INDIGENOUS VOICES MATTER

By: Mireille Loussouko

 I would like to begin by acknowledging that the land on which we gather is
the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg People. The
Algonquin peoples have lived on this land since time immemorial. We are
grateful to have the opportunity to be present in this territory
The theme Indigenous Voices Matter is to shed light on the voices of Indigenous peoples living in Canada. The books I
selected will help juniors learners better understand the impact residential schools had on Indigenous peoples, thus
active their critical thinking skills to form a better judgment. The books pay tribute and acknowledge the survivors'
unheard voices, those that did not survive and their descendants. In terms of inclusion, all voices must be heard to
avoid the "The danger of a single story," which author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie explains as the
under-representation of stories from various cultural backgrounds. She believes the danger of the single story
creates stereotypes, and we know that stereotypes are often untrue and incomplete, and they make one story
become the only story. Educators should approach essential subject matters in elementary schools, such as
residential schools in Canada and Indigenous people's various stories. This inclusion's key message is to enhance
students' knowledge to avoid a critical misunderstanding of the experiences lived by native people.
Shi-Shi-etko by: Nicola I. Campbell

Language curriculum: Grades 1-8

Strand: Reading -Grade 4
Specific expectation: Extending Understanding -1.6 extend understanding of texts by
connecting the ideas in them to their own knowledge, experience, and insights, to
other familiar texts, and to the world around them.

Shi-shi-etko is a little native girl who has just four days left before leaving her
family and everything she knows to attend a residential school. She spends her last
precious days at home treasuring and appreciating the beauty of her world. Before
she leaves, each family member shares valuable teachings that they want her to
remember. Shi-shi-etko carefully gathers her memories for safekeeping. This book
is included because the author speaks of the cultures and traditions of native
children. She argues that the Canadian government believed native peoples were
uncivilized and created laws to force them to attended residential schools to adopt
European values and religion. This book can be used in the curriculum for
educating juniors learners to learn to appreciate the culture and values of native
people before they were forcefully erased. The key message is to extend junior
learners' understanding of the book by connecting their own knowledge and
experiences.
I am not a number by: Jenny Kay Dupuis and Kathy Kacer
Language Curriculum: Grades 1-8
Strand: Reading-Grade 5
Specific expectation: Extending Understanding - 1.6 extend understanding of
texts by connecting the ideas in them to their own knowledge, experience,
and insights, to other familiar texts, and to the world around them.

This emotional and inspiring story is about the life of Jenny Kay Dupuis's
grandmother. At a young age, she and her brothers were taken from
Nipissing Reserve Number 10 to live at a Canadian Residential School in
1929. While in school, she tries to remember her identity despite the nuns
telling her not to use her name but instead the number she was assigned.
This resource is an excellent read-aloud during "Orange shirt day" to
communicate Indigenous children's stories to junior learners. The critical
message that connects to junior learners is understanding the trauma lived
by native children both in the setting of their home with their families and
their lives in the residential schools. Likewise, understand that it was also
tough for native parents to disobey the Canadian laws. Since Indigenous
Voices Matter, this book was included in the list because Jenny Kay Dupuis
used her platform to speak of her grandmother's authentic truth.
Fatty legs by: Margaret Pokiak-Fenton and Christy Jordan-Fenton

Arts Curriculum: Grades 1-8

Strand D: Visual Arts-Grade 5
Specific expectation: Exploring forms and cultural contexts-D3.2 demonstrate an
awareness of ways in which visual arts reflect the beliefs and traditions of a variety of
peoples and of people in different times and places.

