Spotlight on Canada’s Past

July 6, 2016 - 20 years ago, June 21 was designated National Aboriginal Day so that all Canadians could celebrate and recognize the important contributions First Nations, Metis, and Inuit people have made, and continue to make, all over the country.

The release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report last year marked a new era in the relationship between First Peoples and the rest of Canada, and, as a result, National Aboriginal Day has taken on an added significance.

This year, in acknowledgement of National Aboriginal Day, the Werklund School of Education was invited to debut two new Heritage Minutes created by Historica Canada.  The new Minutes are called Naskumituwin, which focuses on the signing of Treaty 9 in Northern Ontario in 1905, and Chanie Wenjack, the story of how one boy’s death was a catalyst for change in the Indian Residential School (IRS) system.

“As a country, we advance by learning from lessons of our past, both good and bad,” said Anthony Wilson-Smith, President and CEO of Historica Canada. “In this case, the path to reconciliation begins with education – acknowledging past wrongs to Indigenous people and working to make things right.”

Debut screening attended by academics, students and community members

During the morning program in the Werklund School, the Minutes were shown and the audience engaged in discussion about them, the TRC report and recommendations, and the importance of this specific period of Canada’s history as a time of change.

Jacqueline Ottmann, the host of the screenings at UCalgary, agrees with Wilson-Smith and says,  “I think it is very important for everyone to see these two particular Minutes as they share stories about a collective history that has not been properly represented--if at all--in our educational and organizational systems.”

“The Minutes provide context of two very real and current issues - the misunderstandings and breach of the Treaties, and the genocide and intergenerational trauma caused by the Indian Residential School policy and abuses.”

Ottmann, who is an associate professor and the Director of Indigenous Education in the Werklund School, says that hearing the stories from the Cree and Anishinaabe perspectives conjured an emotional response for her on a personal level.  “I was very moved by these new Heritage Minutes.  As a picture is worth a thousand words, it amazed me how much could be conveyed in just one minute.”

“Historica Canada made two bold and powerful videos,” she continues. “They challenge government, society and individuals to learn about and hopefully honour the Treaties and the experiences of Indian Residential Schools.” 

Werklund committed to advancing the dialogue

The Werklund School of Education formed an Indigenous Education Task Force last year and has committed to transforming the culture, climate, curricula, programs and policies to support Indigenous Education, which includes First Nations, Metis and Inuit histories, ways of knowing and being.

Ottmann says the new Minutes specifically support two of the Task Force recommendations: engaging in open and extended conversations of contemporary Indigenous aims, issues and contexts, and ensuring that traditional knowledge and stories are valued and shared.

“After showing the Minutes, I felt that it was important to engage in meaningful and relevant dialogue about the Treaties in general and the IRS experience - who the players were, why it happened, how it relates to society, government and education today.”