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Potlatch as Pedagogy: Learning Through Ceremony
by Sara Florence Davidson Robert DavidsonIn 1884, the Canadian government enacted a ban on the potlatch, the foundational ceremony of the Haida people. The tradition, which determined social structure, transmitted cultural knowledge, and redistributed wealth, was seen as a cultural impediment to the government&’s aim of assimilation.The tradition did not die, however; the knowledge of the ceremony was kept alive by the Elders through other events until the ban was lifted. In 1969, a potlatch was held. The occasion: the raising of a totem pole carved by Robert Davidson, the first the community had seen in close to 80 years. From then on, the community publicly reclaimed, from the Elders who remained to share it, the knowledge that has almost been lost.Sara Florence Davidson, Robert&’s daughter, would become an educator. Over the course of her own education, she came to see how the traditions of the Haida practiced by her father—holistic, built on relationships, practical, and continuous—could be integrated into contemporary educational practices. From this realization came the roots for this book.
Kode's Quest: A Story of Respect (The Seven Teachings Stories)
by Katherena VermetteKode&’s class is learning about the Seven Teachings, but she&’s still confused about Respect. Kode asks the wisest people she knows for help—her parents, her older siblings, and her grandparents. As each person gives her a different answer, Kode learns about the many different ways we can show respect for other people, for the environment, and for ourselves.In this story for young readers, an Anishinaabe girl explores what respect means and how to be a respectful member of a community. A pronunciation guide for the Anishnaabemowin words can be found at the back of the book.Rich in culture and grounded in traditional knowledge, Katherena Vermette&’s The Seven Teachings Stories series features themes of love, wisdom, humility, courage, respect, honesty, and truth. Contemporary Indigenous children explore the Seven Teachings of the Anishinaabe through stories of home and family that will look familiar to all young readers in these books for ages 3–5.
The Stone Collection
by Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm★ [Akiwenzie-Damm's] luminescent prose in this book dances "like jingle dress dancers," and is somehow still compressed to shining perfection - Publishers Weekly, Starred ReviewIn the Anishnaabe language and worldview, stones are alive, infused with life force or spirit. Although many of the stories are about loss, under that surface they are alive, celebrating the beauty and preciousness of life.—Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm In these 14 unique stories, Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm takes on complex and dangerous emotions, exploring the gamut of modern Anishinaabe experience. Through unforgettable characters, these stories—about love and lust, suicide and survival, illness and wholeness—illuminate the strange workings of the human heart.
The Gift Is in the Making: Anishinaabeg Stories
by Leanne Betasamosake SimpsonThe Gift Is in the Making retells previously published Anishinaabeg stories, bringing to life Anishinaabeg values and teachings for a new generation. Readers are immersed in a world where all genders are respected, the tiniest being has influence in the world, and unconditional love binds families and communities to each other and to their homeland. Sprinkled with gentle humour and the Anishinaabe language, this collection of stories speaks to children and adults alike, and reminds us of the timelessness of stories that touch the heart.Also available as an audiobook narrated by Tiffany Ayalik. Find it through your favourite audio retailer!
The Raven Mother (Mothers of Xsan)
by Hetxw’ms Gyetxw Huson★ Starred selection for CCBC's Best Books for Kids & Teens 2023! Hoarders. Scavengers. Clever foragers. Bringers of new life. Ravens have many roles, both for the land and in Gitxsan story and song. The sixth book in Hetxw'ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson)&’s Mothers of Xsan series transports young readers to Northwestern British Columbia, where they will learn about the traditions of the Gitxsan, the lives of ravens, and why these acrobatic flyers are so important to their ecosystem. Follow along as Nox Gaak, the raven mother, teaches her chicks what they need to survive with the help of her flock.
