Learn from Home – First Peoples of Canada
Here are some at-home activities you can do, inspired by MOA’s Summer Day Camp: Canada’s First Peoples

Clay Dough Totem Poles(Age: 5+)
The First Nations people of Canada use totem poles as monuments to represent and honour ancestry, people, history, or events. They are usually assembled from red cedar, and display symbolic crest animals, humans, or supernatural forms.
In this activity, an adult is needed to make this simple homemade clay dough. Kids can use the clay dough to sculpt 3 or 4 miniature animal totems that they think best represent them into a pole. A list of possible totems is included at the bottom to get your creativity juices flowing.
Here are two possible recipes:
DRINK MIX DOUGH
3 C all purpose flour
3 packages of unsweetened powdered drink mix (this is used for colour)
½ C salt
3 tbsp cooking oil
2 C water
Instructions:
1. Mix together flour, drink mix, and salt in a big bowl.
2. Stir in the cooking oil and water.
3. Place the mixture on a frying pan. Cook on medium high heat until dough
thickens and pulls away from the pan. Turn the ball of dough over and cook until it feels compact and solid enough for moulding.
4. Remove from pan and knead until is a consistent doughy mass. Be very careful,
the dough is very hot!
5. Store in plastic bags or air-tight containers.

FOOD COLOURING DOUGH
1 C all purpose flour
½ C salt
2 tsp cream of tartar (this is an important ingredient)
1 C water
1 tbsp cooking oil
food colouring of your choice
1. In a saucepan, mix together flour, salt, and cream of tartar.
2. Add water, cooking oil, and food colouring to the mixture.
3. Cook the mixture in a frying pan set on medium high, stirring for a minimum of
3 minutes or until mixture pulls away from the pan. It is better to overcook because the dough will not set if it is too wet or gooey.
4. Remove from pan and knead immediately. Careful, the dough is very hot!
5. Store in air-tight containers. May be refrigerated, but not necessary.

Totem Pole Animals and their Meanings
Ant: Group minded, determined, patient, active, and industrious
Bear: instinctive, healing, power, courage, willpower, and great strength.
Beaver: Determined, strong-willed, builder, overseer, and protector
Butterfly: Metamorphosis, transformation, grace, ability to accept change
Cat: Guardianship, detachment, sensuality, mystery, magic, and independence
Dog: Noble, faithful, loyal, teaching, protection, and guidance.
Dolphin: Kind, wisdom, happiness, playfulness, prudent, and happy.
Dragonfly: Flighty and carefree, strong imagination, higher aspirations.
Elephant: Strength, power, affection, loyalty, royalty, and wisdom
Fish: Graceful, slyness, open-minded, quick to change one’s mind.
Horse: Freedom, stamina, mobility, the land, travel, power, and freedom.
Lion: Family, strength, energy, courage, guardian and protector.
Owl: Deception, clairvoyance, insight, messenger.
Penguin: Self-discipline, grace, self-confidence, spiritual
Prairie Dog: Swiftness, industrious, constructive, preparedness
Rabbit: Fear, timidity, nervousness, humility, rebirth
Snake: Impulsive, shrewdness, rebirth, transformation, initiation, and wisdom
Spider: Balance, wisdom, creativity, communication
Swan: Grace, balance and innocence, soul, love, beauty, of the self
Turtle: Nurturer, shy, and protecting
Wolf: Loyalty, perseverance, success, intuition, and spirit
Zebra: Agility and individuality
Sources Used: TPWD Texas. Legends of America.