Discover First Peoples Oral Histories and Family Traditions!

First Peoples in Canada share stories by speaking out loud. You listen carefully and remember the story. This is called an oral history.

You can learn about Family Stories and how they connect to oral histories. Stories help you know where your family comes from.

A tradition is a special way of doing something your family does again and again. Making bannock together or dancing the Red River Jig are traditions. Traditions help you feel connected to your family.

You can explore Family Celebrations and Cultural Festivals to see more traditions families share together.

An elder is a wise older person in the community. Elders share oral histories with younger people. You learn important lessons by listening to elders.

Inuit elders in the Arctic share stories about living on the land. Métis elders share stories about dancing and community. First Nations elders may speak in their own language, like Halkomelem or Squamish.

Oral stories teach you about history, respect, community, and memory. You learn how to treat the land and animals kindly. You learn who your family is and what they believe in.

You can also learn about Family Origins and Immigration Stories to understand where different families come from.

Story: A story is a tale told out loud. When an elder tells you a story, you listen and remember it.

Elder: An elder is a wise older person who shares knowledge with younger people in the community.

Tradition: A tradition is a special way of doing something that is passed down through families. Making bannock every year is a tradition.

Listen: To listen means to pay careful attention. You listen to oral stories so you can remember and share them later.

Oral History: An oral history is a story shared by speaking and listening, not by writing it down.

History: History means events from the past that are remembered and shared.

Respect: Respect means treating people, animals, and the land with care.

Community: A community is the group of people who live together and support each other.

Memory: Memory is how people keep important things in mind so they are never forgotten.

You can help keep traditions alive by listening carefully to elders and grandparents. You can join in family traditions like sharing a special meal or dancing together. Someday you can share these stories with your own family.

Explore Listening Skills and Expressing Ideas to practice how you listen and share stories. You can also look at Multiple Expression Methods to find new ways to share what you know.

Family artifacts and comparisons also help you understand traditions. Check out Family Artifacts and Then and Now Comparisons to see how traditions change over time.

Learning about oral histories helps you get ready for bigger topics. You will soon explore First Peoples Ways of Life and First Peoples History. These topics build on what you learn here about stories and traditions.

You can also look at Languages and Communication to understand how First Peoples share their stories in their own languages.

Many topics connect to First Peoples oral histories. Family Stories shows you how all families share stories. Cultural Festivals shows you how traditions are celebrated together. Family Celebrations helps you see how families mark special days.

Family Origins and Immigration Stories help you understand where families come from. Languages and Communication shows you how people share ideas using words. Family Artifacts and Then and Now Comparisons help you see how traditions change over time.

Expressing Ideas, Multiple Expression Methods, and Listening Skills all help you share and receive stories. Together, all these topics help you understand and respect First Peoples cultures in Canada.