Curriculum Laboratory

First Nations Teaching Resources

For further assistance in using any of the resources in the Lab, please ask at the Curriculum Lab Information Services Desk

Define your topic, and check basic sources. First Nations topics can be found throughout the collection:  in art, literature, history, geography, economics, political science, social sciences, behavioral sciences and humanities.  Therefore, when searching for First Nations teaching resources, there is no single area of the Curriculum Laboratory, or in the University Library, which holds all the pertinent resources.

Before going to find the actual materials, spend a little bit of time brainstorming for words or phrases which could describe the topic.  You may also want to think of broader and narrower terms for that topic.

If you are unfamiliar with your topic, you may want to use a big dictionary like Webster's Third International Dictionary (CURLB Info Desk 423 Web), or a general encyclopedia like The World Book Encyclopedia (Try "Indian, American") (031 Wor), to generate a list of terms.  If the topic is Canadian in scope, it may be useful to consult a Canadian dictionary like The Canadian Oxford Dictionary (423 Can), or The Canadian Encyclopedia, either in the adult edition (971.003 Can) (Try "Native People"), or the junior edition (Try "Native People") (971.003 Jun).

This list of possible words and phrases can now be used in the search for materials on this topic.

Get relevant Alberta curriculum publications. 

• The Curriculum Publications Chart is very useful to guide you through what types of documents are available in each subject.  It is also posted on the ends of the Curriculum Publications library shelves.
• The Elementary, Junior High and Senior High School Program of Studies binders, found at 375 General Alta. Gr. 1-6, Gr. 7-9, and Gr. 10-12 -- mandate what must be taught in Alberta's schools. They serve as a starting point for all investigations of the Alberta school curriculum.   According to the Curriculum Publications chart, there is an Aboriginal Studies section in the Senior High School Program of Studies.  There is also a Native Languages section in the Junior and Senior High School Program of Studies.

• Other core curriculum documents, can be found under a variety of names, depending on the school subject:  e.g. Guide to Implementation, Illustrative Examples, Teacher Resource Manuals, Curriculum Guides, or Background, Exemplars and Resources.  They provide suggestions on how to teach the mandated curriculum in the Program of Studies.  According to the Curriculum Publications Chart, there are also these other First Nations core curriculum documents:
  • The Common Curriculum Framework for Aboriginal Language and Culture Programs:  Kindergarten to Grade 12  (375 NAS West Gr.EC-12)
  • There are a number of other curriculum publications to be found under 375 NAS, including:
    • Aboriginal Language and Culture Programs:  A Curricular Framework:  Early Childhood Services - Grade 9 (375 NAS Alta. Gr. EC-9)
    • A Handbook for Aboriginal Parents of Children with Special Needs (375 NAS Alta. Gr. EC-12)
    • Various Blackfoot and Cree Language and Culture resources.

• Other First Nations curriculum documents of interest:
• Saskatchewan First Nations and Metis Education Branch
• Manitoba Education Aboriginal Education
• Montana Office of Public Instruction Indian Education (See Indian Ed)
• BC Aboriginal Education

Find basic and support resources recommended by Alberta Education.  The Curriculum Laboratory orders most resources which have been approved for use in the classroom by Alberta Education to support the teaching of First Nations topics, which occurs in many different subjects. We order these items from the Learning Resources Centre (LRC). To find out what resources are recommended by Alberta Education:

• Go to the Curriculum Laboratory main webpage.
• Click on the link, "Alberta Education Authorized Resources Database."
• You can select your "Curriculum Area," and "Grade Level."  The resulting long list of resources will include items such as student textbooks, teacher's manuals, student workbooks, blackline masters, test banks, other books, CD-ROMs, DVDs, distance education resources, etc.


• If you only want to find out which resources are considered the basic textbooks for that grade and subject, do the same search as above, except choose "Student Basic " from the "Authorization Status" menu.

Alberta Education published a bibliography called Native Library Resources for Elementary, Junior and Senior High Schools (375 NAS Alta. Gr.1-12), but it is dated, with a 1990 publishing date. 

Search the Library Catalogue.  For subject searches, start with "Subject Heading"  (Library of Congress) Search, and   browse the subject headings and "related subjects" which come up on the screen.  Start with the major topic first, remembering to always limit your search to the Location Curriculum Laboratory.  If you are having trouble finding appropriate resources, use some of the terms brainstormed in step #1.

a) There are three kinds of subject headings used for First Nations in our library catalogue.

Most common subdivisions which FOLLOW the general subject headings "Native peoples" OR "Indians of North America" (you might want to try both main headings to get everything on a certain topic):

The following subdivisions can be used following the term "Indian:"

Similar to the previous subject headings, you can insert a geographical subdivision like "Canada" or "Alberta" after these headings.

There are other subject headings that are used on their own (not following a main heading) like:

• powwows
• shamans
• sun-dance
• sweat lodge ceremony
• healers
  

b) Alberta First Nations Groups

This information is taken from the following sources, and is as accurate as can be, given the currency and reliability of the source.  The purpose of the chart is to assist you in finding the best library subject headings for the materials you are looking for.  While the library subject heading may not always be the most current, accurate, or acceptable term from a cultural point of view, it is the subject heading authorized by the Library of Congress, which is used by the Curriculum Laboratory and University Library.  These library subject headings will provide you with the most consistent access to the most materials on your topic.

NOTE:   If the specific subject heading does not retrieve enough materials, try the broader library subject heading.

For example, below is a chart of first nations groups or bands in Alberta, and the corresponding library subject heading to use to find these materials in the library on each of these bands:

Blackfoot refers to three Alberta bands:

• Blackfoot or Siksika
• Bloods (Kainai)
• Peigan (Piikani)

  PLUS

• There is a fourth Blackfoot-speaking nation in Canada called the Aamskas Piikani.
• There is also a Blackfoot-speaking band in Montana, called the Blackfeet, or the Southern Piegan.

