Social Studies Grades 7-9

A history of Indigenous communities in the land that became Alberta in the time before contact with Europeans

A brief introduction to the Innu people whose traditional territory covered the area that later became Northern Quebec and Labrador.

This virtual exhibition looks at some facets of the history of Canada's Aboriginal peoples, underlining their fight for cultural survival and indicating the wealth of their modern-day contributions.

The Hiawatha wampum belt tells the story of the Haudenosaunee’s legendary founding and wampum’s power to heal. It tells of a warrior named Hiawatha who meets a prophet known as the Peacemaker. Together, with the help of Jigonsaseh, the first Clan Mother, they bring an end to war and create America’s first democracy.

This Heritage Minute tells the Iroquois story of Peacemaker. There is also a text version of the story.

A site that examines pre-contact Indigenous life in the landmass that would become Canada.

This teaching resource from Minecraft explores Indigenous treaty rights from pre to post contact. It also looks at relationships between government and indigenous communities.

The online, interactive LandMark map shows indigenous land throughout the world. This map provides information on lands that are collectively held and used by Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

3 Minecraft Education lessons developed for classrooms about Anishinaabe history, worldview and culture, in consultation with Knowledge Keepers and the Indigenous Education Team at Louis Riel School Division.

The Mi'kmaq Creation Story describes how life began for all things. This process occurred in seven stages or levels of creation.

The second part of the Mi'kmaq Creation Story describes how life began for all things. This process occurred in seven stages or levels of creation.

A digital map of treaty areas and traditional lands of Indigenous peoples around the world.

The Ojinway story of what happened after original people were created.

Joel tells the Ojibwe story of Turtle Island and why it is called Turtle Island.

An article from the archived Alberta Online Encyclopedia

This is the Haudenosaunee creation story of Sky Woman, who fell from the unseen world and landed on Turtle Island.

In Canada close to 30,000 official place names are, or may be, of Indigenous origin. This map offers a small sample of official geographical names selected by the federal, provincial and territorial naming authorities of the Geographical Names Board of Canada.

A teaching resource from Minecraft. Students will be part of an indigenous clan living prior to the 1700s. Their clan is tasked with building a traditional house.

Listen to traditional stories and creation stories told by six Indigenous storytellers from communities across Canada. Each recording is available in the respective Indigenous language and in English, and French transcripts are available.

Look back on the crucial stages of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham: context, preparation, siege of Quebec City and encounter. Over sixty interactive activities from four different viewpoints: French, British, Canadians and First Nations.

Perspectives of the British, Americans, Canadians, and Indigenous peoples of the War of 1812

This timeline of the Acadians spans 400 years, starting in the early 1600's. Learn how Acadians have worked to maintain their unique language and culture.

A 4 minute video that provides an overview of the beaver fur trade in Canada and why it started.

Learn all about beaver hats and how this men's fashion impacted the colonization of Canada.

This timeline shows key events and contributions for Black Canadians in the history and development of Canada. You can change the time limitations at the front of the timeline.

Learn more about immigration to Canada as you explore this timeline, from 1753 up to 2016.

This article explores the relationships between Indigenous peoples and the French colonists in the period prior to Confederation.

This timeline explains the events leading to two French rebellions against Upper Canada in the time before Confederation, as well as events during the rebellions.

An overview of the life, accomplishments, and possible motivations of Samuel de Champlain.

Learn how the Hudson Bay Company used fur as a form of currency in the early days of the colonization of Canada. Learn about the other innovative ways they had of conducting business in a country without money.

This resource from Manitoba Education explores the history of the relationships between Indigenous peoples and French settlers in North America prior to 1763.

Learn all about the fur trade, the voyageurs and "Les Coureurs des Bois" through text and drawings.

Lost in translation? The explorer's first meeting with Iroquoian peoples provides one story of how Canada got its name (1534).

Mohawk Chief John Norton and 80 Grand River warriors hold off American soldiers until reinforcements arrive and the Battle of Queenston Heights is won (1812).

This Heritage minute and the biography below the video tell of Richard Pierpoint, a man born in Senegal who become a slave, a soldier and an amazing Canadian.

This short video depicts what it may have been like to use the Underground Railroad, a secret path for some enslaved African Americans to escape to freedom in Canada in the 1850s.

A site that documents 16th century contact between the Inuit and white explorers

This interactive map of 19th century North America presents a geographical view of the major events and battles of the War of 1812. The movements and size of the American and British troops and of Tecumseh's Native Alliance are shown for each major event.

This video from the McCord Museum looks at the effects of the rebellions of 1837-1838 on the rights of French Canadians.

A lesson plan for grades 4-9 students from the Rupertsland Institute that explores the role of scrip Métis-Settler relationships.

