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On February 14-15, 2025, a summit at the Grey Eagle Resort and Casino brought together over 80 Elders, educators, and community leaders from treaty territories across Alberta, including representatives from all five Treaty 7 Nations. The goal of the two-day gathering was to develop a strategy to address how the province has excluded Elders and First Nations in the development of Alberta’s K-12 curriculum.
CBC News was on hand to cover the event: Alberta First Nations elders say they weren’t properly consulted on new education curriculum
“We only learn about our culture on orange shirt day.”
-Tsuut’ina Youth
Contact Information
Dr. Bruce Starlight
(403) 993-7534
Twylla Starlight
STEPS MOVING FORWARD: CALLS TO ACTION
WHEREAS; the Government of Alberta must create a curriculum where First Nation Elders and Education Directors directly shape how their unique cultures, values, traditions, and languages will find expression in K-12 curriculum documents.
AND WHEREAS; the Government of Alberta must create a K-12 curriculum that acknowledges and recognizes the true and full history surrounding the issues, experiences, and contributions of First Nations people to Alberta and Canada.
AND WHEREAS; the Government of Alberta must recognize and understand Indigenous Knowledge Systems within the curriculum in ways that center Elder-guided land-based ways, honours, and respects oral traditions, lived experiences, and holistic ways of knowing and being.
AND WHEREAS; the Government of Alberta must create a K-12 curriculum framework where First Nations children can develop a sense of pride in their identity and non-First Nations children can understand the importance and significance of First Nations cultures, traditions, and knowledge systems.
AND WHEREAS; the Government of Alberta must recognize the home and community teachings of First Nations children and youth as a valuable source of knowledge that has an important place in the classroom.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: the Government of Alberta must positively collaborate with First Nations communities to build meaningful relationships that ensure the removal of systemic barriers in the curricula and classroom so that all students can thrive emotionally and academically.