RAM Blog

Immerse yourself in the heritage, diversity, and strength of Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

We’ve pulled together a list of resources for you to continue to learn about Indigenous Peoples in Alberta and Canada, past and present. We hope that you will continue to listen to their stories, read their words, marvel at their art, respect their history and culture, and recognize the long-standing Indigenous presence and sovereignty in this land.

This is a living document that we will continue to add to, so keep checking back.

RAM Indigenous Reading List

• We pulled together a list of recommended reading for everything Indigenous! Our list includes everything from books to introduce your children to the history of residential schools, to understanding the Indian Act and Indigenous Rights. 

Books for Adults:

• Indigenous Writes: A Guide to First Nations, Métis & Inuit Issues in Canada by Chelsea Vowel
• Unsettling Canada: A National Wake-up Call by Arthur Manuel and Grand Chief Ronald M. Derrickson
• The Break by Katherena Vermette
• 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act by Bob Joseph
• Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
• Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
• A Knock on The Door: The Essential History of Residential Schools from the Truth and Reconciliation of Canada
• Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Volume One: Summary Honouring the Truth Reconciling the Future
• Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese
• My Decade at Old Sun, My Lifetime of Hell by Arthur Bear Chief
• The education of Augie Merasty: A Residential School Memoir by Joseph Auguste Merasty
• They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School by Bev Sellars
• The Secret Path by Gord Downie and Jeff Lemire
• From the Ashes by Jesse Thistle
• This accident of Being Lost: Songs and Stories by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson
• Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson
• Embers: One Ojibway's Meditations by Richard Wagamese
• The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America by Thomas King
• Indian Horse by Richard Wagamese
• Buffy Sainte-Marie: The Authorized Biography by Andrea Warner
• Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq

Books for Children and Teens:

• Shi-Shi-Etko by Nicola I. Campbell
• Shin-chi’s canoe by Nicola I. Campbell
• Welcome Song for Baby – a lullaby for newborns by Richard Van Camp
• The Mask that Sang by Susan Currie
• Fatty Legs: A true story by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak- Fenton
• A Stranger at Home: A true Story by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton
• The Orange Shirt Story by Phyllis Webstad
• When We Were Alone by David A. Robertson
• Sixties Scoop by Inez Cook
• Mwâkwa talks to the loon by Dale Auger
• My heart fills with happiness by Monique Gray Smith
• Mama do you love me by Barbara M. Joosse
• The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline

Films and documentaries:

• Treaty Talk: Sharing the River of Life and Treaty Walk: A Journey for Common Ground. Watch online for free.
• Birth of a Family by Tasha Hubbard. Watch for free on NFB.
• Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance by Alanis Obomsawin. Watch online for free at the National Film Board of Canada.
• Round up by Narcisse Blood. Watch online for free at the  National Film Board of Canada.
• Fast Horse by Alexandra Lazarowich. Watch for free on CBC Gem.
• We Were Children. Available for rent at the National Film Board of Canada.
• We Can’t Make the Same Mistake Twice by Alanis Obomsawin. Watch online for free at the National Film Board of Canada.
• Trick or Treaty by Alanis Obamsawin. Watch online for free at the National Film Board of Canada.
• Camsell by the Edmonton Heritage Society. Watch online for free.
• The Sixties Scoop: Understanding Implications and Contributing to Reconciliation. Available on Vimeo.

Residential Schools podcast by Historica Canada

Radio and Podcasts:

• The Secret Life of Canada by Leah Simone-Bowen and Falen Johnson - available wherever you get your podcasts
• 2 Crees in a Pod by Amber Dion and Terri Suntjens– available wherever you get your podcasts.
• Residential Schools by Historica Canada – available wherever you get your podcasts.
• Missing & Murdered: Finding Cleo with Connie Walker – available on the CBC website or wherever you get your podcasts.
• New Fire with Lisa Charleyboy – available on the CBC website or wherever you get your podcasts.
• The Truth Sharing Podcasts by Eagle Vision – available wherever you get your podcasts.
• Warrior Life with Pam Palmater –available wherever you get your podcasts.
• Warrior Kids with Pam Palmater – available wherever you get your podcasts.
• Métis in Space with Molly Swain and Chelsea Vowel – available wherever you get your podcasts.
• Unreserved with Rosanna Deerchild – available on the CBC website or wherever you get your podcasts.
• Rural Routes to Climate Solutions Episode 30 Native Plants with Kainai Ecosystem Protection Association.

Indigenous Language Apps

• We’ve compiled a list of a number of Indigenous language apps and resources that reach across the generations. 

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Websites, Blogs and Online Courses:

• Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society
• Government of Alberta's Residential school research and recognition document
• Indian Residential School Survivors Society
• Kainai Ecosystem Protection Association Facebook Page
• Climate Atlas of Canada – The Indigenous Climate Change Observation Network
• Indigenous Canada University of Alberta MOOC on Coursera
• Whose Land Is It Anyway? A Manual for Decolonization download the free PDF here
• Legacy of Hope Foundation available online here