also created a resource kit for middle school learners around Storytelling and Secret Path. It guides learners through different forms of storytelling to express themselves and honour stories like Chanie Wenjack’s. 

We hope you enjoy these resources and use them in your classes. If you plan to include Secret Path in your instruction or address reconciliation with your class, sign-up for the Legacy Schools Program from The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund. This program provides educators with a free toolkit to address the topics of residential schools and reconciliation. 

How did you use these resources in your class? Let us know.