By Rachel Collishaw
Speak Truth to Power Canada – A new exhibit from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. A selection of 12 Canadians who are human rights defenders. They all start with an interview with the defender, and then move into biography, and the larger community of defenders. Some of the defenders are Jeremy Dias, Wilton Littlechild and Louise Arbour. They have been carefully selected to represent a cross-section of Canadians. Free to use, though still under construction.
Voices Into Action – Produced by Canadian organization FAST (Fighting Anti-Semitism Together) this is a powerful collection of videos, lessons, and personal stories of people fighting against all kinds of discrimination. The lessons are tied to numerous curricula. The Komagata Maru, the Armenian Genocide, Gender issues, Islamophobia and Irish Catholics in the 19th century. All are free to use, funded by FAST, but teachers need to register so the organization can track use.
Facing History and Ourselves – An organization based in the US with a Canadian chapter in Toronto. They specialize in creating empathy related to the holocaust and other atrocities. They offer teacher webinars and summer institutes ($$). They have a new book called Stolen Lives: The Indigenous Peoples of Canada and the Indian Residential Schools which is free to download, but you can purchase it in print. The have a vast collection of online lesson plans to create empathy for students of all levels. The writings of people who suffered discrimination are also easily searchable and available, such as this recollection of an Anishnabee-Ojibway woman on being called an Indian.