In Search of April Raintree
by Beatrice MosionierMemories. Some memories are elusive, fleeting, like a butterfly that touches down and is free until it is caught. Others are haunting. You'd rather forget them, but they won't be forgotten. And some are always there. No matter where you are, they are there, too.In this moving story of legacy and reclamation, two young sisters are taken from their home and family. Powerless in a broken system, April and Cheryl are separated and placed in different foster homes. Despite the distance, they remain close, even as their decisions threaten to divide them emotionally, culturally, and geographically. As one sister embraces her Métis identity, the other tries to leave it behind.Will the sisters&’ bond survive as they struggle to make their way in a society that is often indifferent, hostile, and violent?The first edition of In Search of April Raintree, published in 1984, has since touched many generations of readers, becoming a Canadian school classic. In this edition, ten critical essays accompany one of the best-known texts by an Indigenous author in Canada.
Ensouling Our Schools: A Universally Designed Framework for Mental Health, Well-Being, and Reconciliation (Teaching to Diversity #3)
by Jennifer KatzIn an educational milieu in which standards and accountability hold sway, schools can become places of stress, marginalization, and isolation instead of learning communities that nurture a sense of meaning and purpose. In Ensouling Our Schools, author Jennifer Katz weaves together methods of creating schools that engender mental, spiritual, and emotional health while developing intellectual thought and critical analysis. Kevin Lamoureux contributes his expertise regarding Indigenous approaches to mental and spiritual health that benefit all students and address the TRC Calls to Action.
The Gift of the Little People: A Six Seasons of the Asiniskaw Ithiniwak Story (The Six Seasons of the Asiniskaw Ithiniwak)
by William DumasI don&’t recall seeing books when I was a little boy. But the old people, they grew up listening to stories. And so, every night, when the old people were done their evening prayers, they would sit and they would tell us stories too.At the time of the spring thaw, the Rocky Cree fill their canoes with furs, eager to trade with the new visitors in mistiwāsahak (Hudson Bay). But not all of the new visitors are welcome.When the canoes return home to the shores of the misinipī river, the Rocky Cree begin to collapse one by one, drenched in sweat and slowly slipping into delirium. Kākakiw struggles to help the sick as more and more people pass into the spirit world. Exhausted physically, emotionally, and spiritually, he seeks guidance through prayer.Hope finally comes with a visitor in the night: one of the Little People, small beings who are just like us. If Kākakiw can journey to their home, he will be given the medicine his people need. All he has to do is paddle through a cliff of solid bedrock to get there.To save his people from certain death, Kākakiw must overcome doubt to follow the traditional teachings of the Asiniskaw Īthiniwak and trust in the gift of the Little People.In this illustrated short story for all ages, celebrated Rocky Cree storyteller William Dumas shares a teaching about hope in the face of adversity. This book is a companion story to The Six Seasons of the Asiniskaw Īthiniwak series.
The Ballad of Nancy April: Shawnadithit (Tales from Big Spirit #6)
by David A. RobertsonWhen a mishap delays Jessie at the end of a school day, she takes a shortcut home. But the shortcut turns into an adventure, as Jessie is transported through time and space, to early 19th-century Newfoundland. There she meets Shawnadithit who, as the last surviving member of the Beothuk, has witnessed the end of a once-great people. Tales from Big Spirit is a unique seven-book graphic novel series that delves into the stories of seven great Indigenous heroes from Canadian history - some already well known and others who deserve to be.
The Wolf Mother (Mothers of Xsan #5)
by Hetxw’ms Gyetxw HusonFollow along as award-winning author Hetxw&’ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson) introduces young readers to a pack of grey wolves. New pups have just begun to open their eyes, one of which is a striking black female. Every day, her ears grow larger, her eyesight gets sharper, and her legs stretch farther. As she learns to hunt, play, and run with her pack, instinct pulls her to explore beyond her home territory. Will the young wolf&’s bold spirit help her find a new pack of her very own?Learn about the life cycle of these magnificent canines, the traditions of the Gitxsan, and how grey wolves contribute to the health of their entire ecosystem.