This brief video discusses Samuel de Champlain's role as an early colonizer of Canada.

A re-enactment of the historic battle for the Plains of Abraham, a pivotal moment in the creation of Canada

A more detailed article about the Two Row Wampum Treaty between Dutch settlers and the Haudenosaunee. It is the basis of all treaty relationships in Canada.

Thanadelthur, the “Ambassadress of Peace,” was instrumental in negotiating peace between the Chipewyan and Cree people. She was a fascinating and courageous woman whose actions had a huge impact on the history of Hudson's Bay Company

Learn about the Two Row Wampum treaty -- the original treaty agreement in Canada and it is still in effect today. Written from the Indigenous perspective.

This site has information about everyday life in New France. The site includes New France ABC (with historical artifacts that show how they lived), as well as information about the "filles du roi", First Nations peoples in New France, and pictures of Quebec.

The American perspective of the War of 1812 is presented by PBS

The War of 1812 from the perspective of Canada.

Americans have invaded Upper Canada and Laura Secord’s house has been turned into an impromptu barracks. After overhearing American soldiers discussing plans for a sneak attack, she sets out on a long and treacherous journey to alert the British troops.

A teacher's resource page from the Canadian Museum of History that includes collection of digitized museum artifacts, archival documents, video clips, audio clips, and activity suggestions for your class.

Enjoy this fun rap about this events of Confederation in Canada

Scroll down to see the timeline. The timeline starts in June of 1864 and goes all the way to decisions in 1999 and 2014 regarding First Nations land titles. Click on the embedded links to access additional articles or information.

Who were the Fathers of Confederation? This article addresses the men traditionally regarded as the Fathers of Confederation as well as other individuals that deserve consideration for their contributions.

This Canadian Museum of History site offers a view of the past, present and future of the electoral process in Canada. Take a journey through time, view the Timeline of events or visit the chronicles section.

Two politicians from Upper and Lower Canada work together to help shape democratic reforms for all of Canada (1841).

Cartier, as an ally of Sir John A. Macdonald, was a key part to the Confederation talks. He shared the dream of a national railway and a union of provinces.

Sir John A. Macdonald was a dominant force behind the British North America Act and the union of provinces which became Canada. As the first prime minister of Canada, he oversaw the expansion of the country.

This video describes the building of Canada's National Railway. Not only did they make modern travel and trade possible, but they were also at the heart of Canada's growth as a nation.

This is an extensive study of Sir Sandford Fleming, the man who participated in the construction of Canada's national railroad and who created the universal system of time zones. There are four sections; about the time he lived in, his immigration to Canada, his travels and his development of time as we know it.

Lessons and resources to use with students will exploring how the Canadian Confederation happened. If you click the links, there is a sign-in prompt -- but you can bypass the sign-in by clicking the image instead and you will be able to access all the Google slides associated with that image

Learn about Batoche. Click on 1885 and be guided through the 1885 Metis settlement in Batoche by a host of your choice. Explore all areas of the town, play games and pick up some useful facts along the way.

Scroll down to see the timeline. The timeline starts in June of 1864 and goes all the way to decisions in 1999 and 2014 regarding First Nations land titles. Click on the embedded links to access additional articles or information.

An article that discusses French-English relations in Canada from 1830 to the 1995 referendum and its aftermath.

Learn more about immigration to Canada as you explore this timeline, from 1753 up to 2016.

The Canadian Encyclopedia provides a timeline of the life of Métis leader Louis Riel. Scroll to the right or use your mouse's trackball to find events and related resources.

This timeline provides key dates in the history of Indigenous suffrage. The timeline moves from 1885 to 2016.

A museum site that share objects, photographs; and documents brought by immigrants into Canada

Often referred to as the Father of Manitoba, Louis Riel, the leader of the Métis people of the Canadian Prairies, sought to preserve Métis rights and culture during a turbulent time in Canadian history.

This Canadian Museum of History site offers a view of the past, present and future of the electoral process in Canada. Take a journey through time, view the Timeline of events or visit the chronicles section.

Resources to use with students to explore Canada in the post-confederation period. If you click the links, you will be prompted to sign in. If you click the links, there is a sign-in prompt -- but you can bypass the sign-in by clicking the image instead and you will be able to access all the Google slides associated with that image

This video is about the Métis leader, Louis Riel, as he reflects upon his struggle for his people in the moments before his execution in November, 1885.

Canada's system of government began as an off-shoot of Great Britain's Westminster System, but over the years, has evolved into something uniquely Canadian. Learn the history of Canada's Parliament.

This site documents the history of Métis people in Western Canada generally and specifically in Alberta.

Learn about how dogsleds came to be used for mail service in the Yukon

The Mi'kmaq dice-and-bowl game Waltes, played since at least before settler contact, is experiencing a resurgence. This article briefly explains the game and focuses on the importance of games as part of cultural heritage.

