In the news: the importance of including residential schools in Canadian education
On June 9, 2021, Rachel Mishenene, Right To Play's Executive Director, Indigenous Programs, sat down with CBC News to discuss the importance of including the history of residential schools in Canadian education.
This important discussion came after the harrowing discovery of the bodies of 215 children found at the former Kamloops Residential School. See Right To Play's full statement here.
During the discussion with CBC, Rachel recalled having no lessons on residential schools during her education growing up in Canada. Any lesson that briefly touched on Indigenous people was small and "written from a non-Indigenous colonial perspective. She then continued to explain the various factors and reasons for this knowledge gap and reminded us that this gap still very much exists today.
"I really hope that the government at some point can really prioritize truth and reconciliation as part of a curriculum and learning not just for students, but for teachers as well."
Rachel asks Canadians to consider what it means to be a 'proud Canadian' and to take the time to understand their own role and responsibility in moving forward to ensure all children in Canada are taught about Indigenous history and the impact of residential schools. Rachel then gave tips on how to talk to kids about residential schools, inspiring hope for the future.