FNMI Knowledge.
Integrating Indigenous culture into the classroom is vital for fostering inclusivity, respect, and a deeper understanding of Canada’s diverse heritage. It helps students appreciate the rich traditions, histories, and contributions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples while promoting cultural awareness and reconciliation. By including Indigenous perspectives in the classroom, educators can encourage students to develop empathy and a stronger connection to the land and community. This approach supports Truth and Reconciliation efforts and empowers all students to embrace diversity.
​
​
Pictured above are some picture books I have shared with my grade 4 students throughout my practicum. Sharing these simple stories with my students sparked lots of curiosity around indigenous culture and led to many valuable conversations. I am eager to continue growing my collection of indigenous literature as my eduction journey progresses.
 |  |
|---|---|
 |  |
 |
The following two consecutive lesson plans are based around the picture book, “This Land: The History of the Land We’re On”, written by Ashley Fairbanks. The author is an Anishinabbe artist and writer who incorporates her culture into her work to educate students both in and out of the classroom. This picture book explores the history of North American land from an Indigenous perspective. “This Land” begins with a child reflecting on who used to live in his home and continues to trace back to the first indigenous peoples who inhabited this land. “This Land” resonated with me as I knew it would apply to multiple different subject areas while simultaneously integrating indigenous ways of knowing.
I created these two consecutive lesson plans around the grade 1 Alberta Program of Studies; however, these activities could easily be adapted and made more challenging for higher grade levels. The first lesson plan in this series incorporates both the Text Forms & Structures, and the Phonics unit in ELA to introduce the overarching theme of protecting our environment. The second lesson in this series will incorporate the Earth Systems science unit as the class investigates how plants are affected by their environment.
The class will read “This Land” and discuss how caring for our environment is a shared responsibility, which relates to indigenous ways of knowing. Students will explore this idea by caring for a class plant and alternating “Plant Keeper Roles” each day. This series of activities will help students to respect nature and establishing a responsibility for caring for their environment, all while integrating indigenous culture into the classroom.
In my Grade 3/4 science class, I introduced the concept of land acknowledgments to help students understand their significance and how it relates to both their current science unit (Earth systems) and daily life. Together, we created a class land acknowledgment to begin their new unit, emphasizing that these statements are personal, based on location, and perspective. To deepen their personal connection to the concept, students completed an activity where they recognized that their favourite outdoor activity takes place on Indigenous land. As a class, we brain-stormed specific outdoor activities to spark their creative. Next, they illustrated their activity within a badge-shaped template, symbolizing honour. To further emphasize the lesson objective, students then reflected on how this activity makes them feel. This lesson not only helped students build awareness of Indigenous perspectives but also reinforced their responsibility to respect and appreciate the land. By guiding students through this process, I applied TQS 5 by fostering meaningful conversations about Indigenous histories and perspectives, ensuring that students develop a deeper appreciation for the land they live and learn on.