Fatty legs is a powerful story based on Olemaun Pokiak, the mother-in-law of Margaret
Pokiak–Fenton. When she was eight-year-old, Margaret decided to go on a five-day
journey to learning to read, even if it meant leaving her village in the high Arctic. Her
father warned her of the terrors in residential schools. While in school, Margaret
encounters the Raven, a black-cloaked nun with a hooked nose and bony fingers that
resemble claws. The heartless Raven disliked Margaret and intend to humiliate her by
giving her red stockings when all the other girls received gray ones. She becomes the
laughingstock of the entire school. Margaret refuses to be intimidated and bravely gets
rid of the stockings. In the end, her bravery gives the Raven a lesson in the power of
human dignity. This resource can be integrated into the Arts curriculum to demonstrate
awareness of the history of native people through the illustrations. The book's messages
can teach junior learners on topics such as bullying and its effects on individuals. The
book is part of the collection because it is an award-winning book that has been
recognized by many Canadian Associations for bringing the truthfulness of the spoken
history of the injustice lived by Indigenous people.
Secret Path by: Gord Downie & Jeff Lemire
Arts Curriculum: Grades 1-8
Strand D: Visual Arts-Grade 5
Specific expectation: Exploring forms and cultural contexts-D3.2
demonstrate an awareness of ways in which visual arts reflect the
beliefs and traditions of a variety of peoples and of people in different
times and places.
Secret Path is the tale of a 12-year-old Indigenous boy who escapes a
residential school and tries to walk 400 miles home to return to his
family. He dies alone on the journey from hunger and exposure to
harsh weather. The author Gord Downie wrote this book to pay
tribute to Chanie “Charlie” Wenjack and other Indigenous children
who attended residential schools in Canada. This resource can be
used in a classroom to explore art forms and cultural contexts and
have students interpret the meaning of these illustrations. This
integration is meant to acknowledge the life of Charlie Wenjack and
his determination to espace.
Stolen Words by: Melanie Florence
Language Curriculum: Grades 1-8
Strand: Reading-Grade 5
Specific expectation: Comprehension Strategies-1.3 identify a variety of reading
comprehension strategies and use them appropriately before, during, and after
reading to understand texts.

This book is the story of a profound relationship between a little girl and her
grandfather. When she asked her grandfather, “how to say grandfather in
Cree?” The grandfather replied, “I do not remember; I lost my words a long time
ago.” He then elaborates on his experiences in a residential school as a little boy
and the reason behind losing his words. The little girl is determined to help her
grandfather regain his language again. This book will educate junior learners to
understand the impact residential schools had on Indigenous children and
their generational pain. A teacher can use this book during “Orange shirt day”
to read aloud and ask a question like “how would you feel if you were taken
away from your family?” This question is meant to engage students in an active
conversation and allow them to reflect. This book was included to learn about
the consequences of cultural assimilation. Indigenous people were forced to
speak English or French instead of their ancestral languages and disconnected
from their culture and traditions.
 References
County of Carleton Association. 2004. Acknowledgement of Indigenous Territories-Ottawa Area. Retrieved from:
https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.ccla-abcc.ca/resource/resmgr/site/Acknowledgement_of_Indigenou.pdf
TED Global. 2009. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie-The danger of a single story. Retrieved from:
https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story/transcript#t-408
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. (September, 26, 2018). Shi-shi-etko. Retrieved from : https://www.cbc.ca/books/shi-shi-etko-1.4839287
Second Story Press. 2018. I am not a number. Retrieved from: https://secondstorypress.ca/kids/i-am-not-a-number

Secret Path. (September 9, 2016). Secret Path. Retrieved from : https://www.secretpath.ca/

Second Story Press. 2018. Children’s books- Stolen Words. Retrieved from: https://secondstorypress.ca/kids/stolen-words

Ontario Ministry of Education. (2006). The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-8: Language. Ontario Ministry of Education. Retrieved from
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/language18currb.pdf

Ontario Ministry of Education. (2009). The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-8: The Arts. Ontario Ministry of Education. Retrieved from :

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/arts18b09curr.pdf

Empowering The Spirit. 2021. Fatty Legs Series & Resources. Alberta Regional Consortia. Retrieved from

http://empoweringthespirit.ca/fatty-legs-webinar-series/