Reconciliation in Education

Education plays a critical role in truth-telling, healing, and rebuilding relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples. For too long, the Canadian education system has erased or misrepresented Indigenous histories, cultures, and worldviews. Reconciliation in education means creating inclusive, accurate, and empowering learning environments where Indigenous students thrive, and all students learn the truth about Canada’s past and present.

 

As the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) stated: "Education got us into this mess, and education will get us out."

The Legacy of Colonial Education

For over a century, residential schools operated with the goal of forcibly assimilating Indigenous children. These schools inflicted lasting trauma, disrupted family and community ties, and attempted to erase Indigenous identity. The intergenerational impacts are still felt today—in both formal schooling and broader societal attitudes.

 

Reconciliation in education involves acknowledging this legacy and transforming the system to reflect and respect Indigenous knowledge, languages, perspectives, and rights.

Principles of Educational Reconciliation

  • Truth Before Reconciliation
     Acknowledging the history and ongoing realities of colonization is a necessary first step.
  • Culturally Responsive Curriculum
     Indigenous voices, histories, and worldviews must be woven into all subjects—not added as an afterthought.
  • Language Revitalization
     Indigenous languages are core to cultural identity. Supporting their preservation and resurgence is essential.
  • Support for Indigenous Learners
     Addressing barriers to success—such as racism, financial constraints, or lack of culturally safe spaces—must be prioritized.
  • Indigenous-Led Education
     Indigenous Peoples have the right to control their own education systems, from early childhood to postsecondary.

What Reconciliation in Education Requires

  • Meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities in curriculum development and school governance
  • Mandatory Indigenous education for all teachers and education leaders
  • Dedicated funding for Indigenous language programs and land-based learning
  • Increased representation of Indigenous staff and leadership across educational institutions
  • Public recognition and commemoration of residential school survivors and their families
  • Education policy that upholds the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)

How You Can Help

  • Educators: Integrate Indigenous perspectives into your lessons year-round. Attend workshops and training by Indigenous educators and Elders.
  • Students: Learn beyond your textbooks. Read Indigenous authors, ask questions, and challenge stereotypes.
  • Parents and Guardians: Advocate for inclusive curriculum in your child’s school. Support Indigenous-led initiatives and events.
  • School Boards and Administrators: Ensure Indigenous voices are included in leadership and decision-making. Fund long-term reconciliation efforts, not short-term tokenism.
  • Everyone: Read the TRC’s Calls to Action—especially those related to education (Calls 6–12). Share what you learn. Commit to being an ally in action, not just in words.

Reconciliation in education is not a checklist—it’s a lifelong process of learning, unlearning, and rebuilding relationships rooted in mutual respect. When we center Indigenous knowledge and truth in our classrooms, we help build a more just and informed future for all.