Indigenous Art Lesson Plans – First Nations, Métis and Inuit Art Bundle

Looking for meaningful Indigenous art lesson plans for your classroom? This three-resource bundle introduces students to First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists and art forms through cultural learning, artist spotlights and hands-on art projects.

Students learn about artists including Roy Henry Vickers, Pudlo Pudlat and Kenojuak Ashevak. Each lesson provides cultural context before students create, helping them understand that Indigenous art is diverse, connected to specific artists and communities, and should never be presented as one universal style.

Three Indigenous Art Lessons and Projects

1. First Nations Art Lesson and Bulletin Board

Students explore several First Nations art forms, including beadwork, wood carving, weaving and leatherwork. The lesson introduces the cultural significance of art and encourages students to think about the relationships between artwork, identity, land, community and storytelling.

Students learn about Indigenous artist Roy Henry Vickers before completing an art project inspired by his work.

This resource includes:

🎨 Indigenous art lesson plan
🎨 Overview of several First Nations art forms
🎨 Roy Henry Vickers artist spotlight
🎨 Discussion about supporting Indigenous artists
🎨 Learning about inspiration, copying and plagiarism
🎨 Step-by-step student art project
🎨 Student templates and example artwork
🎨 “Inspired by Roy Henry Vickers” bulletin board kit

2. Métis Dot Art Lesson and Fall Project

Introduce students to Métis floral beadwork and a painting technique inspired by the appearance of colourful beadwork.

Students learn about the cultural significance of Métis beadwork before creating individual dot-art leaves and contributing to a collaborative Giving Tree display.

This resource includes:

🎨 Métis dot art lesson
🎨 Student handout
🎨 Lesson plan
🎨 Individual fall-leaf art activity
🎨 Printable leaf templates
🎨 Collaborative Giving Tree project
🎨 Métis culture and art connections

This Métis art resource was created with help and guidance from a Métis educator.

3. Inuit Art Lesson and Arctic Animal Project

Students learn about Inuit art and two well-known Inuit artists, Pudlo Pudlat and Kenojuak Ashevak. Artist spotlights and artwork examples provide context before students begin creating.

Students then choose an Arctic animal and complete their own art project inspired by what they have learned.

This resource includes:

🎨 Inuit art lesson plan
🎨 Pudlo Pudlat artist spotlight
🎨 Kenojuak Ashevak artist spotlight
🎨 Examples of artwork
🎨 Arctic animal art instructions
🎨 Printable Arctic animal images
🎨 Hands-on winter art project

Learn About Indigenous Artists in Canada

Rather than asking students to create generic “Indigenous-style” art, these lessons introduce named Indigenous artists and distinct cultural art forms.

Students are encouraged to:

🎨 Learn about the artist before creating
🎨 Notice artistic choices and techniques
🎨 Understand the cultural context of artwork
🎨 Create an original response rather than copying
🎨 Recognize the diversity of Indigenous art in Canada
🎨 Support and credit Indigenous artists

Perfect For

🎨 Indigenous art lesson plans
🎨 Elementary and middle-school art
🎨 Indigenous education
🎨 Canadian social studies
🎨 National Indigenous History Month
🎨 National Indigenous Peoples Day
🎨 Orange Shirt Day learning
🎨 Art and social studies integration
🎨 Fall and winter art projects
🎨 Indigenous artist studies
🎨 Meaningful classroom displays
🎨 Year-round Indigenous education

Use the three Indigenous art lesson plans together as a short art unit or teach each resource separately throughout the school year.

First Nations, Métis and Inuit art cannot be reduced to three general styles. Artists, materials, techniques and cultural traditions vary greatly among Nations, communities and individuals. This bundle provides a starting point for learning and should be complemented with current Indigenous artists, local community knowledge and Nation-specific resources whenever possible.

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The resources provided here are designed to support the teaching of Indigenous cultures, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. It is important to recognize that these communities are not monolithic; beliefs, traditions, and practices vary greatly from Nation to Nation, and even from community to community. The content shared in these materials reflects my own lived experience and understanding of Indigenous cultures, but it does not encompass the full diversity or richness of these traditions.

I encourage educators to approach these resources with respect, sensitivity, and openness to learning. When possible, please engage with local Indigenous communities or cultural experts to ensure that the information shared is accurate and culturally appropriate for the specific Nations or groups you are teaching about.

These resources are intended to foster understanding and appreciation for Indigenous people.