National Indigenous Peoples' Day

National Indigenous Peoples' Day is June 21.

Our Librarian Cassidy has put together some resources to support learning about the diverse culture of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples of 'Canada' with young children. 

Audio stories from The Learning Circle. Coast Salish Story “Crow and Little Bear” and other Canadian First Nations stories. 

Indigenous Story Books Collection of Indigenous, First Nations and Metis themed stories at various levels available in five Indigenous languages plus EN FR SP. Stories can also be downloaded as PDFs. 

Two-headed Serpent: a story of the Squamish People A student project claymation retelling the story of the Squamish People. (This one is a little “scary” so watch first before sharing with children!)
Sínulhka was a massive two-headed serpent that once roamed through the Squamish territory, its horrible shrieks frightening the people in the village of Stá7mes, Squamish. Xwechtáal, a young warrior, was tasked with killing the serpent. He pursued it up Siyám Smánit where it left a striking black streak, now known as the Black Dyke. For four years, Xwechtáal pursued the serpent until he was able to slay it as it rested in a lake. From its body, he procured a special bone with which he was able to induce trances in other beings, an ability which granted Xwechtáal substantial power. He stopped at neighbouring villages, gaining many wives on his return to Stá7mes. (Stawamush)

TVOkids National Indigenous Peoples Day Clips of First Nations, Indigenous, and Métis kids talking about themselves and their families, plus some games for elementary age children. 

Picture books written in Musqueum includes read aloud 

You Hold Me Up Written and read in this video by Vancouver Island’s Monique Gray Smith (Cree) 

(APTN) Aboriginal Peoples Television Network Kids page. 

“Colours in Hulquminum”  A song to introduce colour names.  

Other Hulquminum language resources for kids from the First Peoples Cultural Council.

Note: Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group represents five communities: Cowichan Tribes, Halalt, Lyackson, Ts'uubaa-asatx, and Penelakut. HTG traditional territory encompasses part of southern Vancouver Island, a narrow corridor on the mainland to Yale in the east, and sections of the Salish Sea. In the Duncan area, north to Ladysmith, east to the Gulf Islands and west to Cowichan Lake. There are approximately 6,490 HTG members.

HTG has overlapping and/or shared territory with its First Nation neighbours: Chehalis, Ditidaht, Hwlitsum, Katzie, K’ómoks, Kwikwetlem, Musqueam, Qualicum, Sechelt, Semiahmoo, Sts’ailes, Snuneymuxw, Te’mexw, Tla’amin, Ts’elxweyeqw, Tsawwassen, Tsleil-Waututh, and Yale.