truth and reconciliation

As an Indigenous mom who's read the stories of residential school survivors, sending my own son to kindergarten triggered a complicated mix of emotions.

Here's how to create the kind of change Indigenous families are looking for, beyond the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30.

From beautiful board books to compelling tales to trenchant reads, here are great stories about Indigenous culture and issues to add to your bookshelf.

I want my daughter to see that an Indigenous way of life isn’t an alternative lifestyle but a priority. It is essential, then, that I return to the parenting principles of my ancestors and consciously integrate Indigenous kinship practices into her childhood.

Before I became a mom, I needed to end the cycle of discord and abuse in my life.

It’s hard to learn Ojibway and teach it to my son at the same time. But, like countless other Indigenous parents, I’m determined to keep my language alive.

How do you talk about Canada’s cultural genocide with kids today? Teachers are finding some effective ways.

For years, First Peoples were forbidden to use traditional names. So when my kids received their spirit names, I was practically vibrating with emotion.

These Anishnaabe principles help remind us of our responsibilities to the world, to others around us and to ourselves. So, I try to weave those lessons into everyday life with my kids.

My kids hear a land acknowledgement each morning at school. But will hearing it every day help kids absorb that info or will it become background noise?

As a kids’ book author, I’ve travelled all over Canada, talking about the history of FNMI people and the residential school system. I’ve witnessed the impact of the trauma firsthand. Many kids share that their families don’t talk about their experiences. The shame of their abuse still haunts them.

We are raising our daughters bilingually—so sometimes that means giving Paw Patrol characters Inuktitut names.