‘From two universities I did not know’: B.C. premier says more Indigenous history education needed

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – B.C.’s premier is acknowledging we need to change the way we educate ourselves and children in this province when it comes to Indigenous and Canadian history, admitting even with two history degrees, he was never taught about residential schools.

Premier John Horgan said in the B.C. legislature Monday that we need to learn more about the system that devastated Indigenous communities, and teach our children about them as well.

“I have two degrees in history and I did not know about the atrocities of residential schools from our public education system,” Horgan said. “From two universities I did not know. I learned it in a gymnasium from a survivor. Talking to his kids and grandkids about what he had suffered.”

B.C. educators say work being done, but more is always possible

Peggy Janicki, the BCTF’s Indigenous Member at large, says it’s not a shock that many people did not learn much about the impacts of residential schools until later in life, since most of the changes in education around Indigenous history came after 2008.

“The B.C. curriculum was revised a few years ago now, and the revised curriculum now has Indigenous content from kindergarten all the way to grade 12,” she said.

She notes with the changes implemented, there have also been changes to requirements for teachers. Most educators must now complete a mandatory course around Indigenous peoples and history if they want to become a teacher.

“Folks that have received their bachelor of education here in British Columbia, it is highly, highly likely that they have taken a course around Indigenous peoples and histories,” Janicki said.

“I appreciate the two history degrees, but I’m more than certain that it was before 2011 and I believe there’s been quite a bit of movement in that area,” she added.

Since the discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children in Kamloops, there have been calls for people to open dialogue and educate themselves on the history of Canada and the residential school system.

Some school districts have provided educators with additional resources to help them facilitate conversations with students, and some have said there’s been a lot of interest in learning more about the topic since the grim discovery.

Janicki says work continues to teach people about the residential school system and its impacts on Indigenous people and communities.

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Rick Joe, an Indigenous support teacher in Chilliwack, says the topics are taught, but sometimes the lessons don’t get through to students right away. He says sometimes students don’t feel the importance of learning about these subjects, and hopes that will change.

“With the new curriculum coming out, there was no time and no funding attached to Indigenizing the curriculum. The new curriculum has every grade and every subject you have to teach about Indigenous people or Aboriginal people. But the government didn’t provide any time for teachers to take that meaningful time to learn,” he explained.

Janicki says teachers are being offered ideas around being “trauma informed.”

“Teachers know this, teachers are well-informed around trauma-informed practice,” she said.

“This is an opportunity to be in relationship with Indian Residential School. Everyone’s being asked of themselves, ‘What is my relationship with Indian Residential Schools?’ which is really part of the Indigenous research format,” Janicki added. 

She admits it’s a tough topic to discuss, one that can be emotional and triggering for some.

“It’s definitely straight to the heart. So I think for teachers, it’s an opportunity for themselves to take a breath, follow the students, and taken a break if they need,” she said.

While she says a lot of work has and is being done, Janicki says there’s always more we can do to help everyone learn more about Canada’s history.

Emotional support or assistance for those who are affected by the residential school system can be found through the Indian Residential School Survivors Society toll-free at 1 (800) 721-0066 or 24-hour Crisis Line 1 (866) 925-4419.

-With files from Ashley Burr