All Grade 11 students in York Region public schools to study Indigenous literature

'The course is designed to expand students’ understandings of Indigenous peoples,' says the YRDSB

yorkregion.com
Dina Al-Shibeeb
Feb. 23, 2022

The York Region District School Board (YRDSB) really wants its students to thoroughly understand Canada.

This is why the YRDSB’s Grade 11 students are going to study an Indigenous literature course as a required class starting in 2023.

The course -- Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Voices -- is already available as an option at some YRDSB schools.

But before making the course a required English credit for 2023-2024, the board said the class is going to be available in all of YRDSB schools in 2022-2023.

“The course is designed to expand students’ understandings of Indigenous peoples, cultures and contemporary realities,” the board said in a statement on Feb. 22.

It added, “Learning about the history, perspectives and cultures of Indigenous peoples will help students better understand Canada’s past, present and potential for the future.”

The news comes after the YRDSB recently renamed the Sir John A. Macdonald Public School in Markham to Nokiidaa Public School to honour the importance of language and of the First Nations on this land.

Board trustees made the decision to rename the school in July 2021 because of the first prime minister's association with residential schools.

Andrew McConnell, co-ordinator of First Nations, Métis and Inuit education, described the course as a natural extension of the Grade 10 history course.

“By using contemporary works, students will have a chance to see the diversity of experiences and ideas that modern Indigenous people bring to our communities today,” McConnell added.

Watch this video to learn more about the course and hear from students who have recently completed the course.