Truth and Reconciliation

The Grade 1 lessons teach students about respect and relationships using treaties as a model. In the first lesson, students explore the concept of friendship and create their own ideas about what a good friendship looks like. In subsequent lessons, students discuss what a classroom of friends looks, sounds, and feels like, and create a verbal agreement based on their ideas. They also learn about promises and symbols through discussions and activities related to treaties and Indigenous cultures.

The Grade 2 lessons teach students about the diversity of traditions and celebrations within their community and Canada as a whole. Students begin by exploring their own traditions and sharing them with the class. They then reflect on the importance of learning about different traditions and celebrations, particularly those of Indigenous Peoples. The lessons include image provocations, guided inquiry into Pow Wows, and creating a Moccasin Identifier to honour and respect Indigenous Peoples traditions and celebrations.

The Grade 3 lessons teach students about the influence of different communities in early 18^th and 19^th century Canada. Students explore their connections to the land through outdoor activities, reflect on their experiences, and consider Indigenous perspectives on the environment. They engage in guided inquiry, examine primary source documents and Indigenous art, and learn about the relationship between early First Nations communities and the land. The lessons conclude with a collective act of marking the outdoor space with a Moccasin Identifier as an act of Treaty.

The Grade 4 lessons help students understand the interrelationships between the environment and the lives of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation members. Students explore the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and learn about the historical and present-day connections of their communities within this territory. They also examine the significance of moccasins as symbols of connection to the land and mark their classroom with relevant Moccasin Identifiers to preserve Indigenous history and identity.

The Grade 5 lessons focus on exploring interrelationships, perspectives, and treaties. Students investigate their worldview and identity, engage in sharing circles to build relationships, and understand the importance of oral agreements, learn about the Two Row Wampum and its significance as a foundational relationship, explore the concept of treaties and their difference from contracts, and reflect on their responsibilities as Treaty people.

The Grade 6 lessons focus on understanding the historical and contemporary experiences of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities in Canada, with a specific focus on the residential school system. Students explore different perspectives and the impacts of residential schools. They engage in activities such as analyzing images, creating identity webs, exploring recovered poetry, and marking the classroom with a Moccasin Identifier as an act of resilience and resistance against the intended purpose of residential schools.

The Grade 7 lessons focus on understanding historical context and significance, exploring perspectives of different groups and communities in Canada. Students investigate treaties, notably the Treaty of Niagara and the concept of worldview. They engage in activities such as causal modelling, brainstorming agreements to thrive, analyzing the Two Row Wampum belt, exploring the meaning of treaties, and marking the classroom with a Moccasin Identifier as an act of reconciliation.

The Grade 8 lessons focus on understanding historical context and exploring the unequal rights and privileges experienced by different groups during that time. The impact of major political and economic changes on various communities is examined, laying the groundwork for understanding the origins of present-day rights. Students engage in guided inquiries, analyze the Indian Act, and explore the concept of reconciliation through activities such as reflection, dramatic arts, small group inquiry, and visualizations. The lessons also involve marking the classroom with a Moccasin Identifier as an act of reconciliation.