Resources for Children & Youth

There are a lot of things to help young people be supported and understand COVID-19 and pandemics. Here are a few:

From the Caring Society

• The Alberta Government, jack.org and Kids Help Phone have teamed up to create a COVID-19 Youth Mental Health Resource Hub. Check it out!
   
• Spirit Bear has made his first book, Spirit Bear and Children Make History! available for free so that you can read it at home. Listen to Cindy Blackstock read the book in this video. 
   
• Spirit Bear’s #Hibernating4Health Guide to First Nations Children and Families Staying Safe during COVID-19 offers helpful suggestions on how to take care of Elders and children, practice ceremony, language, and art, and connect to the land safely under new circumstances. 
   
• Download Spirit Bear's Thank you to Essential Workers Colouring sheet to place in your window! (download below)
   
• Celebrating someone special while #Hibernating4Health? Check out Spirit Bear’s greeting cards (featured below) including Fathers’ Day, National Indigenous People’s Day, Graduation, and Sending Hugs & Love cards. Colour them in and send a photo to a loved one on their special day!
   
• Shannen’s Dream: Safe and Comfy Schools is a child-friendly information sheet about Shannen Koostachin’s fight for good schools for all First Nations kids.
   
• The First Peoples Child & Family Review is publishing a special children and youth edition about Shannen’s Dream. It’s looking for submissions from kids and youth now!
   
• Spirit Bear's 2020 Guide to Reconciliation Activity Book and Calendar support kids in engaging with reconciliation while having fun.
   

Other Resources for Kids and Youth

• Rebecca Vivrette and Jessica Dym Bartlett's article in Child Trends offers "Trauma-informed strategies for supporting children and youth in the child welfare system during COVID-19".
   
• BC's Representative for Children and Youth's website features podcasts and other online content by Indigenous youth for Indigenous youth and youth in care. 
   
• Pam Palmater’s Warrior Kids Podcast celebrates all things Indigenous. 
   
• N'we Jinan's Windcarriers Challenge invites Indigenous youth to make their own art, connect with other Indigenous youth, learn from professionals, and maybe even win prizes. Also check out N’we Jinan’s music videos by talented First Nations, Metis, and Inuit youth. 
   
• Kayak magazine’s 2018 issue, “We Are All Treaty People” explores treaties, their importance, and our responsibilities as treaty partners with kids in mind. 
   
• Isaac Murdoch’s telling of the Ojibwe Sacred Fisher Story offers important lessons about taking care of the Earth. 
   
• This colouring book by cartoonist Ricardo Caté and the State of New Mexico shares important health guidelines from an Indigenous perspective. 
   
• CBC’s “Original Voices” is packed with information, podcasts, and videos where Indigenous knowledge keepers and learners share their knowledge and explain why their languages are so important.
   
• This website by Georgian College compiles Anishnaabemowin/Ojibwe learning resources for kids and adults. 
   
• Hi-Ho Mistahey is a documentary by Alanis Obomsawin about Shannen Koostachin’s fight for equitable education that is suitable for teenage learners. Check it out and other stories told by Indigenous leaders on the NFB.
   
• Deadly Story is a portal aiming to support Aboriginal children and young people in connecting to their culture and community (based in Australia).
   
• Do you know your plant, tree, animal, bird, fish, and bug neighbours? iNaturalist is a website and app that can help you learn to identify plants and animals. This video by Cornell Lab of Ornithology also teaches how to start recognizing bird calls.
   
• Sesame Street has a website for kids with things to help them learn and be happy!
   
• GoodMinds.com has released a free Ebook to read with family and friends, Nuttah & Kitchi: Protect Our People, Stay Healthy, Keep Safe. 
   
• The Secret Life of Canada’s episode on the Indian Act explains the Indian Act’s impact on First Nations people since Confederation. The episode is accompanied by extra learning material and activities for teens. Also check out their shout out to teen water warrior Autumn Peltier and many other stories of Indigenous movers and shakers. 
   
• Kids Help Phone has created COVID-19 resources for parents, caregivers and children on how to cope and support each other.
   
• The National Science Foundation's website has a large collection of lessons and learning materials for youth and teachers. 
   
• The podcast, Wait, There's More recently made an episode addressing kids' questions about the coronavirus. 
   
• Visit Métis artist Christi Belcourt's Facebook page for free colouring sheets - Bird Song, Joy, and Turtle Woman
   
• The Smithsonian Science Education Center and the World Health Organization has launched a new COVID-19 Guide for Youth ages 8-17 that includes student-led tasks.