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Janeth,
I just recently learned of The Secret Path. It is a great choice as it is such a powerful piece with many different ways to use it as a teaching tool. Great pick!

Mindy,
I thin Sugar Falls is a great choice. It outlines the struggles endured by many Aboriginal children faced, but it does so in an Elder's POV. I think this is significant because students can see that it is possible to use the past as a powerful teaching tool and that it is possible to heal and to move on. Nice job!

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I agree with your perspective on this and the appeal to the diverse learners in the classroom.  I think linking this to a poetry unit would help students tap in to their creative side-and for those who struggle with creative writing, it would give them an opportunity to demonstrate skills in other ways.
-Desiree

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Hi Rosie Vita
I like your choice to include a female focussed story, in addition to the cultural perspective. All of your choices seem to highlight the very things students need to be aware of, and that most can already connect with: Stereotypes, oppression, and women's rights
-Desiree

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Aboriginal Perspectives:The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexi Based on a true story, an up and coming cartoonist living on a reservation leaves his school to go to the white farm high-school, where there are no other aboriginal students.  The story depicts Junior’s desire to escape the stereotypes that hold him back.This novel is on my list of must-reads, but it is a novel that is alive and well within my board.  I think it is an important piece of literature that reminds students that Canada has a controversial history as well.  It is also inclusive as it deals with coming of age issues that all students must face at one time or another, in high school. This  helps conect students more to the material.Poetry: Aleutian Sparrow, reprint, paper edAuthors: Hesse, KarenIn free verse, author Karen Hesse tells of Vera and other Aleuts who are moved to Ketchikan in 1942 when the Japanese invade the Aleutian Islands following the June 1942 attack by the Japanese during World War Two. The story tells the story of a woman and her people as they try to maintain culture throughout the violent times.  The author uses a lot of figurative language in her work while connecting with deeper subject matter.Reading Group Guide: http://books.simonandschuster.ca/Aleutian-Sparrow/KarenHesse/9781416903277/reading_group_guide#rggI included this because I like the idea of the story being written in free verse, incorporating poetry but making it less intimidating.  This could offer an inside look into all students backgrounds and heritage, and help students connect with their roots, while expressing themselves creatively.Title: Country of Wolves: Graphic Novel, The, paper edAuthors: Christopher, NeilThe Country of Wolves: A Graphic Novel retells a traditional Inuit story about two brothers who find themselves adrift on broken sea ice while out hunting for seal. This is a traditional story that includes culture, tradition, and myth.  The action grips the reader and keeps interest. Caution: contains violent images. An Intermediate Level Graphic Novel Study from Nunavut Arctic College is available online at:http://inhabitmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/TheCountryofWolvesInterm1.pdfI think this graphic novel could intrigue some of the Walking Dead readers with it’s content.  The story is engaging and suspenseful, and readers won’t expect the ending.  I think this graphic novel- although violent- could help struggling readers find novels to read, and also, without realizing it, students are being exposed to another culture, while identifying with the protagonists struggles.

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Aboriginal Perspectives:The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexi Based on a true story, an up and coming cartoonist living on a reservation leaves his school to go to the white farm high-school, where there are no other aboriginal students.  The story depicts Junior’s desire to escape the stereotypes that hold him back.This novel is on my list of must-reads, but it is a novel that is alive and well within my board.  I think it is an important piece of literature that reminds students that Canada has a controversial history as well.  It is also inclusive as it deals with coming of age issues that all students must face at one time or another, in high school. This  helps conect students more to the material.Poetry: Aleutian Sparrow, reprint, paper edAuthors: Hesse, KarenIn free verse, author Karen Hesse tells of Vera and other Aleuts who are moved to Ketchikan in 1942 when the Japanese invade the Aleutian Islands following the June 1942 attack by the Japanese during World War Two. The story tells the story of a woman and her people as they try to maintain culture throughout the violent times.  The author uses a lot of figurative language in her work while connecting with deeper subject matter.Reading Group Guide: http://books.simonandschuster.ca/Aleutian-Sparrow/KarenHesse/9781416903277/reading_group_guide#rggI included this because I like the idea of the story being written in free verse, incorporating poetry but making it less intimidating.  This could offer an inside look into all students backgrounds and heritage, and help students connect with their roots, while expressing themselves creatively.Title: Country of Wolves: Graphic Novel, The, paper edAuthors: Christopher, NeilThe Country of Wolves: A Graphic Novel retells a traditional Inuit story about two brothers who find themselves adrift on broken sea ice while out hunting for seal. This is a traditional story that includes culture, tradition, and myth.  The action grips the reader and keeps interest. Caution: contains violent images. An Intermediate Level Graphic Novel Study from Nunavut Arctic College is available online at:http://inhabitmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/TheCountryofWolvesInterm1.pdfI think this graphic novel could intrigue some of the Walking Dead readers with it’s content.  The story is engaging and suspenseful, and readers won’t expect the ending.  I think this graphic novel- although violent- could help struggling readers find novels to read, and also, without realizing it, students are being exposed to another culture, while identifying with the protagonists struggles.