Truth and Reconciliation in Canadian Schools
by Pamela Rose ToulouseIn this book, author Pamela Rose Toulouse provides current information, personal insights, authentic resources, interactive strategies and lesson plans that support Indigenous and non-Indigenous learners in the classroom. This book is for all teachers that are looking for ways to respectfully infuse residential school history, treaty education, Indigenous contributions, First Nations/Métis/Inuit perspectives and sacred circle teachings into their subjects and courses. The author presents a culturally relevant and holistic approach that facilitates relationship building and promotes ways to engage in reconciliation activities.
Amik Loves School: A Story of Wisdom (The Seven Teachings Stories #7)
by Katherena VermetteAmik loves going to school, but when he shares this with his grandfather, he finds out Moshoom attended residential school. At Moshoom&’s school, students were forbidden from speaking their language. It sounds very different from Amik's school, so Amik has an idea…In this heartwarming story, an Anishinaabe child shows his grandfather how his school celebrates the culture that residential schools tried to erase. A pronunciation guide for the Anishnaabemowin words can be found at the back of the book.Rich in culture and grounded in traditional knowledge, Katherena Vermette&’s The Seven Teachings Stories series features themes of love, wisdom, humility, courage, respect, honesty, and truth. Contemporary Indigenous children explore the Seven Teachings of the Anishinaabe through stories of home and family that will look familiar to all young readers in these books for ages 3–5.
April Raintree
by Beatrice MosionierMemories. Some memories are elusive, fleeting, like a butterfly that touches down and is free until it is caught. Others are haunting. You'd rather forget them, but they won't be forgotten. And some are always there. No matter where you are, they are there, too. In this moving story of legacy and reclamation, two young sisters are taken from their home and family. Powerless in a broken system, April and Cheryl are separated and placed in different foster homes. Despite the distance, they remain close, even as their decisions threaten to divide them emotionally, culturally, and geographically. As one sister embraces her Métis identity, the other tries to leave it behind. Will the sisters&’ bond survive as they struggle to make their way in a society that is often indifferent, hostile, and violent? Based on the adult novel In Search of April Raintree, this edition has been revised specifically for students in grades 9 through 12. Great ideas for using this book in your classroom can be found in the Teacher&’s Guide for In Search of April Raintree and April Raintree. A copy of the guide is available for download on the Portage & Main Press website.
Spelling Through Phonics
by Marlene McCracken Robert McCrackenThis 40th anniversary edition of the beloved bestseller, Spelling Through Phonics, has the same compact and easy-to-use format thousands of educators know and love! With the McCrackens&’ original spelling instruction program, this book provides detailed instructions and reproducibles to help youunderstand phonemic awareness, and how it helps children develop spelling and other literacy skillsteach spelling easily, quickly, and efficientlyintegrate visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning strategieseffectively assess and react to students&’ writingprovide immediate feedback as part of spelling instructionorganize students&’ spelling practice within the school dayintroduce, practice, and review new words and sounds with students in grades 1–3Help your students become proficient spellers, as well as confident readers and writers, with this developmentally appropriate framework.Dedicated to the memory of The McCrackens, this 40th anniversary edition honors their invaluable contributions to English language arts and literacy instruction across North America.
The Grizzly Mother (Mothers of Xsan)
by Hetxw’ms Gyetxw HusonBook two in the award-winning Mothers of Xsan series, The Grizzly Mother uses striking illustration and lyrical language to bring the poetry of the Xsan ecosystem to life.To the Gitxsan people of Northwestern British Columbia, the grizzly is an integral part of the natural landscape. Together, they share the land and forests that the Skeena River runs through, as well as the sockeye salmon within it. Follow mother bear as she teaches her cubs what they need to survive on their own.
Learning to Carve Argillite (Sk'ad'a Stories Series)
by Sara Florence Davidson Robert DavidsonBased on Haida artist Robert Davidson's own childhood experiences, this beautiful story highlights learning through observation, as well as the role of Elders in sharing knowledge and mentorship.Learning to carve is a lifelong journey. With the help of his father and grandfather, a boy on Haida Gwaii practises to become a skillful carver. As he carefully works on a new piece, he remembers a trip to Slatechuck Mountain to gather the argillite, as well as his father&’s words about the importance of looking back to help us find our way.Written by the creators of Potlatch as Pedagogy, this book brings the Sk'ad'a Principles to life through the art of Janine Gibbons.
