100 signatures reached
To: Ontario Minister of Education Lisa Thompson MPP
Petition to Honour Truth in Ontario Education
To Lisa Thompson, Minister of Education:
I am calling on you to maintain the province's responsibility to Indigenous people in upholding all Truth and Reconciliation efforts.
This includes TRC Call to Action #10 - "to draft new Aboriginal education legislation with the full participation and informed consent of Aboriginal peoples"
and #62.1 - "in consultation and collaboration with Survivors, Aboriginal peoples, and educators, to make age-appropriate curriculum on residential schools, Treaties, and Aboriginal peoples’ historical and contemporary contributions to Canada a mandatory education requirement for Kindergarten to Grade Twelve students."
By cancelling the Summer 2018 curriculum writing sessions, and removing Indigenous educators from curriculum writing efforts - the provincial government is sending the message that it does not prioritize Truth and Reconciliation.
We do not want to be complicit in any attempt to erase or re-write Canadian history. Our children deserve to know the truth. Do not allow us to move backwards.
Why is this important?
The Ontario Ministry of Education is cancelling the Summer 2018 curriculum writing sessions.
As part of these sessions, Indigenous people - including Elders and traditional knowledge holders - were invited to be involved in curriculum writing about Indigenous perspectives and Truth and Reconciliation (TRC).
There are SO many reasons why it is crucial to have not only education ABOUT Indigenous history, perspectives, and truth and reconciliation - but Indigenous contributions TO the writing of this education. Cancelling the curriculum writing program without assuring Indigenous educators is a gross misstep, and is indeed taking us backwards rather than forward.
Links:
http://templatelab.com/truth-and-reconciliation-commission-calls-to-action/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/trc-education-indigenous-history-1.3746214
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/canadians-need-an-aboriginal-history-lesson/article549808/
http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/File/2015/Findings/Exec_Summary_2015_05_31_web_o.pdf