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-Desiree

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Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story, David Robertson, Scott Henderson 

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Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story, David Robertson, Scott Henderson 

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This is a story about a high school student who has to interview a residential school survivor. The novel outlines the abuse and indignity that an elder had to endure and how she uses her experience to teach others.

I chose this book for two reasons. 1. To open up my repertoire of graphic novels. 2. To discuss a topic that is at the forefront of Aboriginal news as the Prime Minister works to set things right.

- Mindy

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An Ojibwe grandmother walks to raise awareness about the need to protect our water and how important water is in sustaining everyting around us, including us.

Although this is a simple text I believe that this would be a good follow up to the Water Monster discussion in that you can further their thinking and discuss how water isn't a renewable resource, and discuss the fact that salt water is not usable in sustaining our planet.

- Mindy

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This is a short story about drought and how people try to claim the land and water as their own rather than belonging to everyone. You can take this story in many different directions. You can discuss how water is abused and we need to be careful with how much we waste, you can discuss the many similes and metaphors throughout the story, the various points of view of the story and you can even have students rewrite the narrative from one of the other characters points of view.

- Mindy

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This fictional story refers to the unsolved cases of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. We follow the story of a girl named Feather, and her reaction when she finds a girl from her school has gone missing and was found dead. The police write it off as a suicide. Later, Feather’s best friend Mia goes missing, though she frequently ran away from home, and police refuse to investigate her disappearance. Feather’s brother is arrested under suspicion of Mia’s abduction, and Feather now has to clear his name. On top of all that, the person who had taken Mia had moved on now to Feather unbeknownst to her.

I wanted to add a fourth text because I had already used Fatty Legs in a previous assignment and had two books that were already very similar. This text is a little heavier in content, but is the most modern of all the texts I’ve chosen here. The background for the story refers to the many instances of missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls, and we see the very real mistreatment of modern day aboriginal people. I think it’s important for students to see these problems and how they’ve have not gone away just yet. The acknowledgement that problems exist is the first step to fixing them.

Sydney

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This is a graphic novel that stresses honesty, and takes place on a reserve. A group of teens playing a prank end up burning down the reserve’s gas bar. Ron and Ben, two teens from the reserve, hang out with a couple of kids from town, who later steal from the gas bar after they are rejected from trying to buy cigarettes, and decide to burn the place down. The boys from the reserve are immediately blamed and taken the jail.

I wanted to add a variety of texts to the list. Not only is this a graphic novel and easier for students to read, but it is also a more modern setting, referring to the reserves rather than the residential schools. Here we can see the behavior that has come as a result of the parents being forced into residential schools and never learning themselves how to have a family. I think seeing this side of the results of residential schools is very important for students to see, as it is a much more relevant to their current situation, and it shows that the consequences of Canada’s actions did not end when they closed the schools.

Sydney

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Dear Canada: These are My Words, The Residential School Diary of Violet Pasheens, Northern Ontario 1966 – Ruby Slipperjack

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Dear Canada: These are My Words, The Residential School Diary of Violet Pasheens, Northern Ontario 1966 – Ruby Slipperjack

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This is a story of a girl named Violet who is forced to attend a residential school in 1966. Violet is given a new name, receives a haircut and brutal delousing despite the lack of lice in her long hair, is forced to live in a dormitory much like a military barracks she once saw in a book's picture, wear uniform, and face extreme loneliness. Food was a strange new world for the children who often went to bed hungry. The only friend she seems to have at this school is apart-time staff person. There are many personal experiences throughout the text from Ruby Slipperjack’s time at a residential school.

I have personally always enjoyed the Dear Canada series of books, as they really put the reader into the perspective of historical events. I realize that the text itself is very similar in purpose to Fatty Legs, however I do like for students to have multiple perspectives of situations, especially as not every child experienced the residential schools in the same way. This textfocuses much more on the journey Violet experiences rather than the rebelling of the school.

Sydney

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Fatty Legs: A True Story – Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, and Christy Jordan-Fenton

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Fatty Legs: A True Story – Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, and Christy Jordan-Fenton

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A story about an 8 year old girl named Margaret who attends Residential School. Olemaun Pokiak, later called Margaret, tells her story in this memoir. She initially wanted to go because she liked the idea of education, however learns very quickly it is not a place she wants to stay. Despite bullying from other girls attending the school and the racism of the school teachers, Margaret succeeds and learns to read. She enjoys reading and vows not to let the teachers and other classmates bully her.

