We need to do some important learning.
Our church is committed to reconciliation, and for us to do that work, we first need to do the work of learning the history of this land and of the Indigenous people who have been here since time immemorial.

You can find out more about the Anglican Church of Canada's commitment to reconciliation here. 

The University of Alberta's Faculty of Native Studies has created Indigenous Canada, an online course that explores Indigenous histories and contemporary issues in Canada. It's free and open to everyone.

The Youth and Family Ministry Team encourages everyone to take this course.
We especially hope that those who work with children, youth, and families will sign up.

You can do this course totally independently, but we encourage you to connect with others in your community to do this learning together. 

Find out more about the course.
Resources for Children, Youth and Families
It can be hard to know where to begin in talking about Indigenous History and Residential Schools with children and young people, but it's important to do it anyway. Here are some resources to help:

The Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre

Here you will find lots of information about the history and the people of Mi'kma'ki. 

For Families:

Project of Heart - Project of Heart is an inquiry based, hands-on, collaborative, inter-generational, artistic journey of seeking truth about the history of Aboriginal people in Canada.

How to talk to children about residential schools from IndigiNews  - Educators share teaching resources from the classroom to assist speaking with children in the aftermath of a tragic discovery in Kamloops.

Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation Resources - The Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation Teacher Resource Guides for grades 5, 10 and 11/12 were developed by the First Nations Education Steering Committee and the First Nations Schools Association. They are our response to the call by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada for education bodies to develop age-appropriate educational materials about Indian residential schools. These were developed for use in a classroom, but can be adapted for use at home. 

For Children:

Mi'kmaw Children's Books

Indigenous Reading List - A list of books compiled by the University of British Columbia. Some of these titles are available in the Youth and Family Ministry Library - email Allie (acolp@nspeidiocese.ca) for more info. 

For Youth:

Sacred Teachings Podcast -​ There is a hidden wealth in this Land. This wealth lies in the wisdom of the Indigenous Elders all across Turtle Island. The teachings, languages, traditions and stories of the Ancestors are shared in the podcast series “Sacred Teachings”. Highly respected Indigenous speakers are featured in this series, with a different theme for each season, including the sacredness of Creation and finding meaning in a global crisis.

Backyard Science -Digital Mi’kmaq’s Backyard Science series was created during the first wave of Covid-19 to keep youth connected to science. Blending Indigenous and Western Science in what is commonly referred to as Etuaptmumk, or Two-Eyed Seeing, this core science series directly supports provincial learning outcomes. 

Treaties and the Treaty Relationship Educational Package - This page has lots of resources focused on treaties. It's important for us to have a good understanding of the treaties, as we are all treaty people. 

Four Directions Teachings - FourDirectionsTeachings.com honours oral traditions by creating an environment where visitors are encouraged to listen with intent as each elder/ traditional teacher shares a teaching from their perspective on the richness and value of cultural traditions from their nation.

Slideshow image
Overview Community Roots Diocesan Youth Conference Indigenous Canada Inspired Faith Kid's Climate Action Toolkit Practicing Faith at Home Protecting Children, Youth, and Vulnerable People Resources SafeR Church Policies and Procedures Share NS+PEI Support for Parishes