New Ontario Government Makes Cuts to Education for Reconciliation

July 10, 2018 (Ottawa, Ontario) – The Legacy of Hope Foundation (LHF) Executive Director and In-House Counsel Teresa Edwards is profoundly disappointed with the new Ontario Government’s announcement that they have canceled curriculum development sessions on Indian Residential Schools and Reconciliation that were set to begin yesterday.

“For 18 years the Legacy of Hope Foundation has been producing materials to educate and raise awareness on the issues of the Canadian Residential School System and its ongoing impacts,” said Ms. Edwards, “We were hopeful that the summer curriculum development sessions would produce a new, Indigenous-inclusive curriculum so that all Ontario students could hear Indigenous voices and become familiar with our experiences, worldviews and learn about the true history of Indigenous Peoples in Ontario. This feels as though we are taking a huge step backwards.”

All summer curriculum writing has been cancelled by the new Ontario Government. This includes the writing and revisions of e-learning courses, and the revisions in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions 94 Calls to Action. Last Friday, the curriculum writing team received word that the that the summer 2018 curriculum writing sessions were cancelled, including the writing sessions that were organized in order to strengthen the learning connected to Indigenous perspectives, cultures and, histories in Ontario.

“The summer writing sessions were intended to revise Ontario’s curriculum and would have seen the Ministry of Education working together with Teachers, Indigenous community members, Elders, and Educators to produce a curriculum that tells our true history based on facts that were previously excluded,” said Ms. Edwards. “This Government needs to reconsider cancelling efforts to bring Indigenous voice, perspective to all Ontario students in order to work toward Reconciliation.”

Despite this setback, the LHF will continue to build on opportunities and community connections to further shape Indigenous-inclusive curriculum in Ontario, on an ad hoc basis and throughout Canada with those who are willing. By sharing Indigenous voices, experiences, worldviews, and accurate history we hope to eradicate racism and build more respectful and just relationships between Indigenous Peoples and Canadians.

The Legacy of Hope Foundation is a national, not-for-profit, Indigenous-run charity founded in 2000. As a leader in educating the public and raising awareness of Canada’s Residential School System and its aftermath and acting as an agent of positive change, its work includes exhibitions, workshops, curricula, media and other resources that are available by contacting the LHF at info@legacyofhope.ca

For More Information, please contact:

Teresa Edwards, Executive Director and In-House Legal Counsel

Legacy of Hope Foundation

Phone: 613-237-4806 Ext. 303

info@legacyofhope.ca