Please note: the content of this page was prepared, updated, and featured throughout the month of October 2021. This page will now most likely stay relatively dormant until October 2022.
Hispanic
Heritage
Month
October is Hispanic Heritage Month, a month designated to recognize and honour the accomplishments and contributions of members of the Latin-American community in our society. Below, we are featuring a number of resources with the purpose of acknowledging, celebrating, and in some cases providing new knowledge.
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What Latin American Heritage Month Means for Canada | Dr. Alessandra Santos, University of British Columbia
In Canada, October commemorates Latin American Heritage Month, celebrating the Latin American community and their contributions to Canadian society. What does this recognition mean for Canada?
Hispanic Heritage Month Resources | National Education Association
[American Resource] San Miguel de Gualdape was the first European settlement in North America. It was founded in Georgia in 1526, 81 years before Jamestown. St. Augustine, Florida, was founded in 1565 and is the oldest city in the United States. Hispanic Americans have been making contributions to life in the U.S. ever since. To help celebrate and educate about these contributions, we offer the following list of resources.
Our Voices in School – A Toolkit for Inclusive Education
Voices for Change sought to improve student success and retention rates by providing a space for Latinx secondary students to champion for diversity and inclusivity in our schools and communities. It also aimed to help teachers better understand the needs of Latinx students and to incorporate diverse approaches in their teaching through our professional development series, Becoming Cultural Allies, which is contained in this toolkit
History
Latin American Canadians | The Canadian Encyclopedia
Latin America refers to a group of republics including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Puerto Rico, the French West Indies, and other islands of the West Indies may also be considered part of “Latin America.” The broader use of the term can also refer to counties where romance languages such as Spanish or Portuguese prevail.
Spanish Canadians | The Canadian Encyclopedia
Spanish presence on the land we now call Canada dates back several centuries to the voyages of Basque fishermen to the Atlantic coast, and to Spanish exploration of the Pacific coast (see also Spanish Exploration). Archaeologists have uncovered traces of a 16th century Basque whaling station at Red Bay, Labrador. However, significant Spanish settlement did not occur in Canada until the 20th century.
Documentaries & Films
Chile, Obstinate Memory | National Film Board
In this feature documentary, a Chilean filmmaker returns to the motherland for the first time in 23 years. Time is passing. A generation of young Chileans has grown up with no knowledge of the facts surrounding the military coup of September 11, 1973. In his suitcase, The Battle of Chile his 3-part cinéma vérité chronicle of the political tensions in Chile in 1973 and of the violent counterrevolution against the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende. His documentary toured the world but was never seen in Chile. Discreetly, he shows it to his friends and a small group of students. After the screening, the young people are in a state of shock. They have an urgent need to know the truth, for it is they who must build the Chile of tomorrow. In Spanish with English subtitles
Of Lives Uprooted | National Film Board
This short film illustrates the impact of the civil war in El Salvador and Guatemala through the words and drawings of children who have known conflict or refugee camps. The film was adapted from an exhibition entitled Disrupted Lives, organized by Linda Dale and sponsored by INTER-PARES and CUSO.
Spanish-language Short Films (with English subtitles)
Movies to Watch for Hispanic Heritage Month | Romper
American Magazine Romper has prepared a list of 10 movies to watch with your families for Hispanic Heritage Month.
Hispanic Personnalities
Celebrating Achievements of Hispanic and Latin-American Peoples in Canada | PsyMood
Canada is currently home to over 500,000 Latin-Americans, with that number expected to grow over the next decade. Immigrants can be a source of development for the local community, as they grow to become leaders and innovators in their professional fields.
Senator Rosa Galvez on Latin American Heritage Month | Senate of Canada
“Latin American Canadians have a rich heritage and culture in this country. In 2016, according to Statistics Canada, Latin American Canadians made up 1.3% of the total population and 5.8% of the visible minority population. As our numbers grow, so too does our ability to share our culture with Canadians from every background.”
10 Inspiring Latinas Who’ve Made History | Google Arts & Culture
[American Resource] “People think of Latina women as being fiery and fierce, which is usually true”, says Zoe Saldaña, “but I think the quality that so many Latinas possess is strength.” From Selena to Sylvia Rivera, Latinas have shown their strength, fortitude and skill in every discipline and field, including science, the arts, law, and politics. Here we take a look at a handful of the inspiring Latinas who have made history, shaped the society we live in, and changed our world for the better.
Teaching Resources for Elementary Levels
All Elementary Levels
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage | Scholastic
This graded lesson plan is compatible with interactive whiteboards.
Teaching Central America Week
Sets of teaching resources including lessons, poetry, books, history, books and more.
Kindergarten to Grade 2
Grades 3 & 4
Games of Latin American Origin
This document is prepared by our board’s head librarian and repertories 17 games played by Hispanic children everywhere.
Grades 5 & 6
Teaching Resources for Secondary Levels
All Secondary Levels
Teaching Central America Week
Sets of teaching resources including lessons, poetry, books, history, books and more.
Grades 7 & 8
Señor Wooly
Señor Wooly is a gringo Spanish teacher that creates educational Spanish songs and videos for middle school and high school. See dozens of videos on his website.
Grades 9 to 11
Books
- Blazewrath Games, by Amparo Ortiz (ISBN 9781645670797)
- Come On In, by Adi Alsaid (ISBN 9781335146496)
- Salty, Bitter, Sweet, by Mayra Cuevas (ISBN 9780310769774)
Hispanic Heritage Month
This page is prepared and updated by the Western Québec School Board, with the help of its community.
Provide input, feedback, ideas, additional resources, or information about bugs on this page by email to fraymond@wqsb.qc.ca.
© 2021 Commission scolaire Western Québec / Western Québec School Board