[Sarah]

This stands out so powerfully to me as I journey into Black History Month with my grade 6/7 students in a very white, very rural school. I am not much of a history buff myself, so I generally stick with history from the text book. After taking this course, I’ve realized how important it is to venture outside the text and, in this case, perhaps re-create it! This week I’ll be learning WITH and FROM my students as we set a course to change the history we understand.

[Monet]

This was all new information for me as well. It was a highlight of this course for me. It’s been really nice to also share this information with my close circle and spark discussions about this

[Young]

Teaching true history to the younger generation is essential because history plays a vital role in forming their identity. I can’t forget the shock when I visited the National Museum in Ottawa ten years ago and stopped by an exhibition explaining Canada’s history. The history of Canada, which began in prehistoric times, felt as if it was empty before the arrival of Europeans. Since the indigenous parts of Canadian history were exhibited separately, it didn’t seem easy to understand it properly unless the two were understood comprehensively. In addition, it was challenging to find the Black contribution to Canada’s history. (It was ten years ago, so I’m unsure how things have changed. Hope things have been changed!)

I’m not only saying I want to see Black history in museums. We need to teach and inform this fact through textbooks to children at their schools, people to people on the streets, and newcomers in the process of immigration. Otherwise, changing the existing notion is impossible.

[Lissa]

I think the true history of Canada is going to continue to be revealed. There is much that we do not know yet. I found Professor Michele Johson’s piece on the history of slavery in Canada to be very enlightening and disturbing at the same time. I just purchased a magazine called ‘Canada’s History’ and I am very interested to see what type of portrait it paints about Canadian History. The magazine features individuals like Mary Bibb (opened the first school for Black children) and Arthur Richardson (worked as a teacher and principal in Chatham and was the first Black man to attend the University of NB). These individuals were teachers in Canada in the late 1800s. One of the issues the stories talk about is how the white children responded when Black children entered the schools . I haven’t read it yet, but I will get back to you with more details. My feeling is that we will not be able to move forward and make changes in our world if we do not face the REAL truth about our history first.

[Marie-Eve]

I could not agree with this statement more! Although there has been progress on this front, both from educators across the province and from organizations providing educational material or PD on this topic, I think it’s important to recognize that the teaching of Anti-Black History continues to remain a choice for teachers (especially those who rely on the fact that there are not specific requirements in our current curriculum that mandate this topic, as opposed to the experience and history of Indigenous people of Canada for example). This is not to diminish the EXCELLENT work being done by many educators to bring forth this topic in all strands/units of their course, but until our curriculum is reformed to mandate the teaching of Anti-Black History in Canada and explore themes rather than timelines, the willingness to educate ourselves and the accountability to integrate this extremely important topic in our classrooms will remain and individual practice.

[Kathleen]

As someone working within the education system, this is so important. I believe we have seen progress with how we discuss the history of residential schools within the last few years and there is no reason for this not to also translate to accurate depictions of Canada’s history of enslaving black people and racism.

[Abena]

I completely agree! As Black people (and especially the youth) we can see all the ways in which we do not “fit” in Canadian society. This is further solidified by the apparent lack of us in historical accounts. Learning about these details to Black history and the ways that we are integral to the fabric of Canadian history is validating and is information that must be taught. This reminds me of a conversation I had with a peer about Robert Sutherland, the first Black student and graduate of Queen’s University in Kingston, ON. Prior to his death, he donated his entire estate to the institution which (if I’m not mistaken) were funds that were instrumental in keeping Queen’s University open and in operation at the time. I only recently learned of this gentleman because this is a history that wasn’t widely spoken about. It is important to know the contributions Black people have made to spaces and places that are broadly identified as predominantly white. This example is just to further the point made in the course that at every turn in history, we have been here and we will continue to be here and contribute in positive and impactful ways.

[Deinera]

Yes! Agree with both of you that this was a very powerful part of the certificate for me. I knew about Black Loyalists and about Black folks from Oklahoma in Alberta, but a lot of the other history was new for me. This course was also the most thorough accounting I have seen of the history of Black slavery in Canada. This is information I will absolutely be better integrating into the courses I teach. In light of the horrific police killing of Tyre Nichols, and ongoing murders of Black Canadians by police, including Regis Korchinski-Paquet and D’Andre Campbell and so many others, it is so important to ground these events in this history, which I think still is so unknown by many (especially White) Canadians, as it is not in any curriculum that I am aware of, but critical to addressing the root causes of ongoing state violence against Black communities.

[casondra]

YES! Yes! Yes! This was an extremely eye opening part of the module for me as well. It boggles my mind to know that in a country that prides itself on multiculturalism the correct history of black people within our country are not taught. It was so interesting to learn and the entire time I was listening and learning so much I remember thinking maybe i would have payed attention in history class if real life history that matters and made a difference was shared. I’m so glad to now know all the information I was so unaware of and can teach my own children and share with youth who may be interested as well.