The M茅tis Nation of Alberta and Treaty 6 First Nations have denounced the Alberta government's proposed K-6 curriculum due to its erasure of Indigenous history.聽
The M茅tis Nation of Alberta, citing 鈥渕onumental concerns about the Euro-American colonial undertones,鈥� called on the government to re-write the curriculum with input from them and other Indigenous communities, a call echoed by the Confederacy of Treaty 6 First Nations.聽
The nation says its input on the curriculum, as well as that of their affiliated Rupertsland Institute, was mostly ignored.聽
鈥淔or there to be true inclusivity in the curriculum, representation from many voices must exist at every level of the curriculum-making process and that includes M茅tis voices,鈥� MNA president Audrey Poitras said in a statement.聽
鈥淥ur citizens were shocked, and we are disheartened, to see our input and collaboration reduced to nothing more than a side-note in the draft that was presented to the public. The tone of the curriculum carries a Eurocentric-American point of view that effectively eliminates the voice and history of the M茅tis Peoples in Alberta.鈥�
Poitras wrote a letter to Education Minister Adriana LaGrange dated March 30 expressing these concerns, as well as dismay at a lack of transparency on the ministry鈥檚 part.聽
鈥淭his is another example of Alberta鈥檚 continued colonial practice over M茅tis peoples,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he secretive approach under which this process was taken undermines the collective approach valued by our communities and it is unacceptable.鈥�
The Confederacy of Treaty 6 Nations says the curriculum upgrade was a missed reconciliation opportunity, calling its contents a 鈥淓urocentric, American-focused, Christian-dominant narrative that perpetuates rather than addresses systemic racism and falls far short of providing a balanced, nuanced perspective on Treaty 6 First Nations history and culture.鈥�
Treaty 6 leaders say there鈥檚 much work to be done to bring the curriculum in line with the tenets of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.聽
鈥淎 history of Alberta that does not begin with the rich and deep histories of the Treaty First Nations and does not accurately portray how we have survived and thrived to this day, is a faulty and incomplete one,鈥� said Treaty 6 Grand Chief Watchmaker in a statement.
Elder Richard Lighting of the Ermineskin Tribe, a residential school survivor, says the curriculum demonstrates 鈥渄ominant society doesn鈥檛 have a clue about us and our history and that needs to change.鈥�
鈥淐hange is brought on with education,鈥� said Lighting. 鈥淥ur history needs to be a part of this curriculum, it needs to be inclusive so we understand one another.鈥澛�
Justin Marshall, a spokesperson for Education Minister Adriana Lagrange, told the Edmonton Journal that Indigenous leaders鈥� feedback was welcome and that the curriculum includes the oral traditions and stories of the M茅tis people,in addition to units on topics like the travois, traditional knowledge, the fur trade, Louis Riel, and the Red River and North West resistance.
The curriculum incorrectly states the last residential school in Canada was closed in the 1970s. This was in fact when the last residential school in Alberta was closed, while the country鈥檚 last residential school was shut down in 1996.聽
Marshall told the Journal this error will be fixed in the final version.聽
As far back as 2018, Premier Jason Kenney promised to put the curriculum update that was written while the NDP was in power 鈥渢hrough the shredder,鈥� accusing it without evidence of political bias.
In addition to its alleged anti-Indigenous bent, Kenney鈥檚 curriculum has been criticized for plagiarizing Wikipedia and depending on outdated education methods that emphasize memorization over critical thinking. 聽
On social media, opposition leader Rachel Notley agreed with the Indigenous communities that the new curriculum 鈥渙penly violates the Truth and Reconciliation Commission鈥�.鈥澛�
鈥淐learly, the Premier needs to pump the brakes on this awful work immediately and get back to the table with Indigenous leaders,鈥� said Notley. 聽
The curriculum is slated to be piloted in select schools this fall, with a goal for full implementation in all classrooms by September 2022.
However, Edmonton Public School Board Superintendent Darrel Robertson announced on April 1 that 鈥渄ue to the continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, our Division will not be piloting the draft curriculum next school year.鈥�
He cites the need for 鈥渃ontinuity of learning and family choice鈥� with in-person instruction and online learning as one reason.
He also states that 鈥渁t this time, our Division will take time to thoughtfully review the curriculum materials and provide feedback to Alberta Education.鈥�
Edmonton Catholic Schools also indicated that they need time to review the materials and will not commit to piloting the curriculum in the fall.
