Cultural Presentations
Cultural Presentations are available for teachers within the Abbotsford School District. These are presented virtually through Microsoft Teams by a cultural presenter. Teachers can review the presentations that are offered and request the grade appropriate presentations through the ISW at their school. You will need to provide your availability, grade level and number of students in your class to the ISW who will make the request with the Indigenous Department.
The presenter will explain how important the cedar tree was to the Stó:lō people. A video that demonstrates how Stó:lō people respectfully harvest the cedar tree will be shown. Many items created from the cedar tree will be shown to the classroom virtually.
A worksheet will be sent to the teacher to complete with their class.
Classroom Preparation:
- Laptop and projector with speakers are required
- Access to a printer to print worksheet for students
Students will need:
- Pencil
Time Frame:
1 hr. 15 min.
Additional Resources:
This video depicts the traditions of cedar.
The presenter will show a collection of five traditional Stó:lō fishing tools and artifacts for students to examine. Students will compare modern fishing tools to the traditional tools using a Venn diagram. Students will also discuss how traditional fishing technologies have influenced today’s society.
A worksheet will be sent to the teacher to complete with their class.
Classroom Preparation:
- Laptop and projector with speakers are required
- Access to a printer to print worksheet for students
Students will need:
- Pencil
Time Frame:
90 minutes
The presenter will share a Cheyenne story Her Seven Brothers, by Paul Goble, that tells of the origin of the Big Dipper for the Cheyenne people.
A worksheet will be sent to the teacher to complete with their class.
Classroom Preparation:
- Laptop and projector with speakers is required
Time Frame:
60 minutes
Students will learn about the pre-contact and post contact history of trade beads in Canada. Students will also learn the importance of beading to Indigenous peoples of Canada. Students will assemble a beaded item to keep.
Materials required will be sent to the school by the Indigenous Centre prior to this presentation.
Classroom Preparation:
- Laptop and projector with speakers is required
- Desks cleared
Time Frame:
Elementary School: 60 minutes
Middle School: one scheduled block time
The students will compare the origins of everyday clothing and items to the origins of traditional Stό:lō items and clothing. The presenter will show clothing, shoes, medicine pouch, drum and other items created from deer hide and natural materials for the students to examine.
The presenter will leave a worksheet for the students to complete.
Classroom Preparation:
- Laptop with projector and speakers is required
Students will need:
- Pencil
- Worksheet to be printed by teacher
Time Frame:
60 minutes
The presenter will communicate knowledge of plants and animals that are important to the Stó:lō people. The presenter will use photos, stuffed plants and animals to prompt student learning. The students will learn to sing a traditional song as well as learn a traditional dance.
Classroom Preparation:
- Laptop and projector with speakers is required
Time Frame:
45 minutes
The presenter will communicate knowledge of Inuit people and their history in Canada. The presenter will use photos, artifacts and Traditional Inuit clothing to prompt student learning about the Inuit culture. The students will get to create a watercolor picture of an igloo with the northern lights in the background.
A worksheet will be sent to the teacher to complete with their class.
Classroom Preparation:
- Laptop and projector with speakers is required
Students Materials:
- Materials required for this presentation will be sent by the Indigenous Centre
Time Frame:
60 minutes
Additional Resources:
This video is a lecture on Inuit Rights.
The presenter will communicate knowledge of Métis people and their history in Canada. Students will generate a class web on the contributions and traditions of the Métis people to Canadian culture. The presenter will use photos, artifacts and Traditional Métis clothing to prompt student learning about the Métis culture. The presenter will also show introductory videos of the Métis people, their traditions and contributions to Canadian culture.
Classroom Preparation:
- Laptop and projector with speakers is required
Time Frame:
60 minutes
Videos:
Click here for the video about Métis jigging.
Click here for the video "Métis Rosie"
Additional Resources:
Click here for the video about Metis Rights (1 hour video).
Click here for the video Metis Youth Express Yourself!
This is a virtual museum that includes information on Metis people in Canada.
The presenter will introduce Inuit sculptures to the class through the use of Inuit stories.
Photos of Inuit sculptures will be shown and students will be asked to imagine the story that inspired the carving. The presenter will then lead the students through a variety of sculpting steps to create their own version of an Inuit sculpture. Once the sculptures have been created they need to bake for 20 minutes. During baking, the presenter will not be in the classroom. Time permitting; students may have time to write and share stories that they have created.
Classroom Preparation:
- Laptop and projector with speakers is required
- One or two ovens available for baking the sculptures for 30 minutes
- Cleared desks
Time Frame:
Elementary Schools: 3 hours
Middle Schools: 3 blocks
Inuit Sculptures Lesson Plan 2019.pdf
Students will listen to a humorous Inuit story, Kumak’s Fish - A Tall Tale from the Far North, written by Michael Bania. This story emphasizes the Inuit virtues of patience, cooperation and sharing. The presenter will show Inuit replicas during the presentation.
