Invitation to advocacy again: Alberta draft K-6 social studies curriculum
This is an invitation for Albertans in particular to advocate and witness, in keeping with commitments our church made to respond to the Calls to Action issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Indian Residential Schools.
This call comes from the Being Good Relations Network of Northern Spirit and Chinook Winds Regional Councils, and from proposals passed at both Regional Councils in 2021. With deep regret, we need to renew this call to advocacy, because the Alberta government has not listened to experts or to the concerns of students, parents, and citizens.
Action call
We call for the Alberta government to redraft proposed K-6 social studies curriculum changes that would roll back or remove important curricula related to Call to Action #62 and the mandatory teaching about residential schools, Treaties, and Aboriginal peoples’ historical and contemporary contributions to Canada.
Please prayerfully discern whether your community of faith and its people will respond to this invitation to add your voice. Below you’ll find resources, followed by more background.
Related resources and background to assist you
Letter from a retired teacher and Being Good Relations Network member (Oct 2024)
Sample letter template for your reference (Word document)
What to Teach Kids? Alberta’s endless battle over social studies curriculum, Alberta Views magazine, Sept 2024.
Alberta government highlights on the draft curriculum
Official Alberta site on the curriculum
Proposal from the Being Good Relations Network to Northern Spirit Regional Council (as passed), 2021
Background to all United Church of Canada-run residential schools, by province and territory
Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action
Background: what’s the concern?
Along with many Albertans, the Being Good Relations Network continues to have deep concerns with the April 2024 draft K-6 Social Studies curriculum for Alberta, specifically with the removal or reframing of the history and impacts of colonization. This include the “Indian Residential School” system, and the lack of current contributions of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. We have joined with many others, over the past several years, in expressing these strong concerns, and feel we are not being heeded.
The recent draft K-6 Alberta curriculum is still in direct violation of a promise the Alberta Government made on March 27, 2014, at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) event in Edmonton. That promise included:
- Mandatory content for all Alberta students on residential schools and treaties,
- Kindergarten to Grade 12 curriculum development standards and,
- Support for professional learning opportunities for teachers.
The curriculum as proposed threatens, undermines, or removes meaningful mandatory and age-appropriate content through both omission and problematic insertions.
Indigenous advocates and knowledge keepers, and their non-Indigenous allies, struggled to change the curriculum even before the TRC. The changes made were the result of years of consultation, expertise and effort, in the belief that, in the words of Murray Sinclair, Chair of the TRC, “Education is what got us here and education is what will get us out.”
Once again, you are asked to add your own voice, whether personally or through your community of faith or one of its committees.
If you have any questions or other responses, please contact the Being Good Relations Network through this email address: northernspirit@united-church.ca This allows us to avoid posting the personal email addresses of the many people involved in this proposal and action invitation.
