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Indigenous Education K-12

Indigenous Pedagogies

"Indigenous peoples have drawn on specific pedagogies to transmit Indigenous knowledges. While Indigenous pedagogies differ across Nations and locations, a number of similarities exist that will be developed in this topic. These timeless pedagogies engage learning processes and practices that can be used in the classroom."
(From Teaching for Indigenous Education).

This page features a range of pedagogy and curriculum resources, including lesson plans, recommended resources, bibliographies, and search tips.

A Note on Pedagogy and Materials

While we endeavor to incorporate an extensive and current collection of resources related to Indigenous Education in this research guide, it is important to remember that this is still a small field of study, and that it might be hard to find the exact resource you need. In these situations we recommend researching around the area or age range of resources available, finding ways to alter them to meet your educational needs and, if possible, making the resources you create public so that future educators can build on them in turn.

Featured Resources

Shared Learnings: Integrating BC Aboriginal Content K-10
Shared Learnings is a teacher's guide for integrating Aboriginal content into the BC curriculum in ways that reflect Aboriginal concepts of teaching and learning. It includes content specific to grades, grade clusters, and subject areas in addition to sample lessons plans, recommended resources, and instructional strategies.

Available online and in print from Xwi7xwa Library.
Call number: ET B758 S33 2006.

FNESC and FNSA
Working together, the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) and the First Nations Schools Association (FNSA) offer online curriculum resources, including materials on Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation.

FNESC: Learning First Peoples Classroom Resources
FNSA: Curriculum and Resources

Teaching for Indigenous Education
From Indigenous Education at UBC and developed by Jan Hare, this website offers a digital learning resource aimed at "supporting the teaching and professional development of educators in Aboriginal/Indigenous education". Divided into eight sections, the site explores: Relationships, Knowledge, History, Pedagogy, Curriculum, Community, Languages, and Transformation. 

Authentic First Peoples Resources
This guide from the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) and First Nations Schools Association (FNSA) is intended to "help BC educators introduce resources that reflect First Peoples knowledge and perspectives into classrooms in respective ways." The guide consists of annotated resource listings as well as a sample evaluation form, index, and list of publishers and distributors. 

Available online and in print from Xwi7xwa Library.

First Peoples Principles of Learning
This website, run by ts'msyen educator Jo Chrona, was created to help educators in BC incorporate the First Peoples Principles of Learning (FPPL) into their classrooms and schools. The site features resources offering educational and contextual information about the FPPL,  including a professional development lesson plan for educators, as well as links to other online resources. 

Creating Racism-Free Schools through Critical/Courageous Conversations on Race [PDF]
This document is aimed at supporting schools, teachers, parents, and students to undertake critical conversations on racism and create inclusive classrooms for First Nation, Métis, and Inuit students. The document describes the levels and effects of racism, acknowledges history, stimulates dialogue through critical and courageous conversations, and contributes to the TRC's Call to Action.

Nurturing Capacity Synthesis Report from Indspire

This report includes findings from 59 projects across Canada focused on education initiatives that supported the needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis students across Canada. Many of the projects focused on more than one student population. Nurturing Capacity Program projects were implemented within elementary schools (kindergarten to Grade 4), middle schools (Grades 5–8) and high schools (Grades 9–12). As seen in our student populations, many of the projects focused on more than one education level.

Introductory Resources

Lesson Plans

You can also find lesson plans online outside of UBC Library's collections. When accessing outside lesson plans it is especially important to evaluate the material carefully and critically.

For more subject area specific lesson plans, see the following pages of this research guide: Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, and Arts.

Curriculum Development Resources

Resources from School Districts