Expanding First Nation, Métis and Inuit content and learning in the elementary curriculum.
The Minister of Education Stephen Lecce made the announcement Wednesday along with the Minister of Indigenous Affairs Greg Rickford and Traditional Knowledge Keeper Vivian Roy at the Native Child and Family Services of Toronto.
This includes mandatory learning being added to the grade 1 to 3 social studies curriculums, focusing on topics such as:
- The role of family and resilience in First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities and nations
- First Nations, Métis and Inuit historical and contemporary realities
- Indigenous peoples’ interrelationship and connection with the land
- The residential school system and the reclamation and revitalization of identity, language, culture and community connections.
It is being planned that this will be implemented into the curriculum by Sept. 2023.
Along with this, the ministry will be providing $23.96 million in Indigenous Education funding to support First Nations, Métis and Inuit students as part of a broader government commitment to reconciliation.
During the announcement Lecce stated that consultation was crucial in an undertaking such as this.
“Part of this is a recognition that there was a gap in the current compliment of learning, where grades one to three within our social science program did not have any learning related to Indigenous history, culture, contribution, and most specifically on residential schools,” explains Lecce. “Following the advice of Indigenous Leaders and Elders, and through a co-development process we’ve come to a decision point and we’ve been working with them for many months to be fair over 2021 to get to this place, to announce this formally, to take a step forward, both in context of language, in the strengthening of residential school learning, and the completion of learning between grade one and high school creating a continuum of learning, part of our commitment to reconciliation.”
Lecce goes on to say Ontario has requested that all school boards use Truth and Reconciliation Day to educate students on Indigenous contributions, along with the history of residential schools.
Ontario’s Regional Chief Glen Hare stated that he is very pleased with the announcement, and hopes to see continued efforts from the government.
“This will assist us in retaining the expertise required to ensure the educational priorities of First Nation communities are addressed in the provincial education system in a timely manner. We also look forward to establishing a robust and meaningful collaborative process with the Ministry of Education to ensure the experience and knowledge of First Nations in Ontario is accurately reflected throughout the province’s curriculum.”
This commitment falls in with Ontario’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, which were implemented in 2018.
Currently, there is mandatory learning on residential schools in grades 8 and 10.
