First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples are a major part of the history of Canada. In almost every grade level there is a connection to this part of our heritage and many authors have tried to teach us about the aboriginal peoples and their heritage.
Some books show how their view of the world and the environment is different the western view, and others talk about their history - the positive and negative points.
Check out these great books, written for different reading levels:
Ages 6-12:
- Shi-shi-etko by Nicola I. Campbell
- Shin-chi's Canoe by Nicola I. Campbell
- The Wave of the Sea Wolf by David Wisniewski
- Frog Girl by Paul Owen Lewis
- Storm Boy by Paul Owen Lewis
- Rough Face Girl by Rafe Martin
- Home to Medicine Mountain by Chiori Santiago
- Firedancers by Jan Bourdeau
- Encounter by Jane Yolen
- A Boy Called Slow: The True Story of Sitting Bull by Joseph Bruchac
- Sky Sisters by Jan Bourdeau Waboose
- Nokum is my Teacher by David Bouchard
- The Song Within My Heart by David Bouchard
- The Pow-Wow by Darrell W. Pelletier
- How Raven Freed the Moon by Anne Cameron
Ages 13+:
Although the above list of books is a list of picture books, they are a great resource for any age. Grab them and read them to get a quick glimpse into the history of the Aboriginal peoples.
For a more mature look at this history, try the following books:
- Sundogs by Lee Maracle
- Bobbi Lee: Indian Rebel by Lee Maracle
- Bent Box by Lee Maracle
- Two Little Girls Lost in a Bush: A Cree Story for Children by Nehiyaw/Gleci a Bear
- Adventure on Thunder Island by Edna King
- Eagle Song by Joseph Bruchac
You can also find some informative and interesting videos online:
- Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance (2 hours) by Alanis Obomsawin
- The Other Side of the Ledger: An Indian View of the Hudson's Bay Company (42 min) by Willie Dunn and Martin DeFalco
The Government of Canada also publishes some great free resources you can order online:
Your local library and your school library will also have lots of great books about specific tribes within the Aboriginal cultures. These books can show you about their living structures, the foods they ate, their hunting tools and the way a village/camp may have worked.
