ways to incorporate fnmi knowledge:
- Learning some sight words in First Nation's languages in your area.
- Learning the alphabet in First Nation's languages in your area.
- Literacy and story telling.
- Providing opportunities for students to extend their learning with "Readers Theatre." Turn legends into scripts or have students create their own. Dramatic effects can be added through dance, music, lighting, dress, and use of voice.
- Using multi-media: Share legends and stories that are captured on video, audio, to further enhance the story telling genre.
- Sharing literature produced by Indigenous artists, poets, illustrators, writers, storytellers, etc.
- Incorporating talking/literacy circles for book talks.
- Read Alouds (Truth and Reconciliation Based Literature).
- Read stories from a variety of West Coast, East Coast, Plains cultures. Ask the students if they notice a difference.
- Students will review stories from Inuit, West Coast, East Coast and Plains cultures and compare/contrast them with Algonquin/Mohawk stories.
- Inquiry Project: Put students in small groups to investigate FNMI nations society. Have students present their group findings to the class. Individual students compare the society they studied in a group with one or more other societies from the presentations.
- Have students create storyboards of First Nation, Métis and Inuit stories.
- As a class, begin a pen-pal letter or blog exchange with students in an Aboriginal community.
- Practice making a persuasive argument orally or practice explaining significance of an event or action orally.
- Story telling using Wampum Belts (e.g. Iroquois Confederacy wampum belt and Two Row wampum belt).
- Use concept of interconnection in activities and with literature.
- Explore how stories transmit and reflect culture.
- Write a retell of a FNMI story or legend.
- Read First Nation, Métis or Inuit stories to students to have them practice their listening skills.
- Students explore Aboriginal foods and feast traditions and make connections between Canadian Thanksgiving and other thanksgiving celebrations.
- Focusing on one of the seven sacred teachings each month, with a story book to align with each teaching (eg wisdom, honesty, courage, etc). Making posters of the seven teachings that students can refer to.
- Novel studies surrounding FNMI perspectives, peoples, and topics.