These books will be available soon.

Download the teacher's guide

Download the teacher's guide

Download the teacher's guide

Download the teacher's guide

This episode revisits the residential school apology that the Canadian government announced in 2008 to Aboriginal people. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission gathering in Winnipeg, allowed residential school survivors, and representatives from the churches and government sectors to share their personal stories on the impacts that were generated from the residential school system, and the importance of creating a more positive relationship between the Canadian government and Aboriginal people.

Listen online or right-click to download the audio file

Download the Truth & Reconciliation Student Activities

Download the Truth & Reconciliation Teacher's Guide

Ningwakwe Learning Press has developed literacy lesson plans to go with the engaging, contemporary, cultural content that CBC has produced in their series, ReVision Quest.

“ReVision Quest mixes personal storytelling, current affairs interviews and comedy to explore issues affecting Native peoples today, kicking some ass-umptions about Aboriginal life along the way. It’s a show about the First Nations experience, created by all First Nations producers. Our guide is Darrell Dennis originally from the Shuswap First Nation in B.C.”

Download the Teacher’s Guide and Student Activities which include more cultural information, thought provoking questions and tasks for literacy learners. Listen to the podcast online or download it for later.

• Audio © 2011 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.
• Host: Darrell Dennis
• Produced by Kim Ziervogel
• Executive Producer: Doug Holmes

• Curriculum Developer Rachel A. Mishenene
• Development Team:
• Maria Morrison, Ningwakwe Learning Press
• Kim Ziervogel, CBC
• Laura Hamilton, Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities
• Linda Wright, Sioux Hudson Literacy Council
• Tina Reed, Contact North
• Colleen Toulouse
• Ningwakwe Learning Press gratefully acknowledges funding from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities for the development of this material.

Published by Ningwakwe Learning Press, 2012

This episode reviews the 1990 Oka crisis and the relationship between Canada and Aboriginal people. Host, Darrell Dennis, looks at the impacts that the crisis had on the Mohawk people and other Aboriginal people.  Darrell discusses the confrontation that arose as a result of the blockade and how the crisis affected the relationship between the Mohawk people, the Mohawk protestors, government, law enforcement and Aboriginal people throughout Canada.  He also explores the resolutions that developed after the Oka crisis.

Click to listen online or Right-click to download MP3

Download the OKA Student Activities

Download the OKA Teacher's Guide

Download the Teacher’s Guide and Student Activities which include more cultural information, thought provoking questions and tasks for literacy learners. Listen to the podcast online or download it for later. Ningwakwe Learning Press has developed literacy lesson plans to go with the engaging, contemporary, cultural content that CBC has produced in their series, ReVision Quest.

“ReVision Quest mixes personal storytelling, current affairs interviews and comedy to explore issues affecting Native peoples today, kicking some ass-umptions about Aboriginal life along the way. It’s a show about the First Nations experience, created by all First Nations producers. Our guide is Darrell Dennis originally from the Shuswap First Nation in B.C.”

Audio © 2010 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.

• Host: Darrell Dennis
• Produced by Wab Kinew
• Executive Producer: Doug Holmes

• Curriculum Developer Rachel A. Mishenene
• Development Team:
• Maria Morrison, Ningwakwe Learning Press
• Kim Ziervogel, CBC
• Laura Hamilton, Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities
• Linda Wright, Sioux Hudson Literacy Council
• Tina Reed, Contact North
• Colleen Toulouse

Ningwakwe Learning Press gratefully acknowledges funding from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities for the development of this material.

Published by Ningwakwe Learning Press, 2012

This episode examines the interconnection between language and culture, and the importance of preservation. Guest speakers share their personal views on the diverse Native languages in Canada, and how these languages are adapting to integrate new words into the vocabulary. Historical European contact and the connection to Aboriginal people losing their culture and languages are also explored.

Listen online or right-click to download the audio file

Download the LANGUAGE Student Activities

Download the Language Teacher’s Guide

Ningwakwe Learning Press has developed literacy lesson plans to go with the engaging, contemporary, cultural content that CBC has produced in their series, ReVision Quest.

“ReVision Quest mixes personal storytelling, current affairs interviews and comedy to explore issues affecting Native peoples today, kicking some ass-umptions about Aboriginal life along the way. It’s a show about the First Nations experience, created by all First Nations producers. Our guide is Darrell Dennis originally from the Shuswap First Nation in B.C.”

Download the Teacher’s Guide and Student Activities which include more cultural information, thought provoking questions and tasks for literacy learners. Listen to the podcast online or download it for later.

