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Taanishi, Tánisi, Hello, Bonjour Métis Education Stakeholders!

Rupertsland Institute - Métis Centre of Excellence holds the K-12 Education Mandate for Métis Education in Alberta. At Rupertsland, we are developing authentic resources that speak accurately and meaningfully to Métis ways of knowing, being, and doing. Our education division is responsive to the needs of educators by supporting the competency standards of the updated Teacher Quality Standard (Alberta Education Teaching Quality Standard 2019).

Attached are Orange Shirt Day activities that can be used for multiple grade levels and focus on the Métis experiences in Indian Residential Schools (IRS) and Indian Day Schools. Please feel free to share.

❏The Powerpoint is a DIGITAL resource that can be projected onto your Interactive White Board or printed as individual sheets to be placed within your classroom

❏ Many of the pages in the presentation may be printed and placed on bulletin boards to educate and raise awareness about Indian Residential Schools (IRS)

❏ All of the televisions and tablets with images have embedded videos, the links are also available in the speaker notes

❏ Connie Kulhavy’s heart beadwork is intended to be reproduced for students as a colouring page. Students may also wish to design their own.

❏ K-4 teachers, one option is to reproduce the slide with the orange hands for each student in your class, alternately you may use orange construction paper and trace your own hand

❏ Ideas for activities to further student learning are included in the presentation.

Many of these activities may be used either pre or post Orange Shirt Day

Teachers, please preview and use the resources at your own discretion. You know your students best and some content may provoke strong emotions. Feel free to take as much or as little as you’d like. We would love to hear and/or see how you are using our resources. Please email or hashtag on social media, #RCTL

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Applying Foundational Knowledge about First Nations, Métis and Inuit

5. A teacher develops and applies foundational knowledge about First Nations, Métis and Inuit for the benefit of all students.

Achievement of this competency is demonstrated by indicators such as:

(a) understanding the historical, social, economic, and political implications of:

• treaties and agreements with First Nations;

• legislation and agreements negotiated with Métis; and

• residential schools and their legacy;

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Métis are one of the three distinct Aboriginal peoples of Canada recognized in the 1982 Canadian Constitution.

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2008 Federal Apology to Residential School Survivors

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Indian Residential Schools (IRS)

Indian Day Schools

A Métis Experience

Orange Shirt Day

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Why Orange Shirt Day?

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Place your screenshot here

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True or False?

First Nations & Métis children

had the same experience in Indian

Residential Schools (IRS).

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While many children had similar negative experiences in residential schools, there were differences in which the government body assumed obligation.

The education of First Nations children was the responsibility of the federal government.

The education of Métis children was the responsibility of the provincial government but it was not uncommon for local schools to reject Métis students.

False

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True or False?

Indian Residential Schools (IRS) and Indian Day Schools are the same thing.

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False

Although the ultimate goal of assimilation was the same, Indian Residential Schools (IRS) and Indian Days Schools were different.

The residential school experience involved living at the school all year long whereas day school students were permitted to go home at the end of the school day.

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Many Métis parents believed in the value of education for a better life.

True or False?

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True

Métis families wanted their children in school and saw education as valuable.

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Alberta had the most Indian Residential Schools (IRS) in all of Canada.

True or False?

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True

According the the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions data, there were 25 Indian Residential Schools that operated in Alberta.

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True or False?

The Government of Canada kept accurate

records of how many Métis children attended

Indian Residential Schools (IRS)

and Indian Day Schools.

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False

It is impossible to know how many Métis children attended Indian Residential and Indian Day Schools.

Records were often incomplete and inaccurate.

Regardless of the exact number, Métis people share in the Indigenous collective trauma as a result of forced assimilation by the Canadian government.

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In 1932 the formation of the Métis Association of Alberta (later to become the Métis Nation of Alberta) was due, in part, to the poor living conditions of the Métis, including the education opportunities for their children.

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Métis Residential and Day School Survivors Speak

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How could we learn something when we lived in fear?

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We were trained like dogs-clap you get up -two claps you go eat -three claps maybe you go outside. We were trained, no talking, just like animals you know. It was wicked and they would make us go to mass. If you did something bad, the Sisters used to tell us “ You are savages, you don’t know nothing. We’ve got your souls and unless you behave yourself, you won’t get your soul back.”

They used to scare you like that.

