Indigenous Peoples of Ontario and Canada
The History of the Indigenous Peoples of Ontario and Canada
The resources provided on this page related to the Indigenous peoples of Ontario and Canada, Truth & Reconciliation, and Residential Schools are not all representative of Oxford County's history and are not the intellectual property of the Oxford County Archives. We have compiled this list of resources for those looking to learn more about these important topics and for anyone wishing to access the services these organizations and institutions provide. This resource list is a work in progress. Please contact the archives if you have suggestions for revisions and/or additions to this list.
Truth and Reconciliation and Government Documents
- AAO: Towards Truth and Reconciliation
A variety of resources provided by the Archives Association of Ontario.
- Indian Act
Read the Indian Act enacted in 1876, and since amended several times. The Act combined laws aimed at assimilation and the elimination of First Nation's culture
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation
The NCTR continues the work started by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) by informing all Canadians about the residential school system and its legacy. - National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
- They Came for the Children
Report published by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada on the history, purpose, operation, and supervision of the residential school system, the effect and consequences of the system, and its ongoing legacy. - TRC mini documentary - Senator Murray Sinclair on Reconciliation
Senator Murray Sinclair, chairman of the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission from 2009 to 2015, discusses Reconciliation. - Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action
Read the 94 Calls to Action made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. - United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted by the General Assembly on Thursday, 13 September 2007. The Declaration establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the indigenous peoples of the world.
Residential Schools
- Indian Residential School Survivors Society
An organization that provides services to Indian Residential School Survivors, their families, and communities.
- Overview of the Indian Residential School System
An informational overview of the Indian residential school system in Canada written by the Union of Ontario Indians.
- NCRA's Resonating Reconciliation Project
Documentaries that share the stories of survivors, child and family services workers, family members, friends, and others whose lives have been impacted and shaped by the legacy of Indian Residential Schools - We Were Children
A feature film about the impact of the Canadian government’s residential school system conveyed through the eyes of two children.
- Wawahte: Stories of Residential School Survivors
An educational documentary based on the book of the same name written by Robert P. Wells, published in 2012. The documentary tells the story of Indian Residential Schools from the perspective of three survivors.
Educational Resources
- First Nations in Canada
An educational resource designed for use by Canadian students, high school educators, Indigenous communities, and anyone interested in the Indigenous history of Canada - Indigenous History-Makers
Learn about the Indigenous artists, athletes, activists, scientists, and researchers who have helped shape Canadian history. - Useful Links for Indigenous Education
A page of useful learning resources for educators compiled by the Ontario Teacher's Federation. The resources cover a variety of topics including Truth and Reconciliation, Orange Shirt Day, the Red Dress Project, the Moccasin Project, Indigenous Ways of Knowing, and more.
Documentaries / Videos
- APTN documentaries
Learn about Indigenous culture and traditions, significant events in Canadian history and more through APTN's collection of films and videos - Canada's Dark Secret
A film documentary informing viewers on the story of Canada’s residential school system and the Indigenous survivors who bear witness to its abuses. - Christmas at Moose Factory
Short documentary directed by Abenaki director Alanis Obomsawin. Filmed at a residential school in northern Ontario, the documentary features drawings by Cree children and stories told by the children themselves - Heritage Minutes: Chanie Wenjack
The story of Chanie "Charlie" Wenjack, whose death sparked the first inquest into the treatment of Indigenous children in Canadian residential schools. - Indian Horse
A film adaptation of Ojibwe author Richard Wagamese’s award-winning novel, "Indian Horse" sheds light on the history and repercussions of Canada’s Indigenous Residential Schools. - The Experimental Eskimos
A documentary film on the Canadian government's "experiment in social engineering", and the story of three young Inuit boys separated from their families in the Arctic and sent to live with white families in Ottawa. - The Secret Path
The Secret Path is an animated film adaptation of Gord Downie's album and Jeff Lemire's graphic novel that tells the story of the life of Chanie Wenjack, a boy who tragically died on October 22, 1966, fleeing from the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School near Kenora, Ontario.
Exhibits / Museums / Archives / Libraries
- Archives of Ontario: The James Bay Treaty
An online exhibit produced by the Archives of Ontario that explores different interpretations of the James Bay Treaty. - Canadian Museum for Human Rights
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights explores the subject of human rights and promotes the public's understanding of human rights through exhibitions, events, programming and education. - LAC: Project Naming
Project Naming enables Indigenous peoples to take part in the identification of photographs from Library and Archives Canada.
- Oxford County Library
Search through the Library's catalogue for books and resources on the history and culture of the Indigenous peoples of Canada.
Additional Resources
- Map of Ontario treaties and reserves
Learn about the treaties connected to the land you live, work or go to school on, and discover the locations of reserves in Ontario. - Native-Land.ca
An online resource (including an interactive map) that provides information on local Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages. - Programs and Services for Indigenous People
Find information about government programs and services for Indigenous people, families, and communities. - Shingwauk Kinoomaage Gamig
"Centre of excellence in Anishinaabe education". - Office of the Independent Special Interlocutor
The Office of the Special Interlocutor (OSI) is working with Indigenous Peoples, organizations and communities, as well as representatives of the Government of Canada, to identify the gaps in the current legal framework. Recommendations for a new federal framework will be made to ensure that the bodies and Spirits of the children are treated with honour, respect and dignity. - Woodland Cultural Centre
Woodland Cultural Centre preserves and promotes Indigenous history, language, and culture. Visit their website to learn the story of the Haudenosaunee people, the Save the Evidence campaign, and the Mohawk Institute Residential School Building.