My Goal for this inquiry is to collect multi-media resources that can help support my students and staff for Orange Shirt day and the continuing learning and healing around Truth and Reconciliation.
I was also really interested and invested in finding resources that are by authentic and local Indigenous peoples. I wanted to focus on picture books and look for digital websites that could support the literature.
Using the list of ideas and keywords I generated in Part A as a guide, I found some excellent resources and websites to support my inquiry. I have started curating a list of books all found online.The theme of this curated collection is books that support The Truth and Reconciliation Act, the history and legacy of residential schools and Orange Shirt day which falls on September 30. Residential Schools continue to have far reaching effects on indigenous and non-indigenous communities. Starting this conversation is just the first step in this long and necessary process. Sometimes the easiest way to start the conversation or this process is through a good quality and authentic picture book. Below are 5 read alouds all available online. Some are read by the actual author and all of these books are authentic Indigenous texts from Canadian authors. I have also included six interactive sites that support these books and the important work of reconciliation. These sites include primary sources, teacher resources, interviews and more.Please keep in mind I am still collecting and curating as I go. These lists are in progress and are by no means complete.
1.When I Was Eight Christy Jordan-Fenton, Illustrations by Margaret Pokiak-Fenton,and Gabrielle Grimard
When I Was Eight – YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSBrkJn3NeI. 
From the author of Fatty Legs comes a story about a girl named Olemaun who is eight and knows a lot of things. But she does not know how to read. Ignoring her father’s warnings, she travels far from her Arctic home to the outsiders’ school to learn. The nuns at the school call her Margaret. They cut off her long hair and force her to do menial chores, but she remains strong. Her strength draws the attention of a nun who tries to break her spirit at every turn. But the young girl is more determined than ever to learn how to read. Based on the true story of Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, and complemented by stunning illustrations, When I Was Eight makes residential schools accessible to younger readers but is also appropriate for any age!
2.Shi-shi-etko Nicola I. Campbell, illustrated by Kim LaFave
Shi Shi Etko.” Youtube, 16 Sept. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha6vMDGmzYo.
Shi-shi-etko just has four days until she will have to leave her family and everything she knows to attend residential school. She spends her last precious days at home marveling in the beauty of nature and her treasured family and way of life. Her mother, father, and grandmother take the time to share valuable teachings that they want her to remember. Shi-shi-etko carefully gathers her memories for safekeeping. This book is for all ages and tells the story from the child’s perspective. A perspective that is profoundly positive even though she is about to experience a great loss. A very important read for all on the loss Indigenous peoples have faced because of colonialism, residential schools and racism in Canada and beyond.
- The Orange Shirt Story Phyllis Webstad and Brock Nicol.
“The Orange Shirt Story Read Aloud.” You tube, 25 Sept. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPTnKXK92R4.
When Phyllis Webstad (née Jack) turned six, she was sent to a residential school for the first time. On her first day at school, she proudly wore a shiny orange shirt that her Granny had bought for her. When she arrived at school, she was told that she could not wear her favourite shirt. It was taken away from her, never to be returned. The Orange Shirt Story tells the true story of Phyllis and her orange shirt and of Orange Shirt Day, an important day of remembrance for Indigenous peoples and all Canadians.
- When we were Alone David A. Robertson, illustrated by Julie Flett
“When We Were Alone Read Aloud.” You tube, 25 June 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ExGDcnPH38.
When a young girl helps tend to her grandmother’s garden, she begins to see things about her grandmother that make her curious. Why does her grandmother have long braided hair and wear beautifully coloured clothing? Why does she speak another language and spend so much time with her family? As she asks her grandmother about these things, she is told about life in a residential school a long time ago, where everything was taken away. When We Were Alone is a story about residential schools and the damage that ensued. This story is suitable for all ages.
- Shin-chi’s Canoe Nicola Campbell. Illustrated by Kim LaFave
“Shin Chi’s Canoe by Nicola Campbell. Read by Grade 7/8 Students.” You tube, 25 Sept. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v= .
