X̱wi7x̱wa Library Guide
Introduction
“Mathematics is integral to every aspect of daily life—social, economic, and environmental. It is part of the story of human history. First Peoples in British Columbia, like Indigenous people around the world, used and continue to use mathematical knowledge, skills, and attitudes to make sense of the world around them.”
Teaching mathematics through an Indigenous lens enables students to "explore how mathematics complements and includes other ways of knowing, including Indigenous knowledge." (From BC Curriculum, Aboriginal Education).
Featured Resources
Ahkwesahsne math & science pilot project : circles and lines unit, v.1, pt.1 by Call Number: ET A35 1993Publication Date: 1993
Callysto-Salish-Baskets: Interactive notebooks for creating Coast Salish basket motifsThe guiding idea of our work is that the motifs we observe on many Coast Salish baskets are highly regular and can be described very simply in terms of basic geometric shapes (broken lines, triangles, rectangles…) and mathematical operations such as reflections and stacking.
- Indigenous Games for ChildrenProduced by the HIGH FIVE organization in "consultation with Indigenous communities and cultural organizations, researchers and existing publications, this resource is a collection of activity cards for use by leaders working with children in a program setting." Several of the games in this resource are based on counting and measuring skills.
- How Indigenous stone-fish traps contribute to mathematical educationA learning resource which will be part of the national Callysto program. Computer modelling of stone-fish traps constructs a way in which students can learn about how the traps are set through steps of mathematical thinking and optimizing available resources.
- NACA Inspired Schools Network Resource HubThese resources are primarily for Grades 6-12.
Elementary Education
- Math Catcher
We present the Math Catcher Outreach Program in the classroom to encourage elementary and high school students to recognize how math is used in everyday life and how it forms the basis for many of our daily decisions and life-long choices. We use storytelling, pictures, models and hands-on activities to encourage young people to enjoy math and to help dispel myths that math is boring and abstract. - Maths Education Resources: Sealaska Heritage (Middle School)
These programs were designed for Indigenous Middle school students in Alaska to "meet the academic realities faced by [Middle] School students every day, using a developmental process that integrates culture with skills development" - Aboriginal Mathematics K-12 Network
Developed by UBC, this site features a detailed bibliography, ideas for lessons, summaries of past symposiums and links to external Indigenous Mathematics resources. - Stealing the Sun (Math Integrated Unit) Lesson 1 (Gr. 6)
To motivate students to explore the concept of surface area by exposing them to a Haida creation story regarding the origin of the sun, moon and stars. Educators should build on this through engaging students in the task of constructing a series of nested boxes. - Raven, Bentwood Boxes and Pentominoes
Math lessons inspired and adapted from Language Supported Math Lesson.
Secondary Education
- Math First Peoples (FNESC)
The Math First Peoples Resource Guide is designed to support teachers of Mathematics 8 and 9 in British Columbia extend their existing practice to incorporate new approaches that make the BC school system more reflective of the realities of First Peoples in this province and improve overall levels of student success. - Maths Education Resources: Sealaska Heritage (Middle School)These programs were designed for Indigenous Secondary school students in Alaska to "meet the academic realities, faced by High School students every day, using a developmental process that integrates culture with skills development"
- Aboriginal Mathematics K-12 NetworkDeveloped by UBC, this site features a detailed bibliography, ideas for lessons, summaries of past symposiums and links to external Indigenous Mathematics resources.
- Mathematics Story Problems
A database of lessons and units searchable by content and cultural standards, cultural region and grade level. Alaska Native Knowledge Network.
Subject Headings
Subject headings are a tool designed to help researchers find similar materials. These are only some examples of the many subject headings that X̱wi7x̱wa Library uses. Spend a few minutes exploring them when you find a book in the catalogue that supports your research.
Browse Catalogue > Subject begins with:
- First Nations--Mathematics--Study and teaching.
- First Nations--Mathematics--Curriculum Materials.
- First Nations--Mathematics--Curricula.
For more subject headings, see the Books & Media page of this guide.