Embracing Inclusion: Tailoring Sensory Stories to Include Indigenous Learners in Canadian Classrooms

In the diverse tapestry of Canadian education, where the land stretches from the Atlantic’s rugged coasts to the Pacific’s misty fjords, inclusive teaching practices must honor the unique cultural fabrics of our nation’s Indigenous communities. With over 1.8 million Indigenous peoples calling Canada home, according to the 2021 Census, educators face the profound opportunity to weave sensory stories into curricula that not only support special educational needs (SEN) but also celebrate First Nations, Inuit, and Métis worldviews. This article explores practical ways to adapt sensory stories, transforming them into powerful tools for engagement, cultural relevance, and holistic learning in K-12 settings.

The Power of Sensory Stories in Inclusive Education

Sensory stories are narrative experiences designed to engage multiple senses, helping learners with autism, sensory processing challenges, or developmental delays to process information in a structured, comforting way.

In a Canadian context, sensory stories gain deeper resonance when infused with Indigenous knowledge systems. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (2015) urge educators to incorporate Indigenous perspectives into all subjects, emphasizing reconciliation through culturally responsive pedagogy. By aligning sensory stories with principles like the Seven Grandfather Teachings or Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit, teachers can develop not just academic growth but emotional and spiritual well-being.

Consider a child in a rural Alberta classroom, navigating sensory overload during group activities. A standard sensory story might outline the day’s routine with pictures and soft fabrics. But adapting it to reflect Cree storytelling traditions, with elements like the sacred circle or animal guides, turns it into a bridge between the child’s needs and their cultural heritage.

Strategies for Cultural Adaptation

Creating Canada-specific sensory stories requires collaboration, sensitivity, and resources. Here are actionable steps to get started:

First, partner with local Indigenous knowledge keepers. In British Columbia, initiatives like the First Nations Education Steering Committee offer protocols for co-creating materials. Invite Elders or community members to contribute authentic elements, such as Anishinaabe medicines or Haudenosaunee longhouse motifs, ensuring stories reflect regional diversity.

Second, layer sensory elements thoughtfully. For a story about “Sharing in the Circle,” use:

• Visuals: Hand-drawn illustrations of a talking stick, inspired by Mi’kmaq traditions.
• Tactile: Smooth river stones or cedar bark samples to represent grounding.
• Auditory: Gentle drumming recordings from powwow archives, available through the Canadian Museum of History’s digital collections.
• Olfactory: Sage or sweetgrass pouches for calming scents, sourced ethically.

Third, align with provincial curricula. Ontario’s 2019 Inclusive Education Policy mandates culturally safe environments, while Quebec’s framework emphasizes intercultural competence. Embed learning outcomes, like numeracy through beadwork patterns in a Métis-inspired tale, to meet standards while addressing SEN.

Tools like InclusiveTeach.com’s free sensory story templates can serve as a foundation. Download a blank template, then customize it with Canadian icons, such as the Inukshuk for northern territories or the Thunderbird for Pacific Northwest narratives.

Real-World Examples from Coast to Coast

In Nova Scotia, the Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey school board has piloted sensory stories during language immersion programs. One story, “The Journey of the Lobster,” uses ocean sounds and textured shells to teach vocabulary while easing anxiety for students with ADHD. Feedback from teachers highlights a 40 percent drop in transition meltdowns, per a 2023 evaluation.

Up north, in Nunavut, educators adapt stories around qamutiik (sled) adventures, incorporating Inuktitut words and caribou hide textures. This approach supports Inuit students with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) by blending sensory input with land-based learning, as recommended by the Nunavut Teacher Education Centre.

Even in urban centers like Toronto, where diverse Indigenous families converge, schools use virtual reality add-ons to sensory stories. Pair a tablet app with AR filters of Toronto’s urban powwows, helping neurodiverse youth connect personal experiences to communal histories.

5 Indigenous Children’s Books for Sensory Story Adaptation

Below, I suggest five Canadian Indigenous-authored picture books (primarily for ages 3-8) with rich, vivid themes like nature, animals, and cultural practices. These are ideal for adaptation, as they lend themselves to hands-on props that honor Indigenous perspectives—source materials ethically, perhaps through community partnerships or Indigenous-owned suppliers. For each, I’ve included a brief overview, why it’s adaptable, and 4-5 prop suggestions tied to key sensory elements.

1. Nibi is Water by Joanne Robertson (Anishinaabe, ages 0-3)

This bilingual (Anishinaabemowin/English) board book follows water (Nibi) through its forms—rain, snow, splashes, and sips—emphasizing respect and protection of this life-giving element.
Why Adaptable: The fluid, cyclical journey of water invites dynamic sensory play, aligning with Anishinaabe teachings on gratitude for nature.
Suggested Props:

• Tactile: Soft blue fabric waves or wet sponges to mimic splashing.
• Auditory: Recordings of gentle rain or dripping water.
• Visual: Printable images of rippling streams or snowflakes.
• Olfactory: Fresh mint leaves for a clean, watery scent.
• Gustatory: Safe sips of cool water in small cups.