The broader library subject heading for all the above-mentioned bands and nations is "Siksika Indians."  An even broader library subject heading is "Algonquin Indians."

Alberta Education (1993).  Indian reserves and Metis communities in Alberta.  In Teaching Native Languages in High School:  A Teacher's Resource Manual.  Edmonton:  Alberta Education.  Back cover map.

Albertans: who do they think they are?  Retrieved November 13, 2003, from http://collections.ic.gc.ca/Albertans/search.html

First Nation Information Project.  Retrieved from http://www.aboriginalcanada.com/firstnation/dirfnab.htm

Various local First Nations band web sites.

c) Canadian First Nations Cultural Groups

This information is taken from the following source, and is as accurate as can be, given the currency and reliability of the source.  The purpose of the chart is to assist you in finding the best library subject headings for the materials you are looking for.  While the library subject heading may not always be the most current, accurate, or acceptable term from a cultural point of view, it is the subject heading authorized by the Library of Congress, which is used by the Curriculum Laboratory and University Library.  These library subject headings will provide you with the most consistent access to the most materials on a topic.

NOTE:   If the specific subject heading does not retrieve enough materials, try the broader library subject heading.

Native people  (1990).   In Marsh, James. H.  (Ed.). The junior encyclopedia of Canada. (pp. 281-317).  Edmonton:  Hurtig Publishers, Inc.

It can be very useful to integrate children's and young adult literature on any First Nations topic currently being taught in the classroom.  You can find relevant fiction on a specific topic by typing into the Library Catalogue the topic PLUS the word "fiction" behind it. For example, Siksika Indians fiction will retrieve fictionalized accounts about the Blackfoot.

Note:  You might also want to consult some of the bibliographical tools for literature, which will provide a listing of books on specific topics:

• One of the best Canadian bibliographical resources is the Edmonton Public Schools Aboriginal Collection Online (An online database available to Education students only).
• The "Highly Recommended Aboriginals Titles" from this database can be found in a binder titled "Best Aboriginal Titles" behind the Curriculum Laboratory Information Services Desk. The list indicates which of these titles are presently in the Curriculum Laboratory collection.   
• "A Select Bibliography of Children's Books by and about Aboriginal Peoples for Ages 4-14," by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada,  can be found behind the Curriculum Laboratory Information Services Desk.  The above titles include the call numbers for the materials presently in the Curriculum Laboratory collection, and include fiction and non-fiction titles.

If you are unhappy with the results of an author, title, or subject search, broaden your search using Keyword Search.  It searches the author, title, subject and notes fields of an item record.  You might want to use some of the terms brainstormed in step #1.

Browse the shelves. (If you only want to search for materials in the Curriculum Lab, click on the Limit this search button and then change the location from ANY to U of L -Curriculum Lab.):

• Curriculum Lab hints and helps:  You will find some of the First Nations materials arranged under these Dewey Decimal numbers.  The materials in the Curriculum Laboratory tend to be on practical teaching suggestions for the classroom. Since resources for First Nations topics can be widely scattered throughout the Curriculum Laboratory, depending on what aspect you want to emphasize, the best way to find them is by searching the library catalogue for your specific subject:  

F -- Fiction section
398.2089 -- Folklore and legends of native people
970.1 -- North American native people
970.3 -- Specific native peoples
970.4 -- Native people in specific places
971 -- Geography and history of Canada

Main library collection hints and helps:   The materials in the main collection tend to be more theoretical in nature.

E 51-99 -- Indians of North America
FC -- Canadian history and geography
FC 108-129 -- Metis

Check the Journal Indexes/Databases on the Library Home Page. For a list of journal indexes/databases, you can select "Journal Indexes By Subject" from the Library home page, and select the subject "Education" or "Native American Studies."

Search the Internet:

• The Curriculum Laboratory's Teacher's Sites lists many of the main Internet sites used by teachers, such as Alberta Education, LRC Resources Catalogues, and some comprehensive education sites containing educational issues and lesson plans, technology sites for teachers, etc.
• The Curriculum Laboratory's Great Sites for Educators contains useful links such as Digital Resource Subscriptions (Learn Alberta, United Streaming Digital Video clips, etc.), Digital Reference resources, Kid's Sites, Lesson Plans, and links for Specific School Subjects.
• Niitsitapiisinni: Our Way of Life -- Glenbow museum's website helps students and teachers discover the history and culture of the Blackfoot people. It includes a Teacher Toolkit.
• Native Web Resource Database : Education and Youth Resources, K-12
• Yahoo! Canada First Nations Web Directories - Includes International First Nations information, digital collections, government programs, etc.
• National Library of Canada and National Archives of Canada - Includes digital collections, virtual exhibitions, research aids, and access to AMICUS, the National Library's catalogue.
• Virtual Museum of Canada - Information about First Nations peoples can be found under the following subheadings: Image Gallery, VMC Exhibits, Teachers' Centre, and Fun & Games.
• GoodMinds.com  - Lists educational resources for Native American Studies, First Nations Studies, Indigenous Studies, and Aboriginal Studies for schools, libraries, and the general public, from grades K to post-secondary. Look under Links/Events for more Internet links.

Other Resources:

• Many resources are available to teachers from outside sources, when educational use is specified.  You can obtain valuable information from:
• Travel and Tourism departments
• Museums
• Government departments (municipal, provincial, federal)
• Free material catalogues
• Resource people in the community.

• U of L Native Education links database
• Red Crow Community College
• Make use of  Inter-library loan.
• Use the public library, or other libraries.

Prepared by: Bill Glaister and Margaret Rodermond,  April 2004. Updated July 2008.