Teaching Young Children about Indigenous Peoples
I am an elementary school teacher in Ontario, Canada. I am not an Indigenous person. For many reasons I don’t feel as though I should speak for Indigenous peoples, so I try to share their words directly through stories and videos.
Conversations are also important, so I’m learning more so that I’m able to address issues and questions with knowledge, developmentally appropriate information for the students I teach, and feel confident in how I speak about issues.
Through lots of research and learning, I’ve created a resource to help Kindergarten and Primary teachers share basic information about First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people. It includes stories from Indigenous authors, embedded video clips, and developmentally appropriate information about sensitive topics.
Where to Start
Teaching about residential schools is likely not an appropriate beginning to learning about Indigenous people, especially in Kindergarten. Start by teaching students who Indigenous people are and learning about the land where your community and school are.
Look up your treaty land at https://native-land.ca/ and talk about Land Acknowledgements.
- What is a land acknowledgement?
- Why do we acknowledge the land we live on?
Videos for Kids about Indigenous Peoples
- What does “Indigenous” mean?
- Who are Indigenous people?
Fostering Empathy and Understanding
One of the most important things we can do as educators is foster empathy in our students. This means creating space for conversations about fairness, kindness, and respect, and helping children connect these values to the experiences of Indigenous peoples. When children learn from a young age that different cultures, histories, and ways of being exist—and that these are to be respected and celebrated—they build the foundation for a more inclusive and understanding worldview.
In the classroom, I find that starting with everyday themes like community, family, and belonging can help young learners grasp broader concepts about Indigenous cultures. For instance, many stories by Indigenous authors highlight the deep connection between family and the land, which is something that even young children can relate to.
Using books, storytelling, and videos as tools, you can spark curiosity in your students and invite them to explore questions like, “What does it mean to belong to a place?” or “How do we show care for the land we live on?”
Creating a Respectful Learning Environment
As we navigate these topics, it’s important to create a learning environment that is respectful of Indigenous cultures and the lived experiences of Indigenous peoples. This means being mindful of the language we use, encouraging questions, and guiding students in a way that nurtures understanding without perpetuating stereotypes.
For example, when discussing cultural symbols or traditions, I emphasize that these are meaningful practices specific to particular Indigenous groups. It’s important that we don’t generalize or treat these as costumes or activities, but instead approach them with respect and curiosity.
Teaching About Residential Schools
When talking to Primary students about Residential Schools, think about the message you are trying to convey. Here are some words you might use:
Indigenous children were taken to live at schools. These schools were very different from the school we go to. The children were not allowed to speak their first language. They were not allowed to wear their own clothing or have long hair. They were not treated fairly. A lot of awful things happened at these schools.
We know that what happened to Indigenous families was wrong and now we are trying to make things better. Talk with students about how we can be allies.
See a preview of my unit on Indigenous Peoples
Visit my TPT store now to get your copy and start teaching before Orange Shirt Day.
Here is a list of my favourite books about Indigenous people.
