UPDATE: Winds of Change in Manitoba and BC
The Winds of Change have been active in Manitoba and British Columbia thanks to the efforts of local KAIROS organizers.
In Manitoba, the KAIROS Cambrian Agassiz group met with the Manitoba Ministry of Education and Training on August 25. Education and Training determines and develops the curriculum, so this meeting was particularly important.
KAIROS met with advisors from two departments under the Ministry: Instruction, Curriculum and Assessment and Indigenous Inclusion Directorate. Joining them was the Indigenous Affairs Secretariat of Indigenous and Municipal Relations.
Meeting highlights include a report on Manitoba’s progress with KAIROS’ Education for Reconciliation campaign and expressions of gratitude to KAIROS for the Blanket Exercise, which all Ministry staff have participated in.
The Government of Manitoba has drafted a First Nations, Inuit and Metis Framework, which requires all students and teachers to be aware of Indigenous history and current lifestyle, meaning active contemporary culture and contributions to community life. The advisors also pointed to a treaty kit for kindergarten to grade 12 students, for which teachers receive two days of training before using it in the classroom.
The advisors acknowledged that the biggest challenge is in action, practice and changing attitudes, not so much in the legislation. It is up to both teachers and parents to get behind the curriculum. They noted that reconciliation is more than just curriculum; it is about relationships with the community.
All in all, it was a good meeting, with an open door to reconnect with the Ministry in the future. Bravo KAIROS Cambrian Agassiz!
In BC, the KAIROS Metro Vancouver group collected nine full petition sheets of signatures in support of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #62.i during the Walk for Reconciliation, which drew an estimated 25,000 people. KAIROS Metro Vancouver also drew more than 45 participants to the KAIROS Blanket Exercise during this event. Plans are in the works to present the petitions to the BC Legislative Assembly in the fall. Stay tuned!
