Heritage Community Foundation Presents
Alberta Online Encyclopedia

Web Resources

The Heritage Community Foundation has developed a range of Aboriginal website and edukits (customized teacher and student resources) pertaining to the history, culture, traditions, contributions and achievements of Aboriginal Peoples in Treaty 8, 6 and 7 areas (from north so south). Summary descriptions and hyperlinks are provided.

In addition, some key links are provided to websites of educational institutions, First Nations, governments and others with relevant content.

Websites Related to Traditional Knowledge and Land Use

http://www.aboriginal.alberta.ca/619.cfm - Alberta Aboriginal Relations funds Traditional Use Studies and has produced the Best Practices Handbook for Traditional Use Studies. The site has various other resources.

www.conbio.rice.edu/nae/docs/gwichin.html - Gwich'in Environmental Knowledge Project.

www.carc.org/pubs/v22no1/know.htm - Canadian Arctic Resources Committee (CARC) - Northern Perspective (Volume 22, Number 1, Spring 1994).

http://fnfp.gc.ca/sectione/4section/4.13.html - First Nations in Forestry - Joint Ventures.

www.labradormetis.ca- Indigenous Knowledge: The Ways of Our People - Labrador Metis Nation.

www.carc.org/pubs/v20no1/utility.htm - Canadian Arctic Resources Committee (CARC) - The Nature and Utility of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (Volume 20, Number 1, Summer 1992).

www.bc-mining-house.com/opinions/nwnj98f2.htm - BC and Yukon Chamber of Mines - Is Mining Sustainable: The ALL Nations Perspective - Native Journal.

www.bc-mining-house.com/opinions/nunavut.htm - BC and Yukon Chamber of Mines - Mineral Exploration in the New Territory of Nunavut.

www.uguelph.ca/Research/spark/oasis/environ12.html - Using traditional native knowledge in modern conservation work; "In with the Old".

www.carc.org/pubs/v25no1/change.htm - Canadian Arctic Resources Committee (CARC) - Northern Perspectives (Volume 25, Number 1, Summer 1997); "Ecological Change in the Hudson Bay Bioregion: A Traditional Ecological Knowledge".

www.strategis.ic.gc.ca - Industry Canada site. "Canada's Business Information Site." Data bank of traditional ecological knowledge.

www.deneculture.org - Dene Cultural Institute. "Traditional Knowledge Research and Policy Development".

www.carc.org/pubs/v20no1/science.htm - Canadian Arctic Resources Committee (CARC) - Traditonal Knowledge is Science (Volume 20, Number 1, Summer 1992).

http://www.gitxsan.com/html/delga.htm - The Delgamuukw Decision, Gitxsan Chiefs' Office Website.

www.aseniwuche.com - Aseniwuche Winewak First Nation Website.


Albertasource.ca - Alberta Online Encyclopedia Aboriginal Websites and Edukits


Making of Treaty 8

Making of Treaty 8 in Canada's Northwest
On June 21, 1899, just south of present-day Grouard, Alberta, six leaders of the First Nations of Lesser Slave Lake signed a government-prepared document known as Treaty 8. That treaty forever changed land use and development in northern Alberta. Visit our multimedia website and learn more about the events that led to the signing of the treaty, as well as the many cultures and people who came together for this historic event. Rich in text, audio, video, and historic photographs, this site also presents a wealth of information regarding the culture and lifeways of the First Nations and Métis People.


Elder's Voices

Elders' Voices
They are the ones who remember. They are the keepers of knowledge and the living links to the rich and diverse traditions of the past. Explore the stories of Aboriginal Elders, the remarkable men and women who contribute to the community for the sake of their peoples. Read about the tumultuous history of the Aboriginal People before and after the birth of Alberta and the Canadian Nation, learn about the many ways in which Aboriginal Elders help keep culture and tradition alive, and listen to the voices of the Elders as they share their reflections.


Nature's Laws

Nature's Laws
The culture and traditions of Aboriginal Peoples were grounded in a set of laws that shaped physical and spiritual life. Explore this unique system of governance in Nature's Laws, a website especially rich in video footage.


