In 2015, 94 Calls To Action were published by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. Included in those 94 were Calls to Action 62 to 65, directly related to education for reconciliation.

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

i. Make age-appropriate curriculum on residential schools, Treaties, and Aboriginal peoples’ historical and contemporary contributions to Canada a mandatory education requirement for Kindergarten to Grade Twelve students.

Call to Action #63 Called upon the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada to maintain an annual commitment to Aboriginal education issues, including: 

i. Developing and implementing Kindergarten to Grade Twelve curriculum and learning resources on Aboriginal peoples in Canadian history, and the history and legacy of residential schools. 

ii. Sharing information and best practices on teaching curriculum related to residential schools and Aboriginal history. 

iii. Building student capacity for intercultural understanding, empathy, and mutual respect. 

iv. Identifying teacher-training needs relating to the above.

As a community of educators, it is our responsibility to heed these calls to action and take steps towards implementing them at our local levels.

Click here to read the full Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action report.