The gap most teachers are quietly facing
Indigenous languages are written into K–12 curricula in nearly every Canadian province. Saskatchewan lists Cree, Dakota, Nakoda, Saulteaux, Michif and Dene as approved languages of instruction. British Columbia embeds the First Peoples' Principles of Learning across every subject. Alberta offers a full Cree Language and Culture program of studies. Manitoba formally recognizes Aboriginal Languages and Cultures. Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick each have their own framework too.
Inside most schools, though, these outcomes go unmet. The reason is practical. Most teachers do not speak an Indigenous language. They have not had specific training on one. And nobody has handed them a ready-made kit they can actually use on a Monday morning. The policy is there. The classroom-ready resource is not. That is the gap Canadian Languages was built to close.
Our promise to teachers. Every kit is built so that a teacher who does not speak a word of the language can open a browser, print one PDF, press play on a video, and run a respectful and accurate class in a regular 50 to 55 minute period.
What a Canadian Languages lesson contains
Each lesson is a complete kit, not a pile of loose resources you have to stitch together. You can download it in under a minute, or use it straight in the browser. No account. No login. No paywall. Ever.
- A 20-minute video, taught by a teacher who speaks the language at home, filmed on the land, with English subtitles and subtitles in the language itself.
- A printable student handout (PDF) with vocabulary, a simple pronunciation guide, practice exercises, and a short quiz. Fits on one or two sheets.
- A teacher lesson plan (PDF) with clear learning objectives tied to provincial outcomes, a full script of the video, suggested timings, cultural notes, extension activities, and a quiz answer key.
- A 3-minute in-class quiz you can use as your formative assessment.
- A plain curriculum alignment statement so you can document exactly which outcomes the lesson satisfies.
Curriculum alignment across Canada
Here is a summary of how our Nakoda pilot unit maps to the most common K–12 frameworks. Future languages will follow the same pattern.
| Province / Framework | Relevant Outcome or Principle | How our kit meets it |
|---|---|---|
| Saskatchewan · Indigenous Languages K–12 | CR.1 Listen and respond to oral texts; CC.1 Use simple phrases in greetings and introductions | Lesson 1 delivers greetings, self-introduction vocabulary, and guided listening practice with a native speaker. |
| British Columbia · First Peoples' Principles of Learning | "Learning is holistic, reflexive, reflective, experiential, and relational"; "Learning involves generational roles and responsibilities" | Video led by a community Elder-adjacent teacher, filmed on the home territory of the language, with cultural context. |
| Alberta · Cree Language and Culture / similar frameworks | Communication: interact in the target language on familiar topics; Culture: demonstrate understanding of Indigenous worldviews | Parallel vocabulary sets and cultural notes translate cleanly to Alberta's structure. Same pedagogical frame. |
| Manitoba · Aboriginal Languages and Cultures | "Language is more than communication; it carries cultural identity" | Every lesson pairs language with a cultural note drawn from the community where it was filmed. |
| National · Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action #63 | "Building student capacity for intercultural understanding, empathy, and mutual respect" | Brings Indigenous voices directly into every Canadian classroom, in the language itself. |
| International · UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Art. 14 | Right of Indigenous peoples to establish and control their educational systems in their own languages | All content is produced together with community teachers. Every lesson is reviewed by the community before it is published. |
How to teach your first lesson, in about 5 minutes of prep
The day before
Open the lesson page. Watch the video once. Skim the teacher guide. Print the student handout, one per student plus a few spares. Decide if you want to stop the video partway through for a short oral repetition practice. We recommend it, but it is not mandatory.
In class
Start with the cultural context on page 1 of the teacher guide. Two or three sentences about the language and the community it comes from. Hand out the worksheet. Play the video from start to finish (or segment by segment if you prefer). Run the quiz at the end. Finish with a quick oral practice: students greet each other in the language, using the phrase they just learned.
Class time: 45 to 55 minutes. Prep time: under 10 minutes.
You do not need to speak the language to teach this lesson. The video does the linguistic work. Your job is to frame the lesson, run the room, and assess. The same thing you do every day with every other subject.
Frequently asked questions from teachers
Do I need to pronounce the words correctly myself?
No. The video gives the native pronunciation. Your job is to model respect and curiosity. You do not need to be a speaker yourself.
Are these lessons approved by the community?
Every lesson is developed with a teacher from the language's own community. Every video is shown to community members and checked before it goes online. Nothing is published that has not been reviewed.
Can I use these lessons for French immersion or other immersion programs?
Yes. The materials translate cleanly into any language of instruction. The English subtitles and the teacher guide can be adapted. Write to us if you need a French-language teacher guide. We are building those as we go.
Is there a cost, now or in the future?
No. Canadian Languages is, and will stay, free for K–12 educators. No accounts, no paywalls, no ads.
My school's WiFi is unreliable. Can I download the video?
Yes. Every lesson page has a download link for the handout and the video, so you can teach offline.
What grade range is each lesson designed for?
Each lesson page tells you its recommended grade range. Units 1 and 2 of the Nakoda pilot are built for Grades 3 to 7. Later units will cover earlier grades (K to 2) and higher grades (8 to 12) as we go.
I want my language added. How do I start a conversation?
Write to us at canadian@canadianlanguages.org. We partner case by case with community teachers, Band offices and school divisions.
Ready to teach?
The pilot Nakoda lesson, Greetings and Introductions with Theresa O'Watch, goes online after May 25, 2026. In the meantime, have a look at the language roadmap, or get in touch.