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A P R I L 2021 ME S S E NG E R
M e s s a g e f r o m t h e P r e s i d e n t
The second major consultation has begun for the draft K to 6 Alberta Education Curriculum. The media has been reporting on the discontent being expressed by Albertans about the curriculum. Our community echoes thoseconcerns, andhassomeofourownwewouldlikeaddressed. On April 16th we convened a group of Metis Settlement educators, and former educators, to a panel discussion about the proposed curriculum and have since drafted a letter for government outline our core areas of concern, and recommendations for a way ahead. Of particular concern for us is the lack of consultation with our community on the content of the curriculum, the representation of Metis history and experience as a homogenous experience with other Indigenous peoples, the lack of context about our unique place in Canada, and the age appropriateness of the content overall. We are asking the Minister of Education to strike a Metis Settlements advisory committee of educators and elders to help inform the final curriculum during the year-long consultation ahead. The weeks ahead will continue to bring new challenges and new information, and your Council Executive will keepworking hard on these, and other important projects for our members. And we will continue to share news with you as often as we can. Keep watching our social media channels, our website and contact our office if you have questions. It continues to be my honour to work with my Council colleagues for the betterment of our community. Changes, especially big changes, can be unsettling. Even positive change presents some unknowns: will I be included? How will this benefit me? When will normalcy return? When will our constitutional rights and hard-won legal victories be completely implemented? While the important progress reported in this edition of the Messenger is good news, we still have some work to do. We face an almost constant threat of being ignored or avoided; just look at our exclusion from the curriculum development and lack of consultation on Bill 57 as examples. Standing together has never been so important. We can learn from others who have been in this situation before. While all Metis voices must be heard, when we speak to another government, we need to have one voice. One message. We cannot allow dissension among community leaders permit the government or funding agency to use that as a reason to turn us down. This is a time for “all hands on deck.” Cooperation among our leaders, project developers, families and individuals leads to benefits for everyone. If someone has more to offer, we should graciously accept their talent and interest. We can’t view funding opportunities as reasons to compete with each other.
O u r L a n d . O u r C u l t u r e . O u r F u t u r e .
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