2. Birdsong by Julie Flett (Cree-Métis, ages 5-8)

A quiet intergenerational tale of a girl and her elder neighbor observing birds and seasons shifting from spring to winter, exploring themes of friendship and change.
Why Adaptable: Seasonal transitions and bird motifs provide layered sensory cues, echoing Cree-Métis connections to land and cycles.
Suggested Props:

• Tactile: Feather collections or textured seasonal cards (e.g., fuzzy wool for winter).
• Auditory: Soft bird chirps or wind rustling leaves via audio clips.
• Visual: Laminated prints of birds in flight against changing skies.
• Olfactory: Pine needles for autumn earthiness.
• Tactile add-on: Smooth stones to represent quiet observation moments.

3. The Girl and the Wolf by Katherena Vermette (Métis, ages 3-5)

A young girl lost in the woods while berry-picking is guided home by a wolf using scent, learning self-reliance amid Métis woodland lore.
Why Adaptable: The forest adventure highlights smell, touch, and animal intuition, fostering sensory awareness of Métis environmental knowledge.
Suggested Props:

• Tactile: Fabric berries or soft faux fur for the wolf’s coat.
• Auditory: Low wolf howls or rustling forest sounds.
• Visual: Illustrated woodland scenes with berries and paths.
• Olfactory: Crushed berries or cedar for natural scents.
• Tactile add-on: Twigs and leaves for path-tracing.

4. ᓇᑦᑎᖅ Nattiq and the Land of Statues by Barbara Landry (Inuit, ages 3-7)

Bilingual (Inuktitut/English) story of a ringed seal (nattiq) returning from a southern journey, sharing wonders with Arctic friends like polar bears and narwhals.
Why Adaptable: The animal gathering and icy travels evoke Inuit Arctic life, perfect for cold textures and group sounds in sensory retellings.
Suggested Props:

• Tactile: Smooth seal-skin-like fabric or carved soapstone mini-statues.
• Auditory: Echoing seal calls or group animal chatter recordings.
• Visual: Photos of Arctic ice formations or animal silhouettes.
• Olfactory: Cool mint oil for icy winds.
• Tactile add-on: Faux ice cubes (gel packs) for the northern trek.

5. In My Anaana’s Amautik by Nadia Sammurtok (Inuit, ages 3-7)

From a baby’s view inside their mother’s amautik (parka pouch), this book celebrates warmth, security, and Inuit family life on the land.
Why Adaptable: The nested, protective pouch theme supports cozy, enclosed sensory experiences, reflecting Inuit values of community and care.
Suggested Props:

• Tactile: Soft parka fabric swatches or a hooded blanket pouch.
• Auditory: Heartbeat rhythms or soft lullabies in Inuktitut.
• Visual: Close-up illustrations of bundled figures against snowy landscapes.
• Olfactory: Warm vanilla or caribou moss scent for comfort.
• Tactile add-on: Plush baby carrier toy for nesting simulation.

These adaptations can be customized with input from local Elders or knowledge keepers to ensure cultural accuracy. Start with simple read-alouds, pausing for prop interactions to build anticipation and calm. For more resources, check Indigenous publishers like Theytus Books or Inhabit Media. If you’d like templates or extensions for these, let me know!

Overcoming Challenges and Building Capacity

Adaptation isn’t without hurdles. Resource scarcity in remote communities, like those in the Yukon, can limit access to materials. Solutions include digital libraries from the Assembly of First Nations and grants from the Indigenous Services Canada for inclusive tech.

Teacher training is key. Programs like the University of Saskatchewan’s Indigenous Teacher Education offer workshops on decolonizing SEN practices. Encourage professional learning communities (PLCs) to share adaptations, perhaps via platforms like the Canadian Teachers’ Federation forums.

A Call to Inclusive Action

As we move forward in 2025, with federal commitments to Indigenous education funding topping $2 billion annually, the time is ripe for sensory stories to become staples in Canadian classrooms. These adaptations not only meet SEN goals but advance reconciliation, creating spaces where every learner thrives as their full, cultural self.

Ready to craft your own? Visit InclusiveTeach.com for downloadable sensory story kits, SEN toolkits tailored to Canadian contexts, and a community forum to connect with fellow educators. Share your adaptations in the comments below, and let’s build a more inclusive Canada, one story at a time.

Guest Post By Canadian Teacher Sarah Thompson, Inclusive Education Specialist. Originally published on Inclusiveteach.com, October 2025.