Teachers now have a revised resource to help bring Aboriginal culture, history and perspectives into their lessons, and it’s called the ‘Aboriginal Worldviews and Perspectives in the Classroom: Moving Forward’ resource booklet.
This guide will be used along with the ‘Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation Teacher Resource Guides’, developed by the First Nations Schools Association and the First Nations Education Steering Committee for teachers in grades 5, 10, 11 and 12.
Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation John Rustad made the announcement on behalf of Education Minister Mike Bernier at the BC Cabinet First Nations Leaders’ Gathering yesterday in Vancouver.
“We are on the right path, in British Columbia. We’ve come a long, long ways from where we were just a decade ago. But more work lies ahead, there’s certainly more work that needs to be done,” he said. “But we are willing and able to be your partners in moving forward our relationship – because we recognize, for us to be able to achieve true reconciliation, there is much more that we can do.”
From January to March of this year, the ministry met with First Nations, Métis, school district and agency partners in five communities throughout the province.
It will provide teachers with new ways to incorporate Aboriginal content in every subject and in every grade.
The booklet is based on key themes, from community and relationships, to history and engagement with nature.
It is one of a few guides aim to help students of all cultural backgrounds gain an understanding of the relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal People over Canada’s history.
B.C.’s Aboriginal curriculum and these resources were under development before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission made its recommendations in June of this year.
Do you have a news tip or a story idea?
Send it our way!