Search for Resources
Description
The National Healing Forests Initiative is an invitation to Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, institutions, and individuals to create green spaces throughout Canada to honour residential school victims, survivors, and their families, as well as murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls and children who have been or were removed from their families.
The resource encourages teachers and students to create a healing forest or space and build on the ideas around the National Healing Forest to become involved in the reconciliation and healing journey. The healing forest could be a green space inside or outside of your school where you learn to grow and care for plants. It could be a class/school-wide initiative where you build a designated Healing Forest area in your schoolyard. This activity may inspire a community outreach program where a designated area within your community is used to create and learn.
Once teachers have chosen a space for their healing forest, students will assess the health of the forest by identifying different plant and tree species through leaves, bark, seed pods and flowers. Using the observation table provided, students will record the data. With the help of a plant identification book or iNaturalist, students will attempt to identify the tree and plant species in their forest. Using the point system provided, students will draw conclusions from their data and discuss how they can improve the health and diversity of forests.
General Assessment
Recommendation of how and where to use it
This activity is an excellent way to create an outdoor learning space while participating in an action towards Truth and Reconciliation, honouring residential school survivors and their families. The suggested outdoor activity is easy to use and geared for grades 7 to 12.
Your designated Healing Forest can be a place to invite Elders to present talks, teachings, and stories or a special space where survivors can share and reflect on their experiences. An area could be set aside in the Healing Forest to grow medicinal plants and trees.
Relevant Curriculum Units
The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.
- Step 1Select a province
- Alberta
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Knowledge and Employability: Shape and Space
- Shape and Space
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Knowledge and Employability Social Studies 8: Isolation and Adaptation
- Grade 9
- Step 3Select a subject
- Environmental Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Environment and Outdoor Education: Commitment to Action
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Knowlege And Employability: Shape and Space
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Biological Diversity
- Grade 10
- Step 3Select a subject
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Social Studies 10-1(Perspectives on Globalization) Legacy of Historical Globalization
- Grade 11
- Step 3Select a subject
- Indigenous Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Aboriginal Studies 20: Legislation, Policies and Cultural Change
- Aboriginal Studies 20: Schooling and Cultural Change
- British Columbia
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- 7th Century to 1750: Exploration, expansion, and colonization had varying consequences for different groups
- Grade 9
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 9: The biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere are interconnected, as matter cycles and energy flows through them.
- Grade 10
- Step 3Select a subject
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Social Studies 10 -Canada and the World: 1914 to the Present: Historical and contemporary injustices challenge the narrative and identity of Canada as an inclusive, multicultural society
- Grade 11
- Step 3Select a subject
- Environmental Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Environmental Science 11: Human practices affect the sustainability of ecosystems
- Environmental Science 11:Humans can play a role in stewardship and restoration of ecosystems
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Explorations in Social Studies 11: Indigenous peoples are reclaiming mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being despite the continuing effects of colonialism
- Grade 12
- Step 3Select a subject
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- B.C. First Peoples: The impact of contact and colonialism continues to affect the political, social, and economic lives of B.C. First Peoples
- Contemporary Indigenous Studies: Indigenous peoples are reclaiming mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being despite the continuing effects of colonialism
- Contemporary Indigenous Studies: Indigenous peoples continue to advocate and assert rights to self-determination
- Contemporary Indigenous Studies: Reconciliation requires all colonial societies to work together to foster healing and address injustices
- Social Justice: The causes of social injustice are complex and have lasting impacts on society
- Manitoba
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Shape and Space
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- World History: Socities of the Past -Understanding Societies Past and Present
- Grade 9
- Step 3Select a subject
- Indigenous Languages and Cultures
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: Other Cultures: Connections and Influences
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Shape and Space
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Canada in the Contemporary World:Diversity and Pluralism in Canada
- Grade 10
- Step 3Select a subject
- Indigenous Languages and Cultures
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: Other Cultures: Connections and Influences
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Senior 2 Science: Dynamics of Ecosystems
- Grade 11
- Step 3Select a subject
- Indigenous Languages and Cultures
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: Other Cultures: Connections and Influences
- Grade 12
- Step 3Select a subject
- Indigenous Languages and Cultures
