Storytelling Pedagogy

Resources

This page brings together selected resources that can support continued learning about Indigenous storytelling, pedagogy, and respectful educational practice. These materials are intended as starting points for educators, students, and community members who want to deepen their understanding of storytelling as a relational and meaningful way of learning.

The resources included here reflect different types of learning. Some focus on foundational ideas such as Storywork, relational learning, and holistic approaches to education. Others provide practical support for educators through public teaching resources, guides, publishers, and multimedia materials. Together, they extend the ideas explored throughout this website and encourage ongoing reflection rather than quick answers or simplified summaries.

In keeping with the themes of this project, these resources can be approached in different ways. Some may be useful for building theoretical understanding, while others may support classroom planning, reflective teaching, or personal learning. They also remind us that learning about Indigenous storytelling is not limited to reading one article or using one activity, but involves listening, revisiting, and continuing to learn over time.

The resources below are organized into broad groups: community and organizational resources, educational websites and digital portals, storytelling and language resources, guides and teaching materials, publishers and public educational materials, pedagogical guides, and videos or multimedia resources.

Sun Catcher artwork by Tracey Metallic
Sun Catcher by Tracey Metallic, Mi’gmaq artist.

Community Resources

These organizations and community-based resources can support educators who want to learn more about Indigenous storytelling and ways of teaching and learning in respectful, community-connected ways.

National and Regional Organizations

  • Assembly of First Nations (AFN)
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    Offers national advocacy, educational materials, and resources such as the It’s Our Time Education Toolkit.
  • National Centre for Collaboration in Indigenous Education (NCCIE)
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    Provides a wide range of teaching resources, including videos and articles organized by region and topic.
  • First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC)
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    Offers resources such as the Authentic First Peoples Resources Guide and Learning First Peoples.
  • Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK)
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    Shares resources that support Inuit voices, language, and learning.
  • Métis Settlements General Council
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    Provides information and resources about Métis history, culture, and community.
  • Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC)
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    Highlights the perspectives of Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people.
  • The Martin Family Initiative (MFI)
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    Shares “Promising Practices” and supports Indigenous education and student success.

Local Community Organization

  • Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre
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    Supports community-based programs, cultural learning, and family engagement, offering opportunities to connect with local Indigenous communities.
  • Native Child and Family Services of Toronto
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    Supports Indigenous children and families through culturally grounded programs, including early learning and childcare services.
  • Niagara Regional Native Centre
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    Provides cultural programs, educational resources, and community events that support Indigenous identity, relationships, and learning.
  • Woodland Cultural Centre
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    Offers educational programs, storytelling resources, and language revitalization initiatives rooted in Haudenosaunee knowledge and traditions.

Educational Websites and Digital Portals

These websites provide accessible entry points for educators who want to continue learning about Indigenous perspectives, storytelling, and respectful classroom practice.

  • Four Directions Teachings
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    An interactive website with audio teachings that share Indigenous knowledge and perspectives.
  • Indigenous Storywork
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    Supports educators in understanding and respecting Indigenous stories and ways of knowing.
  • Learn at Home Ontario
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    Includes treaty education resources, books, and interactive tools.
  • Empowering the Spirit
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    Provides professional learning resources to support educators in reconciliation and deeper understanding of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit histories and perspectives.
  • Empowering the Spirit Learning Guide
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    A companion learning guide that offers structured support for further reflection and classroom planning.

Storytelling and Language Resources

These resources highlight the relationship between storytelling, language, cultural continuity, and Indigenous knowledge.

  • First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC)
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    Offers language-learning tools, community resources, and language revitalization supports.
  • FirstVoices
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    A platform where Indigenous communities share and preserve their languages.
  • NFB Education (Indigenous Films)
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    Provides documentaries and films by Indigenous creators.

Guides and Teaching Materials

These materials may help educators select respectful resources, build background knowledge, and support reflection in classroom and professional learning contexts.

  • National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR)
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    Provides resources such as Orange Shirt Day materials and educational supports connected to truth and reconciliation.
  • Legacy of Hope Foundation
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    Offers educational resources about the residential school system and its ongoing impacts.
  • The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund
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    Provides lesson plans and resources to support reconciliation.
  • Outdoor Learning School & Store
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    Offers Indigenous-led learning resources and professional development opportunities.

Publisher and Public Educational Materials

These publishers and organizations offer books, guides, and learning materials that can support respectful classroom practice and broader professional learning.

  • First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC)
    Learning First Peoples resources
    Offers classroom resources such as Learning First Peoples teacher guides and the Authentic First Peoples Resources Guide.
  • Medicine Wheel Education / Medicine Wheel Publishing
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    Publishes Indigenous cultural books and educational resources created with Elders and Storytellers.
  • Strong Nations
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    An Indigenous-owned publisher and bookstore offering a wide selection of books and learning materials.
  • Portage & Main Press / HighWater Press
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    Publishes books and resources that reflect Indigenous perspectives and experiences.
  • GoodMinds.com
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    A trusted source for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit books and educational materials.

Pedagogical Guides

These guides can help educators think more carefully about language, relationality, and pedagogical approaches when engaging with Indigenous perspectives.

  • Elements of Indigenous Style (Greg Younging)
    View resource
    A guide that supports respectful and appropriate language when teaching about Indigenous Peoples.
  • First Peoples Principles of Learning
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    A framework that supports holistic, relational, and land-based learning approaches.
  • Circles and Stories (Learning Bird)
    Read article
    Supports storytelling and listening practices in the classroom.

Videos and Multimedia

Multimedia resources offer additional ways to engage with storytelling through listening, observation, and reflection.

  • Indigenous Storytelling: Expanding Ways of Knowing and Learning
    Watch on YouTube
    A video resource that explores storytelling as a way of understanding knowledge, identity, and relationships in Indigenous contexts.
  • Jo-ann Archibald – The Role of Indigenous Stories
    Storywork website
    A suggested video and website resource connected to Storywork and Indigenous education.
  • Robin Wall Kimmerer – Whispers of Sweetgrass and Moss
    Watch on YouTube
    A recorded talk that supports reflective learning about relationships with the land and storytelling as a way of knowing.

How These Resources Can Be Used

These resources can be approached in different ways depending on the needs of the learner or educator. Some may be useful for building background understanding before reading picture books or planning activities. Others may support reflection after engaging with the Teaching, Pedagogy, or Respectful Practice pages of this website.

For educators, these materials can also support ongoing professional learning. Rather than treating storytelling as a single strategy or theme, they can help deepen understanding of storytelling as a relational and ethical approach to teaching.

In this way, the Resources page is intended as an invitation to continue learning. It encourages users to move beyond the website itself and engage with broader conversations, voices, and materials related to Indigenous storytelling and pedagogy.

Key Takeaway

Learning about Indigenous storytelling is an ongoing process that requires time, reflection, humility, and care. These resources support further exploration and remind educators that respectful engagement with storytelling involves continued listening, learning, and relationship-building.