Materials required will be sent to the school by the Indigenous Centre prior to this presentation.
Classroom Preparation:
- Laptop and projector with speakers is required
- Cleared desk to complete activity
Students will need:
- Scissors
- Felts/Pencil Crayons/Crayons
Time Frame:
60 minutes
Students will learn about symbols of Stó:lō People: the paddle, the canoe and the cedar tree. Students will learn about the Coast Salish eye design and assemble a paddle keychain to keep.
Materials required will be sent to the school by the Indigenous Centre prior to this presentation.
Classroom Preparation:
- Laptop and projector with speakers is required
- Desks cleared
Students will need:
- Materials provided by the Indigenous Centre
Time Frame:
60 minutes
Students will learn about the Four Directions and a symbol of Stó:lō People: the Paddle. Students will assemble a paddle necklace to keep and then draw a personal symbol onto their necklace.
Materials required will be sent to the school by the Indigenous Centre prior to this presentation.
Classroom Preparation:
- Laptop and projector with speakers is required
- Desks cleared
Students will need:
- Materials provided by the Indigenous Centre
Time Frame:
60 minutes
Additional Resources:
This video describes the process of youth learning about pictographs in the Sto:lo Nation.
Students will learn about the significance and history of pictographs and traditional rock paintings. They will decipher what they believe some pictographs communicated. Students will use a felt pen to draw a design on a polished rock. Examples of common pictograph designs will be sent to the teacher to print. Students will make their own design on rocks.
Materials required will be sent to the school by the Indigenous Centre prior to this presentation.
Classroom Preparation:
- Laptop and projector with speakers is required
- Desks cleared
Students will need:
- Materials provided by the Indigenous Centre
Time Frame:
60 minutes
Additional Resources:
This video describes the process of youth learning about pictographs in the Sto:lo Nation.
The students will be introduced to the history, the purpose and the expectations of a sharing circle. Using the teachings of the sharing circle, the students will be encouraged to share information with their peers. The presentation emphasizes the use of patience and teaches the students respect for others while they are waiting their turn to speak.
A worksheet will be sent to the teacher to complete with their class.
Classroom Preparation:
- Laptop and projector with speakers is required
- Students to be sitting in a circle
Students will need:
- pencil
- crayons
- eraser
Time Frame:
60 minutes
Additional Resources:
Talking Circles Fact Sheet.
Teacher Toolkit - Talking Circles.
The students will be introduced to the history, the purpose and the expectations of a sharing circle. Using the teachings of the sharing circle, the students will be encouraged to share information with their peers. The presentation emphasizes the use of patience and teaches the students respect for others while they are waiting their turn to speak.
Classroom Preparation:
- Laptop and projector with speakers is required
- Students to be sitting in a circle
Students will need:
- Print out of the Coast Salish Eye (to be printed out by teacher)
Time Frame:
60 Minutes
Additional Resources:
Talking Circles Fact Sheet.
Teacher Toolkit - Talking Circles.
Sharing Circle 2 Lesson Plan 2019.pdf
The presenter will show a collection of traditional Stó:lō fishing tool replicas. Students will be given time to examine each tool and record information on a worksheet provided. The presenter will complete the presentation by providing information on each tool.
A worksheet will be sent to the teacher to complete with their class.
Classroom Preparation:
- Laptop with projector and speakers is required
- Teacher can have students complete the worksheet alone or place the students into small groups
Students will need:
- Pencil
- Worksheet to be printed by teacher
Time Frame:
3 hours
The presenter will show four traditional dolls representing four major Indigenous land regions. Students will view the map of Canada showing the areas for Eastern Woodland, Plains, Northwest Coast and Inuit. Students will be guided to the connection of natural resources found in each region to the clothing, shelter, food & transportation used by each of the dolls.
A worksheet will be sent to the teacher to complete with their class.
Classroom Preparation:
- Laptop and projector with speakers is required
- Desks cleared
Students will need:
- Pencil
- Glue stick
- Scissors
Time Frame:
60 minutes
The Presenter will read a Lakota story from the Plains region, The Return of the Buffaloes, written and illustrated by Paul Goble. Students will build and colour a paper parfleche (a traditional container made from rawhide).
A worksheet will be sent to the teacher to complete with their class.
Classroom Preparation:
- Laptop and projector with speakers is required
- Desks cleared
Students will need:
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Pencil crayons/crayons/felts
Time Frame:
60 minutes
Using wooden doweling, students will make their own warrior stick. The four colours on the stick (black, red, yellow and white) symbolize a process for problem solving. This presentation is recommended for the beginning of the school year as an ongoing problem-solving tool to refer to.
Materials required will be sent to the school by the Indigenous Centre prior to this presentation.
Classroom Preparation:
- Laptop and projector with speakers is required
- Desks cleared
Students will Need:
- Ruler
- Pencil/pencil crayons/ crayons
Time Frame:
90 minutes