Catch a Fire: Fuelling Inquiry and Passion Through Project-Based Learning
by Theresa Armstrong Dr. Eva Brown Will Burton Jonathan Dueck Bonnie Ferguson-Baird Keith Fulford Tom Lake Dave Law Glenys MacLeod Jacob Mans Bonnie Powers Laura Sims Sid Williamson Alex WilsonThis book will inspire, challenge and engage you—and transform your teaching and learning. Each chapter in this book is written by a different educator or team about their experiences with project-based learning, both in and out of the classroom. They reflect not only on the how of project-based learning, but more importantly, on the what and the why. They offer insight into how connecting with learners, honouring their experiences, and promoting deep and rich questioning can be the path to powerful projects and learning. Their writing and thinking is saturated with empathy, expertise, a desire to improve their practice, and an acknowledgment of the need to collaborate.
The Just Right Gift: A Story of Love (The Seven Teachings Stories #4)
by Katherena VermetteMigizi loves Gookom so much. He wants to let her know by giving her the perfect gift to cheer her up while she is in the hospital. The gift should be as sweet as her kisses and as warm as her smiles. He asks his family and friends for help, but none of his ideas are quite right. Can he find her the perfect gift?In this touching story, a young boy tries to find the perfect gift to show his grandmother how much he cares about her. A pronunciation guide for the Anishnaabemowin words can be found at the back of the book.Rich in culture and grounded in traditional knowledge, Katherena Vermette&’s The Seven Teachings Stories series features themes of love, wisdom, humility, courage, respect, honesty, and truth. Contemporary Indigenous children explore the Seven Teachings of the Anishinaabe through stories of home and family that will look familiar to all young readers in these books for ages 3–5.
The Poet: Pauline Johnson (Tales from Big Spirit #6)
by David A. RobertsonAlthough Kathy loves poetry, she is far too shy to recite it in front of her class. But the story of Pauline Johnson, renowned as the "Mohawk Princess," inspires Kathy to overcome her stage fright. Pauline, from the Grand River Reserve in Ontario, crisscrossed the country, reciting her poems to far-flung communities, making her among the most beloved literary figure of the Edwardian era.The Poet is one book in the Tales from Big Spirit series. Tales from Big Spirit is a unique seven-book graphic novel series that delves into the stories of seven great Indigenous heroes from Canadian history—some already well known and others who deserve to be. Designed to correspond to grades 4–6 social studies curriculums across Canada, these full colour graphic novels could be used in literature circles, novel studies, and book clubs to facilitate discussion of social studies topics. These books will help students make historical connections while promoting important literacy skills.
Version Control (The Reckoner Rises)
by David A. RobertsonAfter finding out Mihko reinstated the Reckoner Initiative in Breakdown, Cole and Eva confronted Mihko head-on. But when Eva stumbles across a secret laboratory, she finds her worst nightmares come to life. After a vicious battle with Mihko&’s newest test subject leaves Cole close to death, Eva is forced to continue their investigation without him. With Brady missing and Cole in recovery, Eva is on her own.What new terrors has Mihko created? Can they be stopped? And can Eva find Brady before it&’s too late?
Grand Conversations, Thoughtful Responses: A Unique Approach to Literature Circles
by Faye BrownlieGrand Conversations, Thoughtful Responses is built upon the premise that all students can become active, independent, thoughtful readers. The structures and strategies in this book are proven to help students develop confidence and competence in their reading. Student engagement with text soars through participation in grand conversations with peers and reflecting on reading with thoughtful, written responses. This unique approach includes:student choice in booksstudents reading at their own pace, thus creating flexible groupsliterature circles where students discuss the shared text they are readingstrategies for teaching written responsestrategies for co-creating assessment criteriaadditional activities to develop and deepen comprehensionbook listsThis new edition has been expanded to include examples and book lists for grades K to 12.
