Inspiring Indigenous People
All throughout the year, spend time learning more about First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples histories, cultures, traditions, diversity and celebrate Indigenous heroes!
Inspiring Indigenous Peoples
Music & Musicians
A YouTube playlist of Indigenous Peoples sharing their homelands and traditions in collaboration with Parks Canada.
A collection of composers, groups, session players, solo artists, and songwriters.
Susan Aglukark
Susan Aglukark, an Inuk artist, singer, songwriter who has won 3 Juno and a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for lifetime artistic achievement. For Susan, art has played a significant role in her healing journey and in the re-writing of her narrative, she believes it plays an important role for indigenous youth who are dealing with contemporary identity issues today. “Our children and youth are strong and resilient, they still believe very strongly in their culture, in Inuit or Indigenous culture, and they are still fighting every day to find their place.”
Twin Flames
Jaaji, (Inuk from Nunaivik and Mohawk Kanien’kehá:ka from Kahnawake) and Chelsey June, Indigenous (Métis, Algonquin, Cree and settler heritage) from Ottawa.
Their cultural backgrounds span Canada’s geography and their songs, delivered through a mix of English, French and Inuttitut, have helped them earn a unique place among contemporary music makers from coast to coast to coast.
Brianna Lizotte
Brianna Lizotte is a fiddle player from Sylvan Lake Alberta. She grew up in a household where music was played, whether it was from home videos or kitchen parties. At the age of 10, most of the musicians in her family passed away, so she took it upon herself to keep the music alive. This has led her to many amazing opportunities like playing on TSN for the Canada Winter Games grand opening in 2019 and travelling to Rome to play for the Pope. She currently attends MacEwan University in the Bachelor of Music program and is expected to graduate next year.
Check out this Kitchen Party Playlist created for SCCDSB by Brianna!
Artists
Moses Lunham is an Anishnaabe from the Kettle and Stony Point First Nation.
The youngest of two sisters and three brothers, Moses began expressing his artistic abilities at a young age. “My family attended many Pow Wows when I was growing up. At first, my parents would teach me how to make various traditional arts and crafts. Now, for over the past twenty-five years, I have met many artists and people who have inspired me to be more creative with my own work and style.” Moses, in an effort to discipline his skill and explore new challenges, has studied Graphic Arts at Fanshawe College, London. After graduating, Moses worked in the graphic arts field for over 15 years. “My work is the breath of my people, their beauty, their spirituality, their ideology, and their pride.”
Athletes
Tom Longboat
Tom Longboat (Cogwagee) was born in Ohsweken, Six Nations Indian Reserve, Ontario on June 4, 1887.
Longboat was an Onondaga distance runner from the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation Indian Reserve near Brantford, Ontario.
Tom Longboat was not only one of the most celebrated and accomplished athletes in Canadian history, but also one of the world's greatest long distance runners. He helped establish marathon running as an international sport and won marathons in record breaking times, beating competitors from all over the world.
His running had earned him international fame when, at the age of 29, he set aside his athletic career to enlist in the Canadian Armed Forces to fight in World War I for his country.
As a dispatch carrier with the 107th Pioneer Battalion in France, Longboat ran messages and orders between units.
These books are in your school!
Jason Simon
Jason Simon is an Anishnaabe from Aamjinwaang First Nation.
Jason is an ex professional NHL Hockey Player and personal trainer. He is a motivational speaker, touring across North America to bring his positive messages to youth, elders, and First Nations.
Acknowledging the Achievements of Indigenous Athletes Over Time
Acknowledging the Achievements of Indigenous Athletes Over Time.pdf
Authors
David Plain
David Plain is an Anishinaabe from Aamjiwnaang First Nation and a grandson of Chief On The Plain. He holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Tyndale University College and Seminary, Toronto, Canada. Always a lover of history, he has devoted much time and effort to his family's genealogy and how it has affected the history of the Ahnishenahbek of Aamjiwnaang.
Many of David's Books are at the BookKeeper in Sarnia
Rebekah Wilson
Rebekah Wilson was born in Owen Sound, Ontario, and is a member of the Métis Nation of Ontario. At the young age of 25, Rebekah has recently published her first book, a children's story about Métis culture and traditions. She is currently working a second piece, a biographical tale based around her experience as a participant of the Indigenous Youth Gathering and as a dancer in the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.
Wab Kinew
Wab Kinew is the bestselling, award-winning author of Go Show the World and The Reason You Walk. A member of the Midewin and an Honorary Witness for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, he is a former journalist, hip-hop artist and television host who was named by Postmedia News as one of "9 Aboriginal movers and shakers you should know." Kinew, who is a provincial politician in Manitoba, lives in Winnipeg with his family.…
Scientists and Researchers
John Herrington
Former NASA astronaut and U.S. Navy officer John Bennett Herrington, of Chickasaw heritage.
Click on this image to see a showcase of incredible Indigenous Peoples and the unique careers they engage in. Ranging from cosmetics entrepreneur to welder and more, these individuals come from different backgrounds with different levels of education but each share their Indigenous heritage and a passion for STEM.
Slide deck source with permission FNMI EAO
Youth Activists
Theland Kicknosway
Theland Kicknosway is Potawatami and Cree, and a member of the Wolf Clan from Bkejwanong Territory. He is an activist, a role model, and an educator who weaves his culture into all that he does. Starting in May, 2021, Theland is running and biking across Canada for Missing and Murdered Indigenous women and girls and two spirit people. Theland has had this dream of making this journey since he was 9 years old. Find out more about his journey and support “Theland’s Journey“.
Autumn Peltier
The Powerful Impact of Activism: How Autumn Peltier is Leading the Next Generation
Check out more about Autumn Peltier on the SCCDSB Water Page for further resources.
Heroes & Trail-blazers
Heroes Playlist
These contemporary Indigenous people are just a few examples of local First Nation, Métis and Inuit “heroes”- people whose resilience, strength and cultural pride shine through in all that they do.
Trailblazers
Portraits de pionniers
Land Defenders and Water Protectors
Slide deck source with permission FNMI EAO
Test Out Your Knowledge with Jeopardy!
This jeopardy activity is a great way to participate through uplifting the many contributions of Indigenous communities and Nations. (Jeopardy board created by Cheri-Ann Bryne)
