Highlights
In August 2023, the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) sent a letter to the Ministers of Education and Child Care (ECC) and Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills (PSFS) requesting the initiation of an Indigenous-specific racism review in British Columbia’s K-12 and post-secondary public education sectors. In response to this letter, work on this action has expanded to include a post-secondary review with PSFS.
An Indigenous-specific racism review of B.C.’s public education sectors has been identified by First Nations leadership and the First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) as an integral aspect of reconciliation and an opportunity for truth-telling, in addition to being a health and safety issue. The primary driver of this work is to address systemic racism in the K-12 and post-secondary sectors, following a student-centered approach. The review will take a distinctions-based approach while ensuring the involvement of local First Nations, Treaty Nations and additional Indigenous groups to address Indigenous-specific racism in B.C.’s public education sectors.
How are we working together?
ECC, PSFS, FNESC, and FNLC met in October and November 2023 to initiate discussion about timelines, a workplan and expectations for an Indigenous-specific racism review in the K-12 and post-secondary education sectors. A technical table has been formed with these partners to co-develop a terms of reference and a workplan for moving forward. MNBC has been informed of upcoming engagement on this work.
Are there challenges?
Initiating this work requires significant staffing, capacity and engagement between multiple ministries and partners, which would require significant funding to support the work.