Educators respect and value the history of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis in Canada and the impact of the past on the present and the future. Educators contribute towards truth, reconcilation, and healing. Educators foster a deeper understanding of ways of knowing and being, histories, and cultures of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis.
My lesson plans included creating a totem pole of their own culture components on it, learning about the importance of place by having students go outside and drawing a place they felt was important to them (drawing outside), and teaching students about different artworks of First Nations culture by having an art scavenger hunt around the school of Harwin Elementary.
I taught a lesson on the value of diversity. I had students create a hand print where students created drawings on their hand print and placed them on a string. I had my mother come in as a guest and sing a traditional song in Punjabi to my students.
I taught a lesson on how to be a good friend and I had students commit to being a good friend in the classroom. Students were sharing their puzzles and presenting to the class. First Nations peoples believe in building community and connecting with people. I thought this lesson definitely incorporated First Nations principles of learning.
I participated three times in the blanket exercise and let me tell you, it never gets any easier. The blanket exercise presents key historical information about Canadian History with the First Nations Peoples. It walks you through an exercise where you play a role from a script to help you understand the different ways First Nations Peoples were assimilated.
