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Not My Girl

Elementary

Description

The picture book Not My Girl tells the story of Margaret, a young Inuit girl who returns home after two years at the outsiders' school away from her family and culture. Margaret struggles to readjust to the ways of home. Now ten years old, she has forgotten her language and the skills to hunt and fish. She can't even stomach her mother's food. Her only comfort is in the books she learned to read at school. With time, she relearns the ways and words of her people and finds her rightful place. This story is based on the true story of Margaret Pokiak-Fenton.

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

Not My Girl is an excellent picture book for younger students to create an understanding of the stories of young First Nations members returning home from residential schools. The book describes the struggles in an accessible manner for younger audiences. This book could be read with When I Was Eight as a unit study for younger students. The book could be used with older students to discuss social justice issues.

Relevant Curriculum Units

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    • Grade 1
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Stories and other texts can be shared through pictures and words
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Local Communities: Healthy communities recognize and respect the diversity of individuals and care for the local environmen
    • Grade 2
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us
        • Stories and other texts connect us to ourselves, our families, and our communities
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Regional and Global Communities: Canada is made up of many diverse regions and communities
    • Grade 3
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us.
        • Stories can be understood from different perspectives
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Global Indigenous Peoples: Learning about indigenous peoples nurtures multicultural awareness and respect for diversity.
        • Global Indigenous Peoples: Indigenous knowledge is passed down through oral history, traditions, and collective memory.
        • Global Indigenous Peoples: People from diverse cultures and societies share some common experiences and aspects of life.
        • Global Indigenous Peoples:Indigenous societies throughout the world value the well-being of the self, the land, spirits, and ancestors
    • Grade 4
      • Step 3Select a subject
      • English/Language Arts
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Exploring stories and other texts helps us understand ourselves and make connections to others and to the world
        • Questioning what we hear, read, and view contributes to our ability to be educated and engaged citizens.
      • Social Studies
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • First peoples and European Contact: Interactions between First Peoples and Europeans lead to conflict and cooperation, which continues to shape Canada’s identity

Themes Addressed

Human Rights (3)

  • Cultural Diversity
  • Education
  • Social Justice

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