Thread by @BearheadWally

So I have been reading through the curriculums #AbEd released and I am not a curriculum expert or teacher, but I do have some very big concerns and worries. Hopefully someone can explain to me the rationale for some of the choices made in this curriculum. #alberta #curriculum

To start, there are very well educated and passionate people I see posting about the #curriculum and using their wisdom and experience to review them. #AbEd I am a parent, uncle, brother, and member of the Nakoda community so that is my lens. #Alberta

And since this #curriculum is being gone through with a fine tooth comb by experts, I will instead give some overarching feedback. #AbEd #Alberta

To start, three generations going back in my family attended residential school - which is just one of many racist practices they have been forced to endure in their lives. Those that are alive now are relieved that our current and future generations don't have to go. #AbEd

This #curriculum though... My family told me that when they went to the school they were forced to learn religion, essential skills for being a wife or husband, and what was considered basic skills to be a white Canadian.... #AbEd #Alberta

If this #curriculum is anything, it's a return to residential school curriculum. It focuses on European histories, European superiority, and what it feels is important to life for EuroCanadians - like capitalism. #AbEd

My one niece is in grade 1, and they spend most of their time learning to read and basic number skills. They seem to learn a bit about social studies but the focus on is on the reading and number skills so I don't know how they can do that with a social #curriculum so big. #AbEd

My sister had a print copy of what was originally released in 2018. Since that version, math and science no longer include any Indigenous knowledge. It's so hard to get our kids passionate about learning these topics as it is and now they won't see themselves in it. #AbEd

I've also seen a lot of people reusing a quote from Chief Littlechild from a couple years back as if he currently endorses this curriculum. It's misrepresentation and I hope he's getting his legal papers in order because the government is using past words as present tense. #AbEd

I am sickened, both as a Nakoda man, a parent, a person of color, at the way non-white, non-Christian people are othered in this curriculum. It is disgraceful and will create further division. #AbEd

And while I don't mind children learning about different religions and cultures, to posit Christianity as so significant is a slap in the face to all those who came before forced to pray in a language they didn't know after being ripped from their homes. #AbEd

At the very least include Indigenous spirituality (not a religion btw) alongside belief systems. The number of times I have been asked ridiculous questions about my "Native Religion" is gross. Dispel the myths at least. #AbEd

It also strikes me that the way it is written presumes children come into the world with no knowledge and that it must be poured into them. This is the complete opposite to what I have been brought up to know in my culture. #AbEd

So in addition to being residential schooling 2.0, it's also antithetical to Nakoda learning and development. Children teach us as much as we teach them, if not more, and to presume they come to school without wisdom and knowledge is a European way of thinking. #AbEd

There is also NOTHING about identity. Identity is FUNDAMENTAL to Nakoda teachings. How can we know about others if we do not know ourselves? How can we possibly understand perspectives? The Elders teach us to know ourselves. #AbEd

In short, I am upset. I don't understand why these choices have been made. I don't know what to tell the children around me, or those who survived the residential school system for that matter. There has been no learning from the past for those who wrote these. #AbEd

This land is my home, and has been for generations of my family. It is not easy to leave and we won't, but what is the alternative if this government wants to indoctrinate the next generations here? It is the law for kids to go to school between 6 and 16 after all. #AbEd

And people are scared. To be a person of color right now is scary enough, to speak out is moreso. I have only been on this platform a little while and I have already gotten hateful messages. I have to counter stereotypes every - single - day. It is exhausting. #AbEd

I live in both worlds. I am as traditional as I can be but also have a job in technology. I want my children to be successful - whatever that means for them. Having to be told in a curriculum that their culture is 'ancient' or exists only in past tense is heartbreaking. #AbEd

When the KKK gets equal space alongside residential schools in a curriculum, there is a serious problem. I can't even begin to fathom the reasoning for that choice. My Jamaican colleague went silent when I showed him that. It hurts. #AbEd

#AbEd! Stop othering us! Stop only teaching about us living in the past or being victims! We have rich and diverse histories, so many contributions to society, and vibrant cultures. Why are you doing this to our children?