Land Acknowledgement:

Acknowledging territory is a way of honouring and showing respect for the group of people now known as the K’ómoks First Nation who have been living and working on this land from time immemorial. Useful tips and explanation of difference between a welcome and an acknowledgement.

https://www.comoxvalleyschools.ca/indigenous-education/honouring-the-territory/

Connection to Land

See this quote from the K’ómoks First Nation Website:

“As stewards of our lands, resources and the environment around us, we will honor our ancestors by adhering to our cultural laws and values, passed down generation to generation. We will move forward responsibly using accountability, transparency, environmental responsibility and K’ómoks cultures as the cornerstones of our land management practices. With the guidance of the Creator and our membership represented in our Lands Advisory Committee, we will protect our homelands to ensure environmental sustainability and integrity while building sustainable economic development on our lands.” – Our Lands Mission  (accessed January 7, 2022)

Click here to explore Indigenous Corportate Training Inc. blog post about some First Nations peoples connection to land.

“First Nation relationship to the land is spiritual and that spiritual connection is constitutionally recognized and legally protected. Please keep in mind that we are speaking in general terms when we talk about the First Nation spiritual connection with the land. Each Nation has its own unique relationship with the land and if you are working with a community, finding out that connection and relationship should be part of your research.”  Bob Joseph

Overview: The BC First Nations Land, Title and Governance Teacher Resource Guide is intended to provide suppport for teacher and students in all BC schools, including First Nations, public, and independent schools, to gain an understanding of traditional and contemporary forms of First Nations governance.  It provides suggested activities and resources for Grades 2 to 12.  This guide is intended in part to address the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commisiion of Canada, particularly the call to “integrate Indigenous knowledge and teaching methods into classrooms” (clause 62) and “build student capacityfor intercultural understanding, empathy and mutual respect” (clause 63).

See excerpt from FNESC: BC First Nations Land, Title, and Governance to get a sense of the importance of the connection to the land:

“Students build on their understandings of the connections of First Peoples and the land and see how traditional governance was in a large part concerned with managing the land and its resources. Then they learn about changes brought about by colonization through the Indian Act and other policies.  Our Relationship with the Land Students will build an awareness of what is meant by “The Land” and explore at a personal level way that the Land is important.”  (page 37, 2019)

Indigenous Tourism BC Land of Our Ancestors

The ideas of environmental stewardship and sustainable resource management are certainly not new or radical concepts for British Columbia’s Aboriginal peoples. Long before Europeans even dreamed of traveling to North America, B.C.’s First Nations already had a deep spiritual connection to the land — considering themselves a part of it — as well as traditions, legends and stories reaffirming their respect for nature.

Indigenous Tourism BC Everything is Connected

Everything is connected. What each of us does has a profound impact on every living creature. Our health and wholeness is written upon the land and dependent on each other.

Indigenous Foods

Cory and Randy Frank of the K’ómoks First Nation demonstration a pit cook for Indigenous Education Big House Experience 2012.

Cooking in a Bentwood Box:

https://www.fnha.ca/Documents/Traditional_Food_Fact_Sheets.pdf

Water is Life. Water is Sacred.

Knowledge Keeper, JoAnn Restoule shares the Water is Life, Water is Sacred project with Miracle Beach Elementary. Introduced by hereditary chief, Wedlidi Speck, with Lena Murdock Indigenous Support Worker.

​​​Lesson Plans

Connected by Water Inquiry Units: click here for locally developed inquiry lessons

BC Hydro Orange Shirt Day lessons: click here: https://schools.bchydro.com/blog/orange-shirt-day

Respect for others and the environment go hand in hand. Since B.C is powered by water, for Orange Shirt Day this year, we would like to highlight the unique relationship Indigenous Peoples have with water. With the help of Indigenous educators and subject matter experts, we developed new teaching resources that will have your students learn about energy, water conservation, reconciliation, and more.

To help you take part, here are our 24 new curriculum-aligned K – 12 activities with accompanying worksheets, slides and handouts for your class. Inspire your students to learn about water through the teachings and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples.

Enbridge Inquiry Lessons

Created by Lynn Swift, Debbie Nelson and Gail Martindale