People of the Boreal Forest

People of the Boreal Forest
The People of the Boreal Forest website retraces the footsteps of Terry Garvin who, between 1954 and 2000, recorded in text and photographs the lives of traditional Aboriginal hunters and trappers living in Canada's northwest boreal forest. Garvin's material, which has been published in Carving Faces, Carving Lives: People of the Boreal Forest, serves as the foundation of this website, and tells the story of ancient peoples in a changing north.


Métis in Alberta

Métis in Alberta
The Métis in the province have kept strong and resilient, united by a unique past. In 1982, the Métis were acknowledged as an Aboriginal People in the Constitution, and, today, they continue to be known for their independence and their contributions to the Canadian mosaic. Explore this fully bilingual website to learn more about the rich history and the culture and life ways of a nation that has helped shape this province into what it is today.


Methodist Missionaries In Alberta

Methodist Missionaries In Alberta
Find out about Methodism in Canada as an aspect of the settlement of the Canadian West. The missionaries came to spread the faith but also became tools for government policy in relation to Aboriginal People. This legacy, good and bad, is explored.


Heritage of the Mighty Peace

Heritage of the Mighty Peace
Did you know that the Peace River region has a rich cultural heritage that dates back 11,500 years? This website will guide you through the diverse history of this area by presenting the stories of the earliest inhabitants who helped shape it - including the First Peoples, fur traders, the Métis, and missionaries - to the creation of settlements and industry, such as the establishment of the Peace River community and the building of the Alaska Highway.


Alberta: How The West Was Young

Alberta: How The West Was Young
Join in a discovery of the early history of Alberta going back centuries. From the First Peoples, who made their home on the prairie lands more than 11,000 years ago, to the Métis, who bridged the old and new worlds, this site explores Aboriginal history from the pre-contact era through to the fur trade.


St. Vincent and St. Paul

St. Vincent and St. Paul
The fur trade era brought Francophone fur traders to northern Alberta, giving birth to Métis communities. Missionary orders, such as the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, came next, followed by settlers who made permanent homes on the plains. Explore the history of the Métis as grounded in the history and dynamics of two of Alberta's most prominent French communities, St. Vincent and St. Paul, in this fully bilingual website.


Alberta: Home, Home On The Plains

Alberta: Home, Home On The Plains
In the latter half of the 19th century, as more and more settlers made their way to the prairie lands, the life of the Aboriginal Peoples of the plains began to change. Discover the settlement era in Alberta by exploring this multimedia-rich site.


The Missionary Oblates

For the Life of the World: The Missionary Oblates
This site explores the 19th Century French missionary order that still serves in Aboriginal communities in Western and Northern Canada. Learn more about the vocation of these early missionaries by exploring three photographically rich online exhibits.


Treaty 7

Treaty 7
This website explores the making of Treaty 7 through text, historic photographs, audio, video and contextual information, as well as exploring the culture and lifeways of First Nations people.


Treaty 6

Treaty 6
This website explores the making of Treaty 6 through text, historic photographs, audio, video and contextual information, as well as exploring the culture and lifeways of First Nations people

Aboriginal Edukits


First Nations Contributions Edukit

First Nations Contributions Edukit
The achievements and significant contributions of Aboriginal Peoples have changed the societal landscape throughout Alberta and Canada in many ways. The spirit of the Aboriginal Contributions Edukit is to introduce students to the many contributions of First Nations people in areas such as the Arts, Music, Theatre, Science and Technology, Sports and Recreation as well as Politics. Awareness of the extent of Aboriginal contributions empowers young people and encourages their social development.


Language and Culture Edukit

Language and Culture Edukit
Today, many Aboriginal children do not communicate in their first languages. In some communities, it is only the Elders who speak the language. Recognizing the critical importance of Aboriginal Languages, the Aboriginal Language and Culture Edukit emphasizes the importance of language to culture and traditional education.


