“We Are All Treaty People”: The Importance of Integrating Treaty Education in Today’s Classroom.

It’s critical we teach Treaty Education to make sure that everyone (whether Aboriginal or not) is aware about the people, history, and inequalities that occurred on the land we live on now. The purpose is to inform our students about the historical and contemporary relationship between First Nations, Metis, and Inuit people and non-Aboriginal people. Treaty Education is important because it works towards the eradication of harsh stereotypes and beliefs that trivialize our Aboriginal people. Moreover, it helps us see a different side to Canadian history/nation-building as we begin to understand the colonial issues that surround them as a people. Whether or not the student is Aboriginal, teaching Treaty Education in the classroom is important as all students will learn a different perspective (aside from the typically Eurocentric perspective that is often taught). Treaties are a significant and relevant aspect of Saskatchewan history. Teaching Treaty Education is a step towards reconciliation that we need to take. We live, learn, and teach on Treaty 4 land, and it is important that we acknowledge this. In teaching Treaty Education, we shed light on historical and contemporary issues faced by Aboriginal people, and we acknowledge that their perspectives and ways of knowing are valid.

We are all Treaty People is relevant to any individual living in Saskatchewan. We all live on land that has been affected (one way or another) by Treaties. Therefore, whether we recognize it or not, we are Treaty People. In regards to my understanding of curriculum, I understand the statement “We are all treaty people” as a job/responsibility I (as a pre-service teacher) to integrate and teach Aboriginal perspectives and ways of knowing into my classroom. In understanding the curriculum, I need to recognize where Aboriginal content/perspectives can be taught and integrate it persistently. It is my responsibility to find ways to effectively integrate different perspectives/cultures into units, rather than embrace the Eurocentric perspective of knowledge that is so often taught in schools. My role as an educator is to constantly fight the harsh stereotypes surrounding Aboriginal people (and other cultures and people as well) and continuously work towards a safe learning community for all students.