What does Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) mean to me?
To me, TRC means hope for everyone whose lives have been affected by residential schools. It means starting to untangle the convoluted mess that years of systematic discrimination has created, and it means hope for bringing both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people together to move forward in a positive way.
After viewing the Indian Reservation School Initiative (IRSI) website:
1. Create a series of reflective questions that students in the Faculty of Education could use as points of reflection as they engage with this initiative on campus.
- Even though you, or even your family, were not directly responsible for the violent and oppressive legislation imposed upon Aboriginal people, how are you related to it?
- As someone who lives in, and benefits from, a governmental system that emerged from such brutal, inhumane acts, what is your role? What should your role be?
- Knowing more about our history as Canadians, how can you contribute in creating more truthful and honest discourse around Canada’s damaging legislative legacy?
- If you were to make an argument for why knowing this history is important, what would you say?
- Some people don’t feel that knowing this history is important because of the subjects that they are interested in teaching (e.g. Math, science, music). Whatever your personal view is, think about possible counterarguments to that sentiment. Think of a way to connect this history into your subject.
2. Write a reflective article for the IRSI website that could speak to your experience as students in the Teacher Education program learning about the TRC and UBC initiatives.
I think that the TRC and UBC initiatives are wonderful because these are important issues to learn about and understand, especially as Canadians. It also reaches another level of importance for us as educators, no matter what subject we’re interested in teaching. We are part of a system, the school system, that has viciously tried to annihilate nations of people and reproduced harmful perceptions, thereby contributing to a cycle of oppression and violence upon the rightful inhabitants of the country that we call Canada. Shouldn’t we at least acknowledge and learn the history in order to begin reversing these pernicious effects and discourses? The power of acknowledgement can go a long way.