Wayi Wah! Indigenous Pedagogies: An Act for Reconciliation and Anti-Racist Education
by Jo Chrona★ Starred selection for CCBC's Best Books Ideal for Teachers 2023!Now a National Best Seller! How can Indigenous knowledge systems inform our teaching practices and enhance education? How do we create an education system that embodies an anti-racist approach and equity for all learners? This powerful and engaging resource is for non-Indigenous educators who want to learn more, are new to these conversations, or want to deepen their learning. Some educators may come to this work with some trepidation. You may feel that you are not equipped to engage in Indigenous education, reconciliation, or anti-racism work. You may be anxious about perpetuating misconceptions or stereotypes, making mistakes, or giving offence. In these chapters, I invite you to take a walk and have a conversation with a good mind and a good heart. With over two decades in Indigenous education, author Jo Chrona encourages readers to acknowledge and challenge assumptions, reflect on their own experiences, and envision a more equitable education system for all. Each chapter includes reflection questions to help process the ideas in each chapter suggestions for taking action in both personal and professional spheres of influence recommended resources to read, watch, or listen to for further learning personal reflections and anecdotes from the author on her own learning journey voices of non-Indigenous educators who share their learning and model how to move into, and sit, in places of unknowing and discomfort, so we can examine our own biases and engage in this work in a good way Grounded in the First Peoples Principles of Learning, this comprehensive guide builds on Chrona&’s own experiences in British Columbia&’s education system to explore how to shape anti-racist and equitable education systems for all. Perfect for reading on your own or with your professional learning community!
Singing Sisters: A Story of Humility (The Seven Teachings Stories #2)
by Katherena VermetteMa&’iingan loves to sing and her family loves to hear her beautiful voice. Her little sister wants to sing just like Ma&’iingan, but Ma&’iingan doesn&’t want her to. As rivalry erupts between the siblings, can Ma&’iingan find the humility to share her talent with her sister?In this relatable story, a young Anishinaabe girl learns to put aside her pride and sibling rivalry to share her love of singing with her sister. A pronunciation guide for the Anishnaabemowin words can be found at the back of the book.Rich in culture and grounded in traditional knowledge, Katherena Vermette&’s The Seven Teachings Stories series features themes of love, wisdom, humility, courage, respect, honesty, and truth. Contemporary Indigenous children explore the Seven Teachings of the Anishinaabe through stories of home and family that will look familiar to all young readers in these books for ages 3–5.
Returning to the Yakoun River (Sk'ad'a Stories Series)
by Sara Florence Davidson Robert DavidsonBased on author Sara Florence Davidson&’s childhood memories, this illustrated story captures the joy and adventure of a Haida fish camp.Every summer, a Haida girl and her family travel up the Yakoun River on Haida Gwaii, following the salmon. While their father fishes, the girl and her brother spend their time on the land playing and learning from Tsinii (Grandfather).
This Place: 150 Years Retold
by Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm Sonny Assu Brandon Mitchell Rachel Qitsualik-Tinsley Sean Qitsualik-Tinsley David A. Robertson Niigaanwewidam James Sinclair Jen Storm Richard Van Camp Katherena Vermette Chelsea VowelExplore the past 150 years through the eyes of Indigenous creators in this groundbreaking graphic novel anthology. Beautifully illustrated, these stories are an emotional and enlightening journey through Indigenous wonderworks, psychic battles, and time travel. See how Indigenous peoples have survived a post-apocalyptic world since Contact. Each story includes a timeline of related historical events and a personal note from the author. Find cited sources and a select bibliography for further reading in the back of the book. The accompanying teacher guide includes curriculum charts and 12 lesson plans to help educators use the book with their students. This is one of the 200 exceptional projects funded through the Canada Council for the Arts&’ New Chapter initiative. With this $35M initiative, the Council supports the creation and sharing of the arts in communities across Canada.