A New Way to Learn During Indigenous History Month

At École des Deux Mondes, Indigenous History Month is more than just a date on the calendar. It’s a time to learn, reflect, and explore in ways that go beyond one day.

Now in its second year, a school-wide project called We Learn Indigenous invites students, staff, and families to take part in learning activities and explore Indigenous histories, cultures, and voices. What began as a conversation between teacher Anna Coulter and teacher-librarian Jessica Rathlef about how to thoughtfully mark National Indigenous Peoples Day has grown into a values-driven exploration of Indigenous histories, cultures, and voices.

Inviting Elders and Knowledge Keepers to share stories and teachings is a meaningful part of how many schools mark Indigenous History Month. At École des Deux Mondes, Anna and Jessica were also curious about what it could look like to build learning into everyday classroom life in a different way. 

“The spirit behind We Learn Indigenous is that everyone in our school community has the opportunity to learn about Indigenous history and culture and that the learning can be every day and in so many ways, one just has to pay attention and look around,” says principal Louise Panziera.

The project is set up a bit like a film festival. Families and classrooms can choose from a wide mix of stories, videos, books, and activities by Indigenous creators. Some of the resources include:

• Short videos and shows from CBC Gem and the National Film Board
• Read-alouds and audiobooks by Indigenous authors
• Kid-friendly podcasts and music
• Virtual tours of museums and cultural centres
• Activities about local languages and land-based learning 
• Art and dance by Indigenous artists and traditions
• Helpful tools for parents and teachers, like the Indigenous Ally Toolkit

Everything is linked and easy to navigate – so learners can explore at their own pace and return to the resources throughout the month.

To help students and families join in, a bingo card was sent home with fun learning activities. Each square connects to a different resource or idea. Students can complete it on their own, with their family, or with their class.

Some classes go through the card together, while others encourage students to bring back stories from home. Bulletin boards were set up in the school to display photos of students and families completing their bingo activities.

To recognize participation, local businesses donated prizes for a bingo card draw. This year’s grand prize is a gift basket from Campbell River Candy Co.

The initiative continues to evolve. This year’s version features an expanded resource guide, updated links, new categories, and improved organization – reflecting what staff have learned and how the school community is engaging with the materials.

This project is part of a growing effort to approach Indigenous learning with respect and care. While guest teachings and community-led events are still an important part of this work, We Learn Indigenous adds another way to learn—one that encourages students and families to take part, think deeply, and keep learning all month.

At École des Deux Mondes, this learning journey continues—one square, one story, and one act of reflection at a time.