Inquiry and Stories from the Land: The videos below are excellent resources for the classroom and as you take learning outside. What skills and abilities do you have? What are you interested in learning more about? Identify an elder or teacher who is willing to support the learning journey and prepare your questions.
Mosquito elder and senator, Jenny Spyglass has a conversation about the importance of culture, language and the land with youth Hendrick Baptiste.
Evan Chamakese, from Pelican Lake First Nations, demonstrates how to build a shelter and start a fire for survival skills.
The story of Nīyanimis with Atahkakoop elder, Barry Ahenakew
Part 1 https://vimeo.com/474803611
Part 2 https://vimeo.com/474847467
Part 3 https://vimeo.com/474849431
Google Classroom code nz57woz
Part 1 https://vimeo.com/471942132
Part 2 https://vimeo.com/472042302
Part 3 https://vimeo.com/472044448
Daphie Pooyak, Sweetgrass First Nation, shares water teachings and advocates for protection of our land, resources and water.
Lamarr Oksasikewiyin shares some traditional games and demonstrates how to play with just a few items. Lamaar has travelled many places to learn about games and their important place in culture.
Mike Favel, Sweetgrass First Nation, demonstrates how to play Hand Games and shares the story of why they are important still today.
"Conversations with Nature" is a Living Sky School Division project featuring guest artists Oriol Dancer and Bonnie Macnab. Daphie Pooyak, Sweetgrass First Nation, joined the project to share her plant knowledge and stories about Creation and Indigenous worldview.
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Stories from the Land was created by Living Sky School Div in collaboration with Marcel Petit, an independent Métis producer, filmmaker, writer and photographer from Saskatoon. m.pet productions, his independent production company explores human experience through visual arts. He is an active and engaged member of the community of Saskatoon, and is the Executive Director of the Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op.
Marcel enjoys traveling, taking photos, making movies, and Star Wars.
Relatives with Roots is a book written and illustrated by Saskatchewan Métis artist, Leah Dorian. She tells the story of a young girl learning about plants from her grandmother as they go out to harvest rose hips, willow, birch bark, buffalo berry and more. We are all related, the plants are our relatives too.
Click the link to go to the video of the story being read.
Local knowledge: What will you learn about your area? Who can you talk to about their plant knowledge? Learn how to address the plants and to thank them for their medicines. Learn about the plants in your area and how to identify them. Go out in nature and talk to the plants as you get to know one another. Take pictures or draw what you see, label the plants and document the learning. Create a map of the area you are studying and identify the path of the sun, water close by, large rocks, trees and walking paths. Let yourself notice everything - the wind, the birds, the insects and the animals.
Say hello to your relatives.