This is a text I mentioned in a previous assignment, but I really wanted to include it here as well so that it could go with recommendation. I really like that you get a true memoir of the experience in the residential schools through this text, and that students can catch a glimpse of the mistreatment that occurred at these schools. It also shows that bullying can come not only from peers, but from the adults in your life as well.

Sydney

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Thank you for your 3 differing novel selections. I realize I have limited my OWN reading and need to branch out in reading more books dedicated to aboriginal perspective as it is a part of our history and promotes understanding. I just finished reading one of my selections 'The reason you walk' By: Wab Kinew and I was so interested in reading his perspective on aboriginal affairs today. He mentions that education is getting better but there is still so much to do and I agree! A first step would be introducing our students to these great texts written by Canadians.

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The Elders Are Watching - David Bouchard and Roy Henry Vickers

This text discusses a day in the life of a young boy. He is taught all about his culture by his grandfather. Throughout the day and throughout various experiences and interactions, the boy’s grandfather shows him the importance of their relationship to the land.

This text is appropriate for Intermediate students as it will teach the students of the important relationship that Indigenous people have with nature and Earth. Because the text is in the perspective of the young boy, we are able to see just how much patience and time it takes to grasp a new culture. That is relatable because it is oftentimes difficult to truly understand a culture that is different than what one may be used to. Knowing that it is important to have patience is what needs to be a focus.

Keeper’n Me – Robert Wagamese

This text is about “an Ojibwe man who was taken by Children's Aid as a child and after a series of foster homes finally escapes. Unfortunately his freedom is curtailed when life on the streets results in jail time. To his good fortune his Ojibwe family locates him and he returns to the reserve.”

I think this is a good read for Intermediate students because it shows yet another struggle that, not only Indigenous children have faced, but many others as well. I think that this text would generate a lot of important and informative discussions.

Rain Is Not My Indian Name – Cynthia Leitich Smith

This novel is about Rain, a young girl of mixed ethnicity. She experiences tragedy and has nobody to truly talk to about her emotions. She finds herself engulfed with grief and decides she is going to attend an Indigenous camp that has sparked a lot of controversies. Here, she discovers her love of photography, and as she continues with this path, it allows her to heal and rebuild her identity.

I think this novel would be a good fit because “the author begins each chapter by selecting writings from Rain's journal. In this way, the reader finds out about Rain's family members, her mother's death, stereotyping, and Native American identity issues. The author has successfully woven issues about grieving, loss, recovery, racism, stereotyping, multiculturalism, and teen life into a good read. The author has created a memorable main character with an extended Native American family.”

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https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/new-heritage-minutes-spotlight-black-marks-on-canadian-history-1.2955236
Both Heritage Moments were written by Joseph Boyden. The first on this page is narrated by Pearl Achneepineskum, sister of  Chanie Wenjack (subject of Gord Downie's The Secret Path)

Joseph Boyden: "Wenjack"
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30079906-wenjack
'The book follows Chanie Wenjack, a 12-year-old Ojibwe boy, as he escapes a residential home and tries to walk home to his family and two dogs. The book coincided with the release with A Tribe Called Red's album We Are the Halluci Nation and "The Secret Path".
Joseph Boyden has written several novels about aboriginal culture.
-Linda

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http://atribecalledred.com/

This group just won the Juno Award for group of the year. This isn't a book but I think it would be appealing for intermediate students to explore the website, music videos, and biography of the band on the "Press Kit" page (what's a press kit? your students may ask :))

'A Tribe Called Red promotes inclusivity, empathy and acceptance amongst all races and genders in the name of social justice. They believe that indigenous people need to define their identity on their own terms. If you share this vision, then you are already part of the Halluci Nation.'
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/schedule-for-wednesday-october-26-2016-1.3820819/a-tribe-called-red-on-pushing-indigenous-music-and-issues-to-the-forefront-1.3821033
I think this may generate a lot of discussion with students. The interview also connects to Gord Downie and The Secret Path, a novella by Joseph Boyden, and Heritage Moments (next entry).
- Linda

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I saw this on the Goodminds.com website and instantly thought how our non-fiction readers would love these books. They provide biographical details about the lives and careers of famous aboriginal musicians and athletes. They talk about artists and athletes who have received Canadian and worldwide recognition. Each person's story includes their family's story, details about their career, and their achievements and contributions to Canadian music and sports. The books contains a helpful section about writing a biography activity, a glossary of terms, an index, and additional sources of information.  They are also suited to the junior grades.
- Linda

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I didn't know anything about Secret Path, or the fact that Gord Downie's whole album was dedicated to the story of Chanie Wenjack. This looks like a great selection for intermediate students. I also like the fact that there is a graphic novel and music to go along with this book.
I was also interested in the book The Reason You Walk. I think many students could relate to a distant or strained relationship with their father and would be really engaged reading this book. Thanks for sharing.
Marcie

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Virginia: "Stolen Words" by Melanie Florence, I think this is a great selection because as I read "The Reason You Walk" Wab Kinew explores how aboriginal languages are lost.  He actually taught a course voluntarily at a University in Manitoba to teach his language to others and he found that his class spanned generations.  He visited a community out east and was awed by how well the children could speak the language and it turns out they had an immersion program in their schools.  I wonder how many aboriginal languages exist in immersion programs.

