Bringing First Nations, Metis and Inuit History to Local Classrooms
Alberta Education is taking a significant step to ensure the culture and history of First Nations, Metis and Inuit (FNMI) is preserved.
The province’s past curriculum has been called irrelevant to FMNI culture and history and it is time for school boards across Alberta to make a change.
Recently PLRD hosted an Indigenous Awareness Training session with Jason Sansregret, a Metis businessman from Consort, AB. PLRD staff, administration, board trustees and community members listened to Sansregret as he discussed the myths and misconceptions about Indigenous people. He described past incidents, details of which many non-indigenous people are not aware, such as residential schools.
“It helps create an awareness of historical factors that have contributed to the current situation of indigenous people,” explains Sansregret, who served as an Indigenous member of the Children and Family Services Board for seven years, as well as Indigenous co-chair for two years.
Sansregret’s honesty and direct approach sheds a much needed light on FNMI history and the need to update the curriculum.
“We have an obligation to our students in educating them and bringing awareness to this marginalized nation of people,” said Cam McKeage, Superintendent for PLRD.
Sansregret spoke about the interconnectedness of his culture, its beliefs and the importance of teachings being passed down through language. He discussed the significance of the treaties, the Indian Act and other historical declarations, explaining there is much more to FNMI history than is mentioned in text books.
“This is an issue that for too many years has been ignored, tiptoed around,” said Sansregret, describing heart-wrenching stories of residential schools, emotional testimonials from the Truth and Reconciliation Committee where survivors shared their stories.
It is these stories that have been absent from the history books and left out of Alberta’s schools.
Working with various First Nations, Metis and Inuit organizations, schools, school boards, Alberta Education is working to ensure “all students are knowledgeable, understanding and respectful of the rich diversity of First Nations, Metis and Inuit cultures, languages and histories; the importance of Treaties; and the legacy of residential schools” (https:// education.alberta.ca/first-nations-metis-and-inuit-education/.)
In order to make changes to the curriculum, Alberta Education will work to ensure educators and administrators receive the support they need to understand and teach FNMI history, culture and perspectives.
McKeage says it is important to educate staff members and provide support so they are comfortable dealing with these new cross-curricular initiatives. “PLRD has done a lot of work in preparing resources for both teachers and learners, in addition to providing curricular field trips and presentations on Aboriginal awareness,” says McKeage, adding Sansregret is a great partner advocate for PLRD to Support FNMI Training for Staff moving the division forward with this initiative.
In addition to ensuring curriculum is updated, Alberta Education has also said it will increase its supports for FNMI students to achieve or exceed the educational outcomes set for all Alberta students.
Sansregret says it is a fact that many aboriginal students have low educational scores, but that is because the opportunities have not been equal.
By providing more supports to FNMI students, as well as creating a curriculum that honours Indigenous history and culture, education opportunities will increase for these students, helping them achieve success.
