Indigenous Learning Resources

We have compiled this list of resources recommended by Indigenous advisors, staff and partners as a way for you to deepen your understanding and undertake meaningful action.

1. Learn Locally: Take time each and every week to deepen your knowledge of the local Indigenous culture and communities in your area.
2. Join the 4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning Course to deepen your understanding of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives while strengthening connections with the local Land and supporting more respectful, reciprocal relationships.
3. Reflect on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: It establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the indigenous peoples of the world and it elaborates on existing human rights standards and fundamental freedoms as they apply to the specific situation of Indigenous peoples.
4. Reflect on the Calls to Action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission: In order to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of reconciliation, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has made these calls to action.
5. Sign-up for an Indigenous Learning Course such as upcoming Indigenous Language Courses and the 4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning Course.
6. Acknowledge the Land: Recognize the Land where you call home, and go beyond land acknowledgements through your learning and action.
7. Engage in the Truth and Reconciliation Educational Programs offered by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
8. Watch Residential School Survivor Stories: These are offered by the Legacy of Hope Foundation which is one of the organizations we are supporting through the sale of our Every Child Matters flag. It is by sharing and learning about these truths that we can all continue to work toward understanding and healing.
9. Read the story behind Orange Shirt Day: September 30th has been declared Orange Shirt Day annually, in recognition of the harm the residential school system did to children’s sense of self-esteem and well being, and as an affirmation of our commitment to ensure that everyone around us matters.
10. Raise an Every Child Matters Flag: Each flag comes with your own copy of the Calls to Action by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that you can read and share, and $15 from each flag is directed equally between the Orange Shirt Society,  The Legacy Of Hope Foundation and the Residential School Survivors Society.
11. Read the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: The National Inquiry’s Final Report reveals that persistent and deliberate human and Indigenous rights violations and abuses are the root cause behind the staggering rates of violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people.
12. Participate in Della’s Story Online Escape Room created by the Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY).
13. Learn about the Witness Blanket: this contains over 800 items gathered from sites and Survivors of Indian residential schools so future generations can continue bearing witness to its presentation of the genocide committed against the original peoples of this land.
14. Access Excellent Indigenous Learning Resources: Written, created and curated by Indigenous authors, artists and educators, these resources are excellent for deepening your knowledge and understanding.
15. Listen in to the Earthy Chats Podcast featuring Indigenous Educators (Episodes 3, 5, 6, 12, 14).
16. Read The Importance of Indigenous Perspectives in Children’s Environmental Inquiry: This resource supports a stronger basic awareness of Indigenous perspectives and their importance to environmental education. To learn more, tune into our virtual workshop recording with Natural Curiosity.
17. Enhance your learning of local Indigenous languages: First Voices is an online space for Indigenous communities to share and promote language, oral culture and linguistic history.
18. Read Braiding Sweetgrass: In this best selling book, celebrated author Robin Wall Kimmerer circles toward a central argument: that the awakening of ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgment and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world.
19. Access Books for Students that share Indigenous culture and knowledge such as Sila and the Land and Walking Together for Elementary Students, and for Secondary Students, Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults, Groundswell: Indigenous Knowledge and a Call to Action for Climate Change or The Journey Forward: 2 Novellas on Reconciliation for Youth.
20. Read the Raven Activity Guide: On pages 12-15 there are actions that people can take to be an ally.
21. Participate in National Indigenous Peoples Day events happening in your local area.

In the Every Child Matters flag above, Carol Louie, well known Ktunaxa artist, provided the art for the feather and ideas for the design. Robert Louie (Ktunaxa) and Denice Louie (Athabascan) completed the design work in collaboration with their summer youth worker Gabe Kobasiuk (Cree). Robert Louie is a residential school survivor. Most of his siblings also went to residential school.

“The heart with the broken lines was used to show how the residential school affected our people, our connections, our teachings. Though fractured, the hearts of our people continue and remain strong. And in all of our hearts, at the center of our communities are the little ones, our future – represented by the child’s hand. The eagle feather honours and recognizes all the children who were forced into residential school.”