Origin and Settlement Edukit

Origin and Settlement Edukit
Explore Aboriginal origin and settlement patterns across Canada with a focus on Alberta. Stories of Aboriginal origin and settlement are central themes and provide students with a wealth of text, images, audio (including oral histories) and video resources. An examination of specific Aboriginal communities - including the Cree, Dene, Beaver, Métis and Blackfoot - traces the evolution of Aboriginal Peoples from nomadic tribes to dynamic communities settled across the province.


Spirituality and Creation Edukit

Spirituality and Creation Edukit
The Cree, Dene, Beaver and Blackfoot peoples of Treaty areas 6, 7, and 8 share many values and traditions. However, each has a unique view of creation and spirituality. Aboriginal values and beliefs are resilient, and spirituality is central to the continuing growth and survival of Aboriginal communities. The sacred underpins all aspects of life. The Aboriginal Spirituality and Creation Edukit recognizes Aboriginal creation stories, teaches students to respect Aboriginal spirituality in all that it encompasses.


Health and Wellness Edukit

Health and Wellness Edukit
The Elementary section of the Health and Wellness Edukit provides focus upon traditional Aboriginal medical knowledge, which came from detailed knowledge of the world around them. The Secondary section gives an overview of the residential schools imposed as a tool for cultural manipulation. Two additional topics are the processes and activities to support social, cultural, and emotional health in traditional First Nations and the emergent Métis nation. Included are resource selections, biographies, glossary, timelines, visual resources, and activities. The Teacher Zone provides background material and possible instructional activities linked to the current Alberta Social Studies Program.


Culture and its Meaning Edukit

Culture and its Meaning Edukit
Aboriginal Peoples in Alberta and across Canada possess a rich history and heritage. Understanding Aboriginal identity as it relates to culture is important for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples alike. Through the Aboriginal Culture and Its Meaning Edukit, students explore how Aboriginal People used and continue to use traditions, symbols, practices, events and objects to express their identity. Active participation by students in diverse activities promotes learning and ultimately contributes to their overall understanding of Aboriginal People and communities in Alberta.


Sport and Recreation Edukit

Sport and Recreation Edukit
The Elementary section of the Sport and Recreation Edukit provides focus upon the heritage of Aboriginal cultural and social activities. It introduces contemporary Aboriginal athletes and games. The Secondary section provides resources about traditional gatherings of First Nation groups and their festivities. Included are resource selections, biographies,glossary, timelines, visual resources, and activities. The Teacher Zone provides background material and possible instructional activities linked to the current Alberta Social Studies Program.


Leadership Edukit

Leadership Edukit
The Elementary section of the Leadership Edukit provides focus upon the groups and confederacies in traditional First Nations groups throughout Canada. Here are resources to help understand the way conflicts were resolved and how leaders are role models for their culture. The Secondary section gives an overview of the development of accommodation with the government of Canada and how the traditional groups dealt with conflict. It introduces contemporary First Nations and Métis leaders and organizations. Included are resource selections, biographies, glossary, timelines, visual resources, and activities. The Teacher Zone provides background material and possible instructional activities linked to the current Alberta Social Studies Program.


Alex Decoteau Edukit

Alex Decoteau Edukit
A long-distance runner, World War I veteran, Canada's first Aboriginal police officer and an Olympic athlete, Alex Decoteau is a local hero of legendary proportions. The Alex Decoteau Edukit was created by the Heritage Community Foundation to support the Alex Decoteau Run, developed by the City Centre Education Project in Edmonton. The Project provides inner-city children, many of whom are Aboriginal, with access to a range of activities that are common in middle class schools.


People of the Boreal Forest Edukit

People of the Boreal Forest Edukit
The People of the Boreal Forest Edukit developed by the Heritage Community Foundation. This Edukit is intended to provide a range of information and actiities that highlight and promote an understanding of the People who live and work in the Boreal Forest region of Alberta.

In the Teacher Zone, you will find Boreal Forest-specific lesson plans dealing with the Forest, its People, and its Traditions.

The Student Zone contains photographs, audio and video samples, textual information, and various activities dealing with the topics above.

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