Centre for Teaching Excellence

The First Peoples Principles of Learning was developed by the First Nations Education Steering Committee  (www.fnesc.ca) in conjunction with the BC Ministry of Education. The principles reflect common elements and values held by First Nations peoples in BC. However, “[b]ecause these principles of learning represent an attempt to identify common elements in the varied teaching and learning approaches that prevail within particular First Peoples societies, it must be recognized that they do not capture the full reality of the approach used in any single First Peoples society” (British Columbia Ministry of Education and First Nations Education Steering Committee, 2008, p. 11).  These principles are embedded throughout the new BC K-12 curriculum.

• Learning ultimately supports the well-being of the self, the family, the community, the land, the    spirits, and the ancestors.
• Learning is holistic, reflexive, reflective, experiential, and relational (focused on connectedness, on reciprocal relationships, and a sense of place).
• Learning involves recognizing the consequences of one‘s actions.
• Learning involves generational roles and responsibilities.
• Learning recognizes the role of indigenous knowledge.
• Learning is embedded in memory, history, and story.
• Learning involves patience and time.
• Learning requires exploration of one‘s identity.
• Learning involves recognizing that some knowledge is sacred and only shared with permission and/or in certain situations.

• A comprehensive list of decolonization and indigenization strategies from the University of Regina 100 Ways to Indigenize and Decolonize Academic Programs and Courses
• Ideas of how to embed indigenous way of knowing and learning into curriculum by Tanaka (2016). Learning and teaching together: Weaving Indigenous ways of knowing into education.
• A manual for decolonization by the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators Whose Land is it Anyway? A Manual for Decolonization (FPSE)
• First Peoples Principles of Learning from the First Nations Steering Committee. The new BC K-12 curriculum has incorporated these principles of learning.  First Peoples Principles of Learning (FPPL)
•  Teaching Aboriginal higher learners: Professional development workbook from Laura Mixon (2009).
  http://www.cardenconsulting.com/uploads/3/2/4/4/3244024/aboriginalteachingworkbook_finalmar09.pdf
• A Guide for  Indigenization of  Post-Secondary Institutions. The series has separate sections on Foundations, Leader and Administrators, Teachers, Front-end Staff, Advisors, and Supervisors, and Curriculum Developers. From BCcampus Indigenization Guides – Pulling Together Series 
• Curriculum develop around the Witness blankets by UFV.  Specific activities for use in Arts, Health Sciences, Professional Studies, Sciences, Access & Continuing Studies, and Applied Technical Studies. Witness Blanket UFV 

This reading list is for faculty involved in learning about historical and contemporary issues surrounding Indigenous Peoples in Canada. The quantity of Indigenous books is vast, so this list should not be considered a complete library. Many books in this list have a British Columbia focus, and most are available at the Capilano University Library and in the Vancouver Regional Library system.

All efforts to certify that the recommendations on this list embody authentic Indigenous voices has been made with respect and care. Therefore, titles have been cross-referenced from several sources such as the Vancouver Island Regional Library, Vancouver Public Library, and educators at Capilano University (David Kirk, Indigenous Faculty Advisor, Joel Cardinal, Community Engagement Facilitator, and Kimberly Minkus, Indigenous Learners Librarian).

This reading list contains recommendations of fiction, poetry, young adult, and non-fiction books on various Indigenous topics. Faculty who are Indigenizing their curriculum, hold ctrl + F to help you search for keywords. Themes in this document include, but are not limited to: abuse, alienation, appropriation, Bill C-31, Blood quantum, decolonization, journey, numbered treaties, reconciliation, residential schools, resistance, status, terra nullius, TRC, and Two-Spirit.

Matt Michaud’s 10 recommended books for Educators
Please click here for Top 10 Indigenous Books (Curriculum Focus)

NON-FICTION
Please click here for Indigenous Reading List – Non-Fiction

FICTION
Please click here for  Indigenous Reading List – Fiction

POETRY
Please click here for Indigenous Reading List – poetry

YOUNG ADULT
Please click here for Indigenous Reading List – Young Adult

CHIDREN
Please click here for Indigenous Reading List – Children

Please click here to see/download the PDF file for the whole Indigenous Reading List – Centre for Teaching Excellence