From the same creators as Shi-shi-etko, comes a book about six-year-old Shin-chi as he heads to residential school for the first time with his older sister. It is the sequel to Campbell’s Shi-shi-etko. The story shows children being driven away in the back of a cattle truck, Shin-chi’s sister tells him all the things they must remember about home. Shin-chi knows it will be a long time before he sees his family, not until the sockeye salmon return. Shin-chi endures a long year of hard work, hunger and loneliness before returning home to his family with his sister. This story is for all ages and although it is a sequel could be read on its own or in any order.
Here is a list of interactive websites to support the books…
1.The First Nations Education Steering Committee: http://www.fnesc.ca/irsr/
This website provides classroom resources and other materials related to truth and reconciliation. It also includes a ton of resources grouped by age range with topics including first nations math, authentic First people’s resources and science to name a few.
2.Where are the children: http://legacyofhope.ca/wherearethechildren/
This website has an interactive timeline of the political events and the events of residential schools, as well as over 40 videos of survivor’s stories.
3.Truth and reconciliation act of Canada http://www.trc.ca/
Read the final report from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada on the commission’s official website and learn more about the TRC.
4.Residential School Archive Project: The Children Remembered https://thechildrenremembered.ca/school-locations/
This website was developed by the United Church of Canada Archives. It gives detailed histories of several Indian residential schools in Canada.
5.Orange Shirt Day https://www.orangeshirtday.org/
Everything including the origins and history of Orange shirt day. Teacher resources and pictures
6. Shin-Chi’s Canoe the Movie. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhNV9hnXAJQ
Because of the children found at the residential school in Kamloops, the makers of this film decided to release it in its entirety on YouTube. Very well done and based on the book. Can be shown together or on their own.
My working bibliography…
Annick press. “Christy-Jordan Fenton Reads the First Chapter of Fatty Legs.” You tube, 14 Apr. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=53VZxiHBG0k.
Campbell, Nicola I., and Kim LaFave. Shi-Shi-Etko. Groundwood Books, 2005.
Florence, Melanie, and Gabrielle Grimard. Stolen Words. CELA, 2018.
Gilpin, Jennifer. “Stolen Words.” You tube, 23 Sept. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4TA88cz7HU.
Jordan-Fenton, Christy, et al. When I Was Eight. Annick Press, 2013.
Jordan-Fenton, Christy, et al. Fatty Legs: A True Story. Annick Press, 2020.
Loyie, Larry, et al. As Long as the Rivers Flow. Groundwood Books, 2003.
Monique Gray Smith. “My Heart Fills with Happiness.” You tube, 26 June 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBCNFMzvyl4
Orca Book Publishers. “Monique Gray Smith Reads ‘You Hold Me Up.’” You tube, 21 Aug. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uiuev2fXvRU.
Robertson, David, and Julie Flett. When We Were Alone. Highwater Press, 2016
Seery, Kristina. “As Long as the Rivers Flow.” You tube, 17 Mar. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiY015KDWFM.
Shin-Chis Canoe. Moving Images Distribution, 2018.
“Shin Chi’s Canoe by Nicola Campbell. Read by Grade 7/8 Students.” You tube, 25 Sept. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktV1CdIUEIY.
“Shi Shi Etko.” You tube, 16 Sept. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha6vMDGmzYo.
Kaitisgrate. (2021, June 06). Shin-chi’s Canoe [Full Film]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhNV9hnXAJQ
Smith, Monique Gray, et al. You Hold Me up = Gimanaadenim. Orca Book Publishers, 2021.
Smith, Monique Gray, et al. My Heart Fills with Happiness = Nijiikendam. Orca Book Publishers, 2021.
“The Orange Shirt Story Read Aloud.” You tube, 25 Sept. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPTnKXK92R4.
Webstad, Phyllis, and Brock Nicol. The Orange Shirt Story. Medicine Wheel Education, 2018.
When I Was Eight – YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSBrkJn3NeI.
“When We Were Alone Read Aloud.” You tube, 25 June 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ExGDcnPH38.
There is still a lot more for me to explore. I found this resource from another colleague in my class (Thank you Michelle Hoodless)
https://guides.library.ubc.ca/c.php?g=676257&p=4765077 It is a huge list of great resources to support my topic. I plan on looking through these resources and adding to my list accordingly.
Any questions, comments or feedback is much appreciated!
-Brittany