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: Specific Aboriginal Culture
- Indigenous Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Current Topics in First Nations, Métis and Inuit Studies: A profound ambivalence: First nations, Métis, and Inuit relations with Government
- Current Topics in First Nations, Métis and Inuit Studies: Towards a Just Society
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Citizenship and Sustainability: Area of Inquiry: Social Justice and Human Rights
- Citizenship and Sustainability:Area of Inquiry: Indigenous Peoples
- Global Issues
- Global Issues
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland & Labrador
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Space & Shape
- Grade 9
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Shape and Space
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Canadian Identity: Reflections on Canadian Identity: What it Means to be Canadian
- Northwest Territories
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Shape & Space
- Grade 10
- Step 3Select a subject
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Module 2: Residential Schools
- Northern Studies
- Social Studies 10 -Canada and the World: 1914 to the Present: Historical and contemporary injustices challenge the narrative and identity of Canada as an inclusive, multicultural society
- Nova Scotia
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Measurement
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Social Studies 8 - A Changing Canadian Society: Equity and Inequity
- Social Studies 8 - A Changing Canadian Society: Indigenous Experience
- Grade 9
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Measurement
- Nunavut
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Knowledge and Employability: Shape and Space
- Shape & Space
- Grade 9
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Knowlege And Employability: Shape and Space
- Shape and Space
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Biological Diversity
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- The Growth of Canada: Canada: History to the 20th Century
- Ontario
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 7
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Data
- Spatial Sense
- Science & Technology
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Life Systems: Interactions in the Environment
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Spatial Sense
- Grade 9
- Grade 11
- Step 3Select a subject
- Environmental Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Environmental Science (Univ/College Prep.) Human Health and the Environment
- Indigenous Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Contemporary First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Issues and Perspectives (univ./college prep.) Cultural Identity and Cultural Continuity
- World Views and Aspirations of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Communities in Canada ( Workplace prep.):Reclamation and Reconciliation
- World Views and Aspirations of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Communities in Canada (College prep.):Reclamation and Reconciliation
- Grade 12
- Step 3Select a subject
- Indigenous Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Governance in Canada (Univ./College Prep): Self-Determination, Sovereignty, and Self-Goverance
- Prince Edward Island
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Space & Shape
- Grade 9
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Shape and Space
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Interdependence: Atlantic Canada in the Global Community: Human Rights in the Global Community
- Saskatchewan
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 7
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Mathematics 8: Shape and Space
- Grade 9
- Step 3Select a subject
- Math
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Math 9: Shape and Space
- Grade 11
- Step 3Select a subject
- Environmental Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Environmental Science 20: Integrative Nature of Environmental Science
- Yukon Territory
- Step 2Select a grade level
- Grade 8
- Step 3Select a subject
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- 7th Century to 1750: Exploration, expansion, and colonization had varying consequences for different groups
- Grade 9
- Step 3Select a subject
- Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Science 9: The biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere are interconnected, as matter cycles and energy flows through them.
- Grade 10
- Step 3Select a subject
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Social Studies 10 -Canada and the World: 1914 to the Present: Historical and contemporary injustices challenge the narrative and identity of Canada as an inclusive, multicultural society
- Grade 11
- Step 3Select a subject
- Environmental Science
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Environmental Science 11: Human practices affect the sustainability of ecosystems
- Environmental Science 11:Humans can play a role in stewardship and restoration of ecosystems
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- Explorations in Social Studies 11: Indigenous peoples are reclaiming mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being despite the continuing effects of colonialism
- Grade 12
- Step 3Select a subject
- Social Studies
- Step 4Relevant matches
- B.C. First Peoples: The impact of contact and colonialism continues to affect the political, social, and economic lives of B.C. First Peoples
- Contemporary Indigenous Studies: Indigenous peoples are reclaiming mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being despite the continuing effects of colonialism
- Contemporary Indigenous Studies: Indigenous peoples continue to advocate and assert rights to self-determination
- Contemporary Indigenous Studies: Reconciliation requires all colonial societies to work together to foster healing and address injustices
Themes Addressed
Ecosystems (1)
- Appreciating the Natural World
Land Use & Natural Resources (1)
- Forests