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“Gord Downie's Secret Path project highlighted the death of 12-year-old Chanie (Charlie) Wenjack and his attempt to escape residential school.” http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/gord-downie-wenjack-family-1.4362392

This is currently on the 2018 red maple forest of reading list http://www.accessola.org/web/OLA/Forest_of_Reading/Awards_Nominees/Red_Maple__Fiction_Nominees_2018.aspx

This book is a 10 song album by Downie with an accompanying graphic novel by Jeff Lemire.  I think the media use of song and graphics will engage the reluctant reader.  I also think the lyrics and images would resonate strongly with visual and auditory learner.

-Janeth

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​Joseph Boyden’s Three Day Road

“Three Day Road is the first novel from Canadian writer Joseph Boyden. Joseph’s maternal grandfather, as well as an uncle on his father’s side, served as soldiers during the First World War, and Boyden draws upon a wealth of family narratives.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Day_Road)

This book has been reviewed as being an excellent read for students in gr.9-12.  I have not read this book.  It has received many awards. It was inspired by real individuals who were heroes.  It explores the time period of the first World War in two different locations, Northern Ontario and Europe.

-Janeth

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Wab Kinew: The reason you walk

“A moving father-son reconciliation told by a charismatic First Nations broadcaster, musician and activist.  When his father was given a diagnosis of terminal cancer, Winnipeg broadcaster and musician Wab Kinew decided to spend a year reconnecting with the accomplished but distant aboriginal man who'd raised him.” (https://penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/417538/reason-you-walk#9780143193555)

I think this would be appropriate as Wab Kinew is a well-known Canadian and former CBC broadcaster.  Students read about his Father’s past with residential schooling and how Kinew connects with his heritage. I would suggest this is for the more senior readers (High School) due to length and content. I have just finished reading this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
-Janeth

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Historical Fiction- Dear Canada Series "These Are My Words"

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Historical Fiction- Dear Canada Series "These Are My Words"

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The main character of this story, Violet is an Ojibwe girl who is forced to leave her loving grandmother and attend a residential school.
I think this would be a good addition to a classroom book collection.  The Dear Canada series has always been a popular choice among my students.  Many students like reading historical fiction.

By: Virginia

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Book for Young Adults. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

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Book for Young Adults. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

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This book would definitely be too mature for a grade 7 (and even 8) student but is an excellent read for a high school student. The main character is a young man growing up in poverty on a reservation in the United States. The book is alternately hilarious and sad.

By: Virginia

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Children's Book "Stolen Words" by Melanie Florence

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Children's Book "Stolen Words" by Melanie Florence

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This children's book is about a little girl who comes home from school one day and asks her grandfather how to say something in Cree. He is sad that he cannot teach her. He tells her his words were stolen from him when he was taken to live in a residential school when he was a young boy. The little girls decides to help her grandfather find his Cree words again
It would be a relevant book for intermediate students because though it is a book for younger students, it has a very important theme. It is told through the perspective of a residential school survivor.

By:  Virginia

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This short novel is an memoir by Emily Carr and talks about her experiences as she lived and created art among First Nations People in the West Coast of Canada. I think this book is important and relevant to the intermediate classroom because it shows how communities are influenced by others and shows a different perspective as Carr talks about her experiences and tries to Re-present the experiences of the people she is living among. There was a lot of controversy about this novel because Emily Carr was a white woman and critics wondered if she should be the person to "RE-tell" this story. It think this would be a great topic for debates as well.

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Text book -Aboriginal Peoples in Canada -Laura Montgomery

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Text book -Aboriginal Peoples in Canada -Laura Montgomery

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This text book explores many of the Aboriginal Communities in Canada and the events that shaped their communities. This text book would allow students in the intermediate classroom to complete inquiry projects about Aboriginal people using a resource that is supported and written by members of the Aboriginal community.

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The graphic novel series: 7 Generation Soon seems like a great series to use in an intermediate class. The series is about a family of Aboriginals and their lives from 19th century to present day. This series describes the tragedies they faced in the residential school and how this affected their lives. I think the content is appropriate for intermediates and the use of graphic novels would increase the number of students that could access the text.