Ontario Teachers’ Federation Resources and Supports to Teachers

Books of Life was an OTF Indigenous education awareness and literacy initiative, funded by the Aboriginal Education Office (AEO) of the Government of Ontario. The project sought to engage teachers in a greater understanding of First Nation, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) communities, so that they could confidently imbed FNMI themes, topics and perspectives in their teaching. During the 2011-12 school year, Books of Life brought together teachers in schools with high FNMI populations and those in schools with low FNMI populations. The teachers worked with their students to create books about their lives – exploring who they are, what they value, what they celebrate, and how all of our lives are shaped by our cultural and historical contexts.

One of the 50 subject/division associations with which OTF works closely is the First Nations, Métis & Inuit Education Association of Ontario. The association is a subject association for First Nations, Métis and Inuit education in Ontario, Canada. They support and help all educators understand issues related to First Nation, Métis and Inuit Peoples in Canada as well as offer strategies for teaching this content to all learners. They have an extensive collection of resources to help with school projects or related educational exercises.

This webinar is designed to support educators on how to effectively embed First Nations, Métis and Inuit histories and traditions into their social studies and history classes in Grades 4 – 6 and Grades 7, 8, and 10. Participants will be provided with inquiry starting points and suggested resources. In Part 1, teachers will build an understanding of Indigenous worldviews and protocols, including the importance of local relationships and what it means to do this work in a good way and develop an understanding of the changes to the social studies and history curricula.

This workshop is designed to support educators on how to effectively embed First Nations, Métis and Inuit histories and traditions into their social studies and history classes in Grades 4 – 6 and Grades 7, 8, and 10. Participants will be provided with inquiry starting points and suggested resources. In Part 2, teachers will enhance their own learning about the complete histories of Canada, know where to find reliable resources to support their own and student learning, and use the inquiry process to guide their own and student learning on indigenous histories and contemporary realities.

This webinar supports teachers with the implementation of the revised Social Studies and History curriculum. In response to the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, it is now mandatory for students to be learning about the histories, perspectives and contributions of Indigenous Peoples in what is now Canada. Participants will: • build an understanding of the history of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, • examine how colonialism has and continues to impact Indigenous Peoples today, • provide strategies and resources to support professional practice, • develop an awareness on possible bias and misconceptions, and • create healthy and inclusive learning environments that promote equity and wellbeing.

This is OTF’s online tool designed to support beginning teachers, occasional teachers, mentors and teacher candidates - predominantly those in their first 1 – 5 years of practice, though even seasoned teachers use it, too. Its homepage currently features resources connected to “Confronting the Legacy of Residential Schools.”

In a 2018 summer writing project for its financial literacy-focused websites, OTF contracted with two Indigenous educators from the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation to develop a two-part lesson that infused authentic Indigenous teachings and voice with financial literacy concepts. The lessons are entitled Conceptualization, Creation and Construction of the Mohawk Village Memorial Park, Parts 1 & 2. This series of lessons (Part 1 of 2) responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action #62 and #63 and are designed using a land-centred and circular indigenous framework of vision, relationships, knowledge and action.

The intent was to increase student engagement as well as awareness of indigenous issues, perspectives and knowledge through the integration of indigenous content and Ways of Knowing into the current curriculum. In order to do this, the team realized that teachers must be engaged and comfortable when facilitating this learning in their classrooms. They ran a pilot project in one of their communities with schools that service a First Nations community to see if we could help teachers feel more confident including indigenous issues, perspectives and knowledge into their lessons. The first part provided a 10-week long opportunity for classes in the elementary panel to collaborate with a class from the secondary panel and create legends inspired by Algonquin teachings about Turtle Island and animal characteristics. The culmination of this collaboration was an indigenous film festival held at the secondary school. The second part provided an opportunity for teachers from both panels to go to the First Nations community for a professional development day hosted and facilitated by First Nations members.

This project is a continued response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s recommendation as well as the mandate of the Ontario Ministry of Education Policy Framework. For example, the Ontario FNMI Education Policy Framework is to close the gap between indigenous students and all students. There are several First Nations connections to mathematics (i.e., creation of traditional wigwams, creating quill boxes and beadwork) that would require geometry skills as well as moccasin-making focusing on patterning skills. This project examined how to deepen teachers’ understanding of math connections to Indigenous art and perspectives. As well, the project focused on deepening the understanding of how to engage community members in the teaching and learning of mathematics to ensure their voices and culture is acknowledged.

The OTF Useful Links web page has over 50 links to websites which support teachers in Indigenous education