Residential School – 4-7


Residential School Book Lists

Compiled locally for SD71

CBC Book lists

Residential School Inquiry Lessons and Resources​​​​

We​ have designed an engaging inquiry project that invites participants to explore the Residential School experience with a lens of compassion. ​​This set of lessons would be more appropriate for grade 5 and up. ​​This is an excellent way to launch a set of lesson about Residential Schools. created by Doug David, Lynn Swift, Gail Martindale, Sally Sheehan, Colleen Devlin, Denis Anderson.​

U’mista Display​​​​​​ – Background information, BLM’s and Teacher Guide.

We are very fortunate to have been lent the sacred, Project of Heart Canoe. It is on loan to us from Surrey school district. Curriculum Support Teachers and Aboriginal Resource Teachers of SD 71 met during the first week of January, 2018 to create a series of lessons in preparation for students and teachers visiting this display.

We wanted to get students noticing, thinking and wondering using images and picture books. Many students were able to tap into their background knowledge and make connections to their understanding of residential schools. These lessons have been well received. Even if you don’t have access to this exhibit, we hope these lessons are helpful as you lead students toward truth and reconciliation. ​

FNESC: Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation Resources

We have these resources throughout the libraries of SD71.

About the Resources

The Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation Teacher Resource Guides for grades 5, 10 and 11/12 were developed by the First Nations Education Steering Committee and the First Nations Schools Association. They are our response to the call by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada for education bodies to develop age-appropriate educational materials about Indian Residential Schools.

It is our hope that these resources will help students of all cultural backgrounds gain an understanding of the history of the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people over Canada’s history, with a focus on the BC experience. The materials are also designed to engage young people to take part in the journey of reconciliation.” (from FNESC website)​

Secret Path​

Book by ​Gord Downie and Jeff Lemire to highlight the story of Chanie Wenjack, a boy who attempted an escape from Residential School​. Lessons for all grades. Please use with discretion at early years and note that the lessons outlined here only refer to one page in the book. We suggest this book to be studied in depth at later grades and with support from teachers. ​

​CBC Canada:

CANADA IS …Namwayut: we are all one. Truth and reconciliation in Canada​

Chief Robert Joseph shares his experience as a residential school survivor and the importance of truth and reconciliation in Canada.

Shi Shi Etko by Nicola Campbell​

A trailer for the book – an excellent book to help understand the connection to land and a good way to start a conversation about Residential Schools:

  BCTF: ​Project of Heart​:

​This eBook is intended to be an interactive resource leading educators from the story to the ‘back story’ utilizing links on each page to offer related resources.

Throughout this book you will find Project of Heart tiles with an ‘aura’ which indicates that this is a link. Click on each of these tiles to find additional resources including films, videos, documents, articles, activities and more. ​

  BCTF: Gladys We Never Knew:

The life of a child in an Indian residential school. (This book can also be found in every school library in SD71)

This eBook ​is intended to be an interactive resource leading educators from the story to the ‘back story’ utilizing links on each page to offer related resources.

Throughout this book you will find Project of Heart tiles with an ‘aura’ which indicates that this is a link. Click on each of these tiles to find additional resources including films, videos, documents, articles, activities and more.​​

Project Heart video​: Honouring Residential Schools. A film by Ed Carswell

Project Heart is the story of an extraordinary school event in Courtenay, B.C. Teacher Susan Leslie leads a school-wide project and ceremony to honour Indian residential school survivors. Leslie organizes storytelling circles, art and inquiry projects, and encourages students to create ceremonial blankets. Verna Flanders shares her experiences as a survivor of St. Michael’s Residential School in Alert Bay, B.C. Project Heart culminates with a school-wide Blanketing Ceremony to honour Verna and four other survivors (Stan Frank, Valerie Frank, Melvin Price, and Dean Littlelight).

This film was inspired in part by Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation events. “Reconciliation is an opportunity for all Canadians to renew relationships, based on a shared understanding of our histories and our cultures and walk a path together for a shared tomorrow.”​

Teaching Resources – What Next?​​

The resources found here can help teachers increase their knowledge about Residential school. As well find many good resources for our students and lessons to help guide your study.

The University of Manitoba: National Center for Truth And Reconciliation​ has compiled a list of excellent resources as well.