Free Virtual Educational Program for Grades 1-12

Day 1 – Sept. 25: The Gifts Indigenous Peoples Bring to the World

We begin this 5-day series demonstrating the strengths of Indigenous Peoples. Despite the attempts of residential schools to rid Indigenous Peoples of their culture, those cultures and traditions thrive today. Support continuous learning by sharing the pre-recorded videos with your class when it’s convenient for you, join the live sessions and engage your classroom in the suggested activities.

Pre-recorded Videos:

Grades 5-12      Survivor stories: Life before and after attending residential schools.
Grades K-12     Language Reclamation: Indigenous Peoples’ languages are critical to understanding their worldviews. Despite efforts to eradicate their languages, there is a push to revitalize them.
All Grades        Sharing Indigenous Peoples’ Culture: Demonstrating the rich and varied cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, including powwow dancing, Métis jigging and Inuit throat singing.

Live Sessions: Survivors speak about their lives before and after residential schools.

Day 2 – Sept. 26: Learning from Survivors

Day two focuses on the history of residential schools through the experiences of Survivors. Pre-recorded videos featuring Survivors from across Canada examine different aspects of the experience including food, participation in arts and sports, and coping with loneliness.

Pre-recorded Videos

Grades 1-5      Food: For Indigenous Peoples, food has important cultural significance. But residential schools often served food that was poor quality and different from traditional foods impacting the mind and spirit as much as the body.
Grades 5-8      Coping: The TRC final report notes that “despite being surrounded by dozens of children, they were lonely and deprived of affection and approval.” This video shares stories on how Survivors coped at residential schools.
Grades 9-12    Sports: Some residential school Survivors believe sports helped them survive. Others feel sports led to hyper-competitive expectations. The different treatment of athletes also led to complicated relationships with their peers.

Live Sessions: Survivors talk about their experiences at residential schools.

Day 3 – Sept. 27: Researching Residential School History

As more truths on the history of residential schools are shared across Canada, there’s an unfortunate increase in residential school denialism. One way to counter denialism is to learn the deeper history of residential schools and share those learnings with family and friends. The program includes pre-recorded videos, lives sessions and activities so classes continue to learn.

Pre-recorded Videos

All Grades        The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation: Examining the work done by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR), to share the truth and legacy of residential schools and to promote reconciliation in Canada.
Grades 5-12    Researching Residential School History: Students will learn how to research and learn more about the history of residential schools, as well as how to access and use the NCTR archives.
Grades K-4      Phyllis Webstad, “Every Child Matters”: Phyllis Webstad reads her new children’s book, “Every Child Matters” to her grandchildren.

Live sessions: Sharing Histories through the Arts

Day 4 – Sept. 28: Live Youth Empowerment Event

Register your class for this inspiring and uplifting virtual live-streamed event where we will bring together 5,000 students and educators at TD Place in Ottawa, Ontario. The event is known as Gidinawendimin – We are All Related, and will include Indigenous music, dance, cultural presentations, and guest speakers, including Survivors. Scheduled from 9:30 am-12:00 pm CDT.

Live sessions: Let’s Talk – Awareness Inspires Action.

Day 5 – Sept. 29: Reconcili-ACTION

After learning more about Indigenous Peoples and the impacts of residential schools, the final day moves us toward ACTION. Materials, including activities for ongoing learning, focus on supporting and inspiring students to take action and to promote Reconciliation within themselves, their schools, their families, and their communities.

Pre-recorded Video

All Grades       What is reconciliation – and what you can do! Survivors share their perspectives on what reconciliation means to them. While a group of youths share what they imagine a reconciled Canada looks like.

Live sessions: What does Reconciliation mean to you?

Need additional information? Contact: trw@umanitoba.ca