6 - Ask your children’s teachers if they include curriculum related to residential schools and the Indian Act
This series of blog posts is inspired by the list 21 Things You Can Do to Change the World created by Bob Joseph in his book 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act. Focusing on actionable steps, these blog posts will take each step and provide links, contacts, and suggestion lists.
View all of our 21 Things posts here.
The sixth Action we chose to highlight is Ask your children’s teachers if they include curriculum related to residential schools and the Indian Act
Indigenous education in schools has come a long way. Twenty years ago, there was barely any mention of Indigenous peoples in social studies, save for them being a footnote when talking about the explorers who “discovered” this land and the fur trade. Now every single grade, from Kindergarten to Grade 12, has Indigenous history and issues as part of the curriculum.
Global News – When should Canadians begin learning about residential schools? Experts say Kindergarten
However, what is actually taught within those topics is in the control of the teacher. The BC Government provides examples of things that can be part of that year’s social studies curriculum, but it’s ultimately up to the teacher to decide what within those subjects will be taught and how it will be approached.
Furthermore, the Indian Act and residential schools are not mentioned as part of the curriculum until Grade 4. In light of the thousands of unmarked graves being found in communities all over the country, it is becoming more important to address this subject early and in a way that is age-appropriate and accessible.
Learning can also start at home. One method a local teacher uses is to have a discussion with her students starting with what they have heard about residential schools so far from the discussions they have had at home. There are some great resources out there to help you start those conversations with your children if you haven’t already.
CBC - How to talk to your kids about residential schools
Lastly, please be kind to your teachers. Many of them are educating themselves at the same time that they are expected to teach these topics to your children. They might also need to be mindful of the Indigenous children in their class and what might be triggering for them. Ask them nicely if they are incorporating anything about residential schools or the Indian Act into their curriculum this year or having discussions about it with their students ahead of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Every teacher will have a different method. If they are unsure, feel free to direct them to this page, as we have compiled a few resources about teaching children about residential schools and the Indian Act.
The Assembly of First Nations has toolkits that address residential schools and the Indian Act.
In fact, they have 22 learning modules on a variety of subjects.
Comox Valley Schools have put together lessons and resources for students in Grades 4-7 to learn about residential schools. They also have many other lessons from K-12 on Indigenous subjects. They even have some lesson plans in French!
The Secret Life of Canada podcast has an episode on the Indian Act. They have included ad-free audio, a lesson plan, and worksheets.
The UBC Library has a list of free lesson plans for Elementary and Middle School years.
Project of Heart seeks to educate settler populations and new Canadians about Indigenous issues through six guided steps. They have provided lesson plans and resources for all grades.
Historica Canada put together a lesson plan and worksheets about Indigenous perspectives that is suitable for Middle and High School.
Learn with Kassia has a lesson plan about the Indian Act intended for Grade 8. Note: All lesson plans from this site are based on the Ontario curriculum.
The Moccasin Identifieralso has a lesson plan about the Indian Act for Grade 8.
Education starts at home. Read books about residential schools to your kids.
These blog posts are designed to be a starting point to help people toward the path of reconciliation and allyship. We encourage everyone to do their own reading and research. Want to learn more? Check out the Indigenous Relations Academy, which has books, training, and resources. You can also purchase 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act here.