This article tells the story of Sitting Bull's decision to lead his people out of the United States

This Indigenous-created free video game is downloadable to desktops. It is a point-and-click game that educates players about the impact of colonization on Indigenous communities in the 1890's.

This article provides a brief overview of the Quiet Revolution in Quebec and includes a 3 minute video. There are also links to related articles for further learning.

An overview of the League of Nations (which later became the Unite Nations) and Canada's role as a founding member of the League.

Learn about the service of the elite unit of Cree Code Talkers who served in World War II

Learn about the thousands of Canadian Indigenous peoples that served in the Canadian military forces in the World Wars, mostly voluntarily.

Canada was a founding member of the United Nations. Learn more about our history with this lasting form of international government.

This is a 1974 CBC archive video about Nellie McClung's mock parliament of 1914 and her work as a suffragist.

Paul Cowan's film the legal battle over abortion waged by Dr. Henry Morgentaler in Quebec and in federal courts between 1970 and 1976. This docudrama unravels the complexities of the case that began as a challenge to Canada's abortion laws and turned into a precedent-setting civil rights case.

Zacharias Kunuk directed this documentary of the High Arctic Relocation in 1953 where the government relocated communities with promises of resources to improve land claims on a international stage. The documentary is told from an Inuit point of view. Inuktitut with English subtitles

This Canadian Museum of History site offers a view of the past, present and future of the electoral process in Canada. Take a journey through time, view the Timeline of events or visit the chronicles section.

An encyclopedia article that examines the acts of genocide against Indigenous peoples in Canada

A news interactive from CBC that explores the 1917 explosion in Halifax Harbour

A column from the Edmonton Journal about the Supreme Court decision that established human rights for LGBTQ people in Canada

An article that looks at how Canada used internment of it's own citizens in both world wars.

This site examines that change in Canadian thinking about medical care -- how it changed from a commodity to a right in our country.

This video describes the changing face of Canada during the early twentieth century.

This video reminds us of the contributions to WWI made by Black soldiers in Canada. A poem read during the video reveals the lack of recognition there was for their sacrifices.

A multipage article that explains the context and the events of the October Crisis in Quebec.

In 1956, facing a possible international war in Egypt, Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson stood in the United Nations and proposed the creation of the UN Emergency Response Force (which later became the UN Peacekeepers). His proposal was accepted, the UNERF was deployed to Egypt, and a war was diverted.

A teaching resource from Manitoba Education that encourages students to discuss the effects of assimilative policies on French language and culture in Canada.

This article explains the discontent that led to the Quebec referendum on independence from Canada in 1980 and the events that eventually led to a second referendum

This 2020 article in the Montreal Gazette looks back at the 1980 Quebec Referendum and the sharp divisions it exposed in Quebec society.

This video from the Government of Canada describes the most famous tea parties in Canada. Learn about the Famous Five, their tea parties, and their fight to have women recognized as "persons" under the law.

This CBC article from April 2015 provides some background about Canada's involvement in the Vietnam War.

This CBC article from April 2015 describes the challenges of Vietnamese refugees, starting in 1975. The article also describes Canada's role in accepting refugees.

An article about Canada's role in World War II written from the perspectives of the Americans

When we talk about the Constitution of Canada, we’re not talking about a single document, but rather a bunch of different ones that make up the highest levels of Canadian law. Let's learn more about it on this site!

Passed in June 2017, Bill C-16 has become part of a larger conversation surrounding gender, pronoun use, freedom of speech, and the rights of transgender and gender-diverse Canadians.

Look at the data from the Canadian Census (2021) to learn about the current characteristics of the Canadian population.

In 2003, Ontario and British Columbia became the first two provinces to legalize same-sex marriage. Learn about how this change spread across Canada in the early 21st century.

This War Museum link to the Afghanistan gallery has several sections that describe events in Afghanistan, accompanied by photos by journalists.

A news article from the CBC in 2006 that documents the recognition of Quebec as a nation within Canada

In this video, Indigenous activists, artists and journalists Ian Campeau, Sarain Fox, Tanya Talaga, Jesse Wente and Riley Yesno examine the United Nations' definition of genocide and discuss the final report of the national inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Chief Robert Joseph shares his experience as a residential school survivor and the importance of truth and reconciliation in Canada.

A 2017 Quebec government report on the policy on Québec affirmation and Canadian relations.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was established in 2008 to document the experiences of residential school Survivors before, during and after their time in residential schools and to lay the foundation for a new relationship based on mutual respect and understanding in Canada.

A CBC docu-drama series highlighting many of the extraordinary moments and people that helped forge a nation from early Indigenous history to the 20th century.