Jennifer Whiteside and Tyrone McNeil: Building a more respectful, inclusive society through education and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples

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When speaking about the impacts that the residential school system has had on our society today, Murray Sinclair, chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, said, “Education is what got us into this mess, and education is what will get us out.” .”

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We know that Indigenous peoples face inequity within the education system, as part of a larger system of colonialism and racism. In order to reconcile both the individual and systemic racism still experienced by Indigenous peoples in BC, we must continue to address the truths of our shared history on this land in the classroom, while also building knowledge so that all students in BC feel a sense of responsibility for our shared future.

All students should have an understanding of our commitment to and responsibilities around reconciliation with Indigenous peoples as a foundation of their education, alongside numeracy and literacy. That means not only teaching about the legacy left behind by the residential school system, but also having students learn about Indigenous perspectives, contributions, and cultures, to build up the knowledge gap that exists for so many in BC, and to help address systemic racism that continues to impact Indigenous peoples in this province.

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One of the First Peoples Principles of Learning states that learning ultimately supports the well-being of the self, the family, the community, the land, the spirits and the ancestors. In line with that principle, the Ministry of Education has collaborated with the First Nations Education Steering Committee to develop a model for a new Indigenous-focused graduation requirement as part of BC’s K-12 curriculum. This is one way that we are working together to build a more educated, respectful, and inclusive society for the next generation of British Columbians.

This new graduation requirement, planned for implementation in the 2023/24 school year, is intended to provide students in all BC public and independent schools the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the experiences, cultures, and knowledge of Indigenous peoples. The model would require students to take four credits of Indigenous-focused coursework as part of their graduation program, which could be met through a variety of existing and new course options.

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The Ministry of Education is launching an online engagement with the public on March 7 to gain feedback on how to best implement the proposed model for the new graduation requirement.

For many years, the First Nations Education Steering Committee, the First Nations Leadership Council, and several key partners — including many educators, principals, administrators and trustees — have advocated for this important change to the BC Graduation Program. This new graduation requirement is one part of the province’s commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous people, which was confirmed in law in 2019 through the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act).

We are now seven years out from the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and, more recently, we have witnessed the tragic confirmation of unmarked graves at former residential institutions across our province, and across the country. Former residential school sites throughout BC hold unanswered questions and ongoing trauma for survivors, intergenerational survivors, families and communities.

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Building awareness and understanding of First Peoples’ perspectives, cultures, and histories among all BC students will serve as an important step toward reconciliation, and form part of a broader strategy to combat racism within the province, to the benefit of all British Columbians.

The province and the First Nations Education Steering Committee are committed to creating the important foundations that will fulfill a shared vision of self-determining, healthy and prosperous Indigenous communities throughout British Columbia.

Just as we were the first jurisdiction in Canada to formally adopt the internationally recognized standards of UNDRIP through legislation, BC will also be the first jurisdiction to implement an Indigenous-focused graduation requirement in the K-12 education system.

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But we know this is just one step, and that more work needs to be done. In BC, we are actively improving our education system to move toward lasting and meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

Jennifer Whiteside is BC’s minister of education. Tyrone McNeil is president of the First Nations Education Steering Committee.

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