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Survivor Truths: The Art of Reconciliation

Activities

There are two types of activities: Package Activities and Object Activities.

Package Activities are project-based activities designed to accommodate one or more classes. These activities involve the use of historical thinking concepts while exploring the whole package, resulting in a more comprehensive experience.

Object Activities are short inquiry-based activities that typically take 5–25 minutes. These activities encourage students to think critically about the objects being presented, and to use historical thinking concepts.

Both types of activities were created with the guidance of educators from across Canada, and incorporate current educational theory and approaches.

Package Activities

Explore project-based Package Activities by scrolling down.

This theme focuses on activities related to objects. Please refer to the objects within the topics for more information.

Object Activities

Explore inquiry-based Object Activities by clicking on individual objects below.

Robert Aller and the Alberni Indian Residential School

4 OBJECTS

Black-and-white photograph of a light-skinned adult man looking at art and taking notes.

Robert Aller at work

Image of large three-storey red-brick building overlooking the water.

Alberni Indian Residential School

Colour photo of a group of older adults holding framed artworks.

Repatriation ceremony, Port Alberni, British Columbia

A still from a video. A light-skinned adult woman with long, dark grey hair. She is wearing a dark long-sleeved shirt and a necklace.

Returning the paintings

Art as Truth

7 OBJECTS

Painting of a wolf howling, within the face of another wolf. Painted in shades of black, white and grey.

Untitled, by Dennis Thomas, Ditidaht First Nation

Painting of a beach landscape. There are no people or buildings.

The Beach, by Georgina (Gina) Laing (Cootes), Uchucklesaht First Nation

Painting of a raven’s head. The raven is painted in black, and the background is grey.

Raven, by Jeffrey Cook, Huu-ay-aht First Nation

A painted landscape of a mountain in the background and water in the foreground.

Meares Island, by Charles August, Ahousaht First Nation

Painting of a log jam with a large bird in the foreground.

Untitled, by Arthur Bolton, Tsimshian First Nation

Painting of a stylized whale in a fishing net.

Sockeye Salmon, by Mark Atleo, Ahousaht First Nation

A painting of a fishing boat in the water. There are three figures in the boat. There is a mountain landscape in the background.

Untitled, by Phyllis Tate (1944-1975), Ditidaht First Nation

Survivor Stories

8 OBJECTS

A still from a video clip, showing an older adult male with medium skin tone and short dark hair wearing glasses and a navy shirt with flowers on it.

Dennis Thomas oral history

A still from a video clip, showing an older adult woman with medium skin tone and medium-length greying hair. She is wearing glasses, a blue shirt, and a black cardigan. She has her hands resting on a walking stick.

Gina Laing oral history

Difficult Content

A still from a video clip, showing an older adult man with medium skin tone and dark hair. He is wearing glasses and a grey polo shirt.

Jeffrey Cook oral history

A still from a video clip, showing an older adult man with medium skin tone and dark hair. He is wearing a black T-shirt, glasses, and a dark baseball hat.

Charles August oral history

Difficult Content

A still from a video clip, showing an older adult man with medium skin tone and grey hair that is pulled back. He is wearing a long-sleeved white shirt with no collar.

Art Bolton oral history

A still from a video, showing two women seated next to each other. One woman is an older adult with a medium skin tone and medium-length grey hair. She is wearing glasses and a blue shirt with a black cardigan, and is holding a walking stick. The woman next to her is an adult with shoulder-length dark hair and a medium skin tone. She is wearing a black shirt with a white sweater and a necklace.

Gina Laing and April Martin oral history

Difficult Content

A still from a video clip, showing an older adult man with medium skin tone and dark hair. He is wearing a navy polo shirt.

Mark Atleo oral history

Difficult Content

A still from a video, showing an adult woman with medium skin tone and shoulder-length dark hair. She is standing and holding a large piece of art. The art features a multicoloured mask.

Shelley Chester oral history

Reflection

2 OBJECTS

Two men holding an art work.

Mark Atleo holding his painting with his son, Mark Atleo Jr.

A still from a video. A light-skinned adult woman with long, dark grey hair. She is wearing a dark long-sleeved shirt and a necklace.

Being a witness

Explore Other Packages

Sepia photograph showing church congregation dressed in their Sunday best. - Une photographie sépia montrant des membres d’une paroisse en habits du dimanche.

African Nova Scotians: 20th Century Canadian Legacies

Over the past 400 years, African Nova Scotians have created communities, shaped their own identities, and made significant contributions to Canadian society. Explore African Nova Scotian community life, arts and culture, and advancements in civil rights through objects, images and oral history.

Black-and-white photograph of a Black man speaking into a microphone during a protest march.

Revolution Remix: Systemic Racism and Black Empowerment Movements in 1960s Canada

In the 1960s, the civil rights movement gathered support through protest marches, university sit-ins, and the awareness of scholars and leaders of African descent. It was a time of empowerment, liberation and awareness for people seeking equality.

Black-and-white photograph of woman reading a book with three children.

Early Black Communities

Since the 17^th century, people of African descent have come to Canada in various capacities, have formed thriving communities, and, despite battling decades of systemic anti-Black racism across the country, have continued to enrich Canada’s cultural, social and historical identities.