Feb 11 2026 Turtle Island Presentation & land acknowledgment, teams assignment & Canada Needs Thriving Indigenous Languages | Khelsilem | Ted Talk Viewing and Activity
Attendance.
1st half of double:
Silent Read 20 min - personal novel read books are located in the yellow bin underneath the windows.
Teacher please present: below link - via CBC kids site.
Turtle Island — where’s that? Presentation.
Host post presentation discussion on the content from the presentation. The story of Turtle Island.
Sample Class Discussion Questions
1. How does the name Turtle Island invite us to think differently about the land we live on compared to the name “Canada” or “North America”?
• What might be the significance of names that come from stories and worldview, rather than political boundaries?
• Why do you think it matters whose names we use for the land?
2. Creation stories like Turtle Island are passed down through oral tradition. What value do these stories have for Indigenous communities, and how might they influence the way people understand their relationship to land and each other?
• How are these stories different from scientific explanations of land formation?
• What might be gained by listening to both kinds of stories?
3. The story of Turtle Island often includes animals working together to support life on Earth. What lessons about cooperation, respect for nature, and community can we draw from this story?
• How could these lessons connect to the land acknowledgement work you’ve done in class?
• Can you think of examples in your own life where working together benefits everyone?
4. Why is understanding Indigenous names and stories — like Turtle Island — important for reconciliation and for how we view the land and its original inhabitants?
• Encourage students to connect storytelling, land acknowledgements, and place‑based perspectives to their own identities and responsibilities as learners and community members.
Laptop Cart 3 - Time To: Complete Land Acknowledgment Assignment - from yesterday - Template & Paragraph - on the Teams Assignment.
If you are done your land acknowledgment > teams assignment you can go to Teams click on the homepage and go to resources to play
Turtle Island Skate Jam 2-
*Note - again I have added the above game to our Team > home page > Resources.
2nd Half -of class - after break -
Viewing of 8 min Ted Talk -
Canada Needs Thriving Indigenous Languages | Khelsilem | TEDxWestVancouverED
Task: After video - pair work & to end - class discussion.
Students to hand work in before class ends. 3 Questions below.
1. Identity & Language
Khelsilem talks about using his Indigenous name (given by his grandmother) and why language connects deeply to identity. How does language shape who we are and how we see the world? Give an example from your own experience (with English, French, or another language) or something Khelsilem says about Indigenous languages. How does language contribute to a person’s sense of belonging and cultural identity?
2. Impact of Colonization & Residential Schools
In the talk, Khelsilem explains how residential schools prohibited Indigenous children from speaking their languages — which led to a loss of language and culture in many communities. Reflect on why losing a language might also mean losing important cultural knowledge, stories, or connection to land. How does this history connect to your understanding of reconciliation?
3. Role of Young People & the Future
Khelsilem highlights that young people are learning and revitalizing Indigenous languages even with limited government support, and that Indigenous languages don’t have to be “dying” if people commit to learning them. What role do students and young people have in supporting Indigenous language revitalization? What are some actions you personally might take — small or big — to contribute to language and cultural appreciation?
Wrap‑Up Class Discussion Question
How does supporting Indigenous languages relate to reconciliation, and what might schools, communities, and individuals do to help make Indigenous languages thriving, not just remembered?
In your response, consider ideas from the video and connections to the land acknowledgment work you’ve done in class.
What does thriving language look like in everyday life (in school, in community events, in relationships)?
What challenges and opportunities do you see?
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