Curated Bibliography on the Indian Residential School System
In the wake of the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, more children's book are being published which address and respond to the atrocities of the Indian Residential School System in Canada. Many of the books on this list are written by survivors, and speak to the authors' own experiences of residential school.
Picture Books
When We Were Alone by Call Number: No call number availableISBN: 9781553796732Publication Date: 2017-03-01
Middle Grade/Juvenile Fiction
Residential schools : with the words and images of survivors by Call Number: ER L69 R47 2014ISBN: 9780993937101Publication Date: 2014-11-30
As Long As the Rivers Flow by Call Number: YS L69 A85 2002ISBN: 0888994737Publication Date: 2003-02-18
These are my words : the residential school diary of Violet Pesheens by Call Number: YUB S655 T44 2016ISBN: 1443133183Publication Date: 2016-08-30
External Bibliographies
These bibliographies offer curated lists of materials which address the reality of the Indian Residential Schools. Many include additional resources for teaching or encouraging discussion at home.
- Reading list (Aboriginal Healing Foundation)Includes section "For Younger Readers".
- Residential Schools: A Reading List (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada)Includes section "For Younger Readers".
- Deepening Knowledge: Residential Schools (University of Toronto)Books, Fiction; Books, Non-Fiction; Film & Video; Websites; CD-ROMS; News Articles; Opinion/Blogs.
Curriculum Resources
- Colonialism, History, and Impacts: Indian Residential Schools (Angela White, UBC)Workshop slides examine how Canadian residential school policies affected residential school survivors directly and also the generations that followed.
- Compassionate Canada? Aboriginal Schooling Resource Kit (SFU)Resource kit for teachers.
- Deepening Knowledge: Residential Schools (University of Toronto)Books, Fiction; Books, Non-Fiction; Film & Video; Websites; CD-ROMS; News Articles; Opinion/Blogs.
- Healing Historical Trauma (Walking Together: First Nations, Métis and Inuit Perspectives in Curriculum)Includes workshops (2-3 hours); activities (60 minutes); facilitated conversations; and promotional messages.
- Project of Heart: Hidden Histories (BC Teachers' Federation)Resource book for teachers.
- Resources (Project of Heart)Links to Films/Videos; Historical Documents; Maps/Visual Aids; Timelines; Teacher Guides/Lesson Plans; and more.
- Toolkits (Reconciliation Canada)See "Young Adult Voices," a how-to guide for senior high school students to take action for reconciliation within their schools, families, and social networks.
- Residential School Inquiry Lessons and Resources (Comox Valley School District 71)Collected lesson plans and resources for K-12 educators.
- Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation Resources (First Nations Education Steering Committee)Teacher resource guides for grades 5, 10 and 11/12.