New Indigenous-focused grad requirement for B.C. students beginning next year

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Teegee calls this an important learning tool for students and hopes that this requirement will extend to elementary schools.

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“It would definitely be a positive move to have an indigenous perspective, more indigenous involvement–or First Nations involvement–to learn about the true history of this place that we call Canada.” said Teegee.

SD57 has been proactive in implementing more Indigenous—focused education into its curriculum, such as adding a grade 10 English class highlighting First Nation Peoples. The district’s superintendent says this new requirement extends and amplifies the work they’re doing.

“The British Columbia Curriculum right now does contain First Peoples’ content throughout, but students aren’t really recognizing in an explicit way. here’s an opportunity for us, to take canada’s true history and cultures of our first peoples in a way that students will leave in our high school system knowing a lot about the culture.” said Cindy Heitman, SD57 Superintendent.

But more work is still needed within the district. In a board meeting last month, SD57 found that nearly half of all Indigenous students don’t complete highschool within five years. One of the reasons they found was that students don’t feel welcomed. That inspired them to add more Indigenous-focused coursework that would help keep students in school.

Heitman says conversations are underway to introduce full, indigenous-focused courses.

“An Indigenous art history course, an Indigenous music course, and a science course that is a little bit more specific to Indigenous ways of knowing, learning, and that land-based science in a more explicit way.” said Heitman.

Full details on the course requirement have not been laid out yet but the Ministry has opened up a public feedback form through April 22, 2022. The feedback will be used to create a final plan that’s expected to be released in August 2022.