• Audio © 2008 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.
• Host: Darrell Dennis
• Produced by Kim Ziervogel

• Curriculum Developer Rachel A. Mishenene
• Development Team:
• Maria Morrison, Ningwakwe Learning Press
• Kim Ziervogel, CBC
• Laura Hamilton, Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities
• Linda Wright, Sioux Hudson Literacy Council
• Tina Reed, Contact North
• Colleen Toulouse
• Ningwakwe Learning Press gratefully acknowledges funding from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities for the development of this material.

Published by Ningwakwe Learning Press, 2012

This episode investigates the assumptions and misconceptions that some people have about Aboriginal people who receive ‘free stuff’ because they are Aboriginal. The Indian Treaties, Indian Act, and government funding for Aboriginal peoples and communities, are examined through interviews and sketches.

Click to listen online or Right-click to download MP3

Download the FREE STUFF Student Activities

Download the FREE STUFF Teacher's Guide

• Audio © 2008 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.
• Host: Darrell Dennis
• Produced by Iris Yudai
• With appearances by Gerry “The Big Bear” Barrett, Rosanna Deerchild and Mike O’Brien

• Curriculum Developer Rachel A. Mishenene
• Development Team:
• Maria Morrison, Ningwakwe Learning Press
• Kim Ziervogel, CBC
• Laura Hamilton, Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities
• Linda Wright, Sioux Hudson Literacy Council
• Tina Reed, Contact North
• Colleen Toulouse
• Ningwakwe Learning Press gratefully acknowledges funding from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities for the development of this material.

Published by Ningwakwe Learning Press, 2012

Episode 1: Labels

This episode explores the terminology and labels that are associated with Aboriginal people in Canada: First Nations, Natives, Aboriginal, Indigenous, and Indian. Host, Darrell Dennis interviews various Aboriginal people regarding their opinions and stance on these labels. Information about the Indian Act (Membership and Status) is discussed.

Listen online to Labels or right-click to download and save.

Download the Student Activities

Download the Teacher's Guide

Ningwakwe Learning Press has developed literacy lesson plans to go with the engaging, contemporary, cultural content that CBC has produced in their series, ReVision Quest. We’ve started with 5 episodes, all though there are many more topics and quality episodes to listen to on their website.

“ReVision Quest mixes personal storytelling, current affairs interviews and comedy to explore issues affecting Native peoples today, kicking some ass-umptions about Aboriginal life along the way. It’s a show about the First Nations experience, created by all First Nations producers. Our guide is Darrell Dennis originally from the Shuswap First Nation in B.C.”

Download the Teacher’s Guide and Student Activities which include more cultural information, thought provoking questions and tasks for literacy learners. Listen to the podcast online or download it for later.

• Audio © 2009 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.
• Host: Darrell Dennis
• Produced by Doug Holmes
• With appearances by Rosanna Deerchild, Waubgeshig Rice, Dean Jenkins and Wab Kinew

• Curriculum Developer Rachel A. Mishenene
• 
  
• Development Team:
• Maria Morrison, Ningwakwe Learning Press
• Kim Ziervogel, CBC
• Laura Hamilton, Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities
• Linda Wright, Sioux Hudson Literacy Council
• Tina Reed, Contact North
• Colleen Toulouse
• Ningwakwe Learning Press gratefully acknowledges funding from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities for the development of this material.

Published by Ningwakwe Learning Press, 2012

The Gift of Sharing by Lawrence Rivers

With news stories making headlines, like Attawapiskat and the proposed First Nations Education Act, it seems like a very old story with the same problems evident within the education system for Aboriginal people. Everyone from the leaders in Canadian politics, to our chiefs, down to the grassroots workers, knows that education is the key in starting to improve the lives of First Nation people.

As a publisher, I wondered, “What can we do? What’s NLP’s role in the bigger picture?” The broad range of topics and ideas for new books will not run out anytime soon. Every week I either come up with an idea for the next book or am presented with a wonderful topic that could be relevant for many people. We try to pick the top three ideas to write about each year. Our top priorities need to also take into consideration reading levels, regional locations and different cultural groups.

The focus on materials can’t just be merely about ‘cultural fluff.’ They have to be deep rooted not only in holistic, traditional knowledge but also in reading, writing, grammar and essential skills. These materials should also include elements of job or post-secondary readiness or job retention. It’s not enough to create resources that explain some aspect of cultural knowledge that the learners just read. There has to be something in these resources that assist in meeting the specific goals of the learner, whatever those may be.

I think that the term “culturally relevant,” when referring to books and resources, can encompass looking for jobs, improving life skills and financial management because these elements are a big part of First Nation culture in Canada today.

There is definitely a need for Aboriginal content and we are grateful for continued funding, which shows recognition of this need, from the Ontario Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities.  It’s a new year with some of the same old challenges but let’s start it off with a new attitude and vision for a better future.