Reading for Reconciliation

The National Arts Centre recognizes its obligations under the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Call to Action #62: We call upon the federal, provincial, and territorial governments, in consultation and collaboration with Survivors, Indigenous peoples, and educators to:

I) Make age-appropriate curriculum on residential schools, Treaties, and Indigenous peoples’ historical and contemporary contributions to Canada a mandatory education requirement for Kindergarten to Grade 12 students. 

Introduction

“Education is what got us into this mess, and education is what will get us out.”
Justice Murray Sinclair

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action numbers 62-65 focus on the specific educational needs of Indigenous students and the need for increased education within the public school system of the impacts of the residential school system. Canadian educators can help to meet these Calls to Action by proactively adapting their classrooms to better fit the needs of reconciliation education if their curriculums have not yet been updated. 

The National Arts Centre has curated reading lists that focus on the residential school system and its impacts on Indigenous children for students in grades K-12. These books bring the experiences of Indigenous children and their families to life in age-appropriate language that allows all students to engage in reconciliation education. The following activities help to bridge the content of the books to students’ knowledge about Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Download our Teacher’s Guide for Reading Lists, Discussion Questions and Lesson Plans