Today I am going to be sharing with you 5 French books on residential schools. It is incredibly important that our students understand the magnitude of the traumas inflicted on Indigenous peoples in residential schools.
All 5 of these books are in French and are picture books appropriate for Elementary-aged students and older. There is a number of activities that you can do with your students to demonstrate their understanding.
Additionally, if you teach Indigenous students, please ensure that you are speaking to counsellors and family members in advance. This is a crucial step to avoid re-inflicting trauma on those students.
1. Les bas du pensionnat
This is a 7 chapter story about Margaret a 7 year-old Inuit girl who lives near Aklavik.
Margaret desperately wants to attend the same residential school her father attended, but her father will not allow that. She dreams to read, write and attend this school her half-sister also attends.
After attempting to convince her father for months, her father reluctantly agrees to allow her to attend residential school. Margaret discovers all too soon that the school is nothing like home and that the sisters are nothing like her family.
2. Quand j’avais huit ans
This picture book and Les bas du pensionnats are written by the same authors. Quand j’avais huit ans is a condensed version of Les bas du pensionnat.
3. Shi-shi-etko
This story is about Shi-shi-etko, a little girl who is about to leave for residential school for the first time.
Days before leaving, Shi-shi-etko spends all her time outdoors and with her family. She savours the way the sand feels under her toes, the sound of bees buzzing around her and the tall grasses swaying from the wind. She savours all the sights, sounds, and feel of everything and everyone she finds comforting and familiar.
In the end, Shi-shi-etko promises to herself that no matter what happens at school, she will never forget all of the lessons her family taught her and the memories she holds in her heart.
4. La pirogue de Shin-chi
La pirogue de Shini-chi, written by the same authors as Shi-shi-etko, features the story of Shin-chi who is Shi-shi-etko’s little brother. Before leaving for school, the two siblings ask their father if he will make them a new canoe.
During their long journey to school, Shi-shi-etko comforts her little brother by reminding him about the best part of home and she tells him important. When they arrive at the school, she gives him the little oak canoe that.
5. L’histoire du chandail orange
This book is absolutely one that you should begin with, if your students are completely new to the history of Orange Shirt Day.
Phyllis Webstad went shopping with her grandmother before attending her residential school. Her grandmother purchased her a brand new orange shirt and she could not wait to wear it on her first day of school.
When Phyllis got to her school, the sisters took Phyllis’ shirt cruelly. The orange shirt has become a symbol of the trauma and pain inflicted on Indigenous children in residential schools.
Do you know of French resources on residential schools?
Do you know of French Books on Residential Schools not mentioned in this post? Please share with us in the comments below!
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