Anonymous, 63 years old, attended IRS for 6 years

Recorded in January 2004

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“

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When I was 8 years old I remember when the priest, Indian agent, and RCMP came up to the cabin saying I had to go to school. It was around 1952 or ‘53.

Elmer Cardinal, 61 years old

Attended St. Henri/Edmonton IRS for 8 years

Recorded February 2004

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“

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I did manage to get home to see my parents after being away ten months. I felt like a stranger to my parents.

Harold Flett, 52 years old

Attended Boarding homes for 9 years

Recorded January 2004

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“

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The thing I remember most about my experience is how lonely it was. When our mother passed away, they came and took us away. I remember the cops telling my dad that if we didn’t go to the convent that he would be thrown in jail. I guess he had no choice. I was in there for 12 years and I never went home, even in the summer. Our house was just across the river. In the evenings I could see my dad light the lamp on the kitchen table across the river. I never went home even in the summer.

Anonymous, 66 years old

Attended IRS for 12 years

Recorded January 2004

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“

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Right away, we had to take a bath and we don’t really have long hair but the Sister just took the clippers to my head, shaved it all off. Why?

Colin Courtoreille, 80 years old

Attended St. Bernard IRS for 6 years

Recorded December 2003

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“

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Why are we learning about Indian Residential Schools (IRS)

and Indian Day Schools?

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Communities were left with few children.

Imagine how parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles felt missing their youth.

What would their day look like?

Write a journal entry.

The Truth & Reconciliation Commission has 94 Calls to Action for all Canadians. Investigate these and

create an artistic piece that represents healing and reconciliation.

Write a letter to a Residential School Survivor acknowledging their experiences.

There were many similarities to the First Nations experience in Indian Residential Schools (IRS) but also several differences for Métis children.

List, compare, and contrast these differences.

https://bit.ly/2VdNIoO

Read more about residential school documentation about a day in the life of a child at Indian Residential Schools and Indian Day Schools. Create a timeline that shows how regimented their routine was.

https://bit.ly/2lRqng4

Continue your learning journey by identifying key words and build a glossary of terms.

Use an online crossword puzzle generator to educate others.

CHOICE BOARD - Extension Activities

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“Our stories, our history; the Métis people. Walk in the path of our Ancestors.

Now is the time to heal and celebrate our spirit.” ~Connie Kulhavy, Métis Artisan (2019)

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education@rupertsland.org

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Any questions?

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Credits

Orange Shirt Day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3vUqr01kAk
Métis Residential and Day School Survivors Speak https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChxfpY3Y8aI
ATA Stepping Stone - RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS—MÉTIS EXPERIENCE: https://www.teachers.ab.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/ATA/For%20Members/ProfessionalDevelopment/Walking%20Together/PD-WT-16n%20Residential%20Schools-M%C3%A9tis%20Experience.pdf
Where Are The Children http://wherearethechildren.ca/en/timeline/research/
Métis History and Experience and Residential Schools in Canadahttp://www.ahf.ca/downloads/metiseweb.pdf
Métis Moosehide Mittens http://www.narrativethreads.ca/explorer-explore/moufles_metisses_en_peau_d_orignal-metis_moose_hide_mittens.html
Presentation template by SlidesCarnival
No single route or experience for Métis children into residential schools: TRC report https://www.hilltimes.com/2015/12/30/no-single-route-or-experience-for-metis-children-into-residential-schools-trc-report-2/47014
Lac La Biche Residential School 1893-1898 https://laclabichemuseum.com/tag/metis/
Education of Indigenous Peoples in Canada https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aboriginal-people-education
Legacy of Hope: The Forgotten Métis https://secureservercdn.net/198.71.233.37/jjk.2f4.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Forgotten-Metis.pdf St. Peter’s School — Lesser Slave Lake, AB https://www.anglican.ca/tr/histories/st-peters-lesser-slave-lake/
Lac La Biche Museum https://laclabichemuseum.com/tag/metis/

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Credits

Alberta and NWT Catholic bishops apologize for residential-school abuse https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/alberta-and-nwt-catholic-bishops-apologize-for-residential-school-abuse/article17069672/
Métis Memories of Residential Schools: A Testament to the Strength of the Métis; 2004
Educating our youth - Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRZYRIC69Bw
Heart Beadwork by Connie Kulhavy @metis_connie
Stolen Lives https://www.facinghistory.org/stolen-lives-indigenous-peoples-canada-and-indian-residential-schools/chapter-4/schedule-and-discipline

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