Remember the ideas and questions you brainstormed last chapter? Some of the answers will be obvious. Some answers will need a bit of research. But what about those questions that leave you wondering where to even start? And what if you missed a key question because you didn’t know an entire concept or idea even existed?!

Don’t panic. We’re here to help!

It’s impossible to know everything, but there is some knowledge – some experiences and perspectives – that we should at least try to learn. Often, we lack the knowledge because we didn’t even know that we didn’t know it. Which sounds like a riddle, but really isn’t: To know what we don’t know we don’t know, we simply need explore the stories of this land.

Part One

Understand the history and experiences, the perspectives and ideas, of those who have called this land home since time immemorial. There are countless resources – many specific to where you live – but we’ve selected a few tools to help you start learning and exploring the stories we often overlook, yet need to hear.

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation

Reconciliation Canada

Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada

Rights and Indigenous Peoples in Canada | Canadian Museum for Human Rights

21 Things You May Not Have Known About the Indian Act

Indigenous Stories | APTN

Reconciliation | Government of Canada

Part Two

Don’t stop now! Solving the riddle – learning about what you didn’t know you didn’t know – is all about self-exploration. Use these tools to search out stories that will spark your curiosity to know more about subjects, experiences and ideas that you never even knew existed.

Part Three

Reflect on the stories you’ve heard and the new knowledge you’ve gained. What new questions can you add to the list you originally brainstormed? What new information do you need to uncover to find your answer to this question: How should we – locally or nationally – balance the needs of people and nature? Add the new questions to your list.

Pro Tips: What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do

  1. Reread and review the material.
  2. Highlight the important terms or points and do some research.
  3. Ask a peer or your teacher for help and ideas.
  4. Break down the problem into smaller ideas or steps.
  5. Find a different source to explain the concept and/or point you to further learning on the subject.
  6. If it’s reasonable to do so, contact the creator to ask questions.
  7. Ask a family member or a member of your community (a mentor possibly) to help you explore new avenues of inquiry.
  8. Learn new skills that can help you look at a problem in new ways.
  9. Crowd-source answers to your questions by tweeting on X, or another social media platform.
  10. Search online for podcasts, essays, academic journals and documentaries that might open new doors of exploration.
  11. Ask a question on an online forum (occasionally subreddits help!).
  12. Take a break, reflect and reset.