21 About Truth
Seneca College
Historically, Kindergarten to grade 12 curricula in this country was very poor at teaching children the truth about the colonial history that has served to marginalize and oppress people who are Indigenous to this land. This is beginning to change, and our hope is that one day soon a resource like this is no longer necessary because everyone educated in Canada will already know the truth. For those of you who are newcomers to Canada, what you will learn in Skoden will dispel the myth of Canada as a wonderful country that is at the forefront of social justice, equity, and human rights. For those of you who are First Nations, Métis, and Inuit, you have been living the truth of our history going back seven generations.
The truth is, the nation of Canada was founded on patriarchal, monarchist, Christian, white European colonialism. We know that stating this so boldly on day one is no doubt going to offend some people, but we must open ourselves up to the truth about our history. The key point is, this is our historical foundation, but it does no longer need to be our present and our future. History is created by us. We have the power to take this history and its ongoing impact and create a more equitable and just future. Let’s begin this exploration of the truth by viewing the video,
Before you begin the video, reflect on the following:
- What did you learn in your school lessons about the history of Canada?
- Outside of school, what messages did you receive about people who are First Nations, Mètis, and Inuit?
As you watch the video, pay attention for:
- What surprises you or what were you not aware of?
- What confuses you or what do you need more information about?
After viewing the video, reflect on:
- How have your views of Canada changed?
- How have your views changed about the people who are Indigenous to this land?
