Thank you for your article on the decision of School District #83 to take action on the Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s call to enhance aboriginal education for all students in the district (Feb. 17).
The TRC Report contained 94 Calls to Action, and among the most important is #62, which calls for the residential school legacy, treaties and past and present indigenous contributions to this country to be a mandatory part of the public school curriculum in each province and territory.
KAIROS, a nationwide coalition of 11 Christian churches and religious organizations, is currently circulating a petition to the provincial and territorial governments and education ministries asking that age-appropriate curriculum be developed for kindergarten through Grade 12 for this purpose.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission opened hearts and minds, and inspired a growing movement to repair the relationship between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples in Canada.
Without a shared understanding of how our collective past brought us to where we are today, we will not be able to walk together into a better future. KAIROS believes that together, we can change the education system and help transform Canadian society.
Anne Morris
Salmon Arm Ecumenical KAIROS Committee