This school board serves the Laurentians, among others, where the Mohawk community of Kanesatake is located, in the midst of the 1990 Oka crisis.

The group watched the movie Beans by filmmaker Tracey Deer, who was inspired by her experience as a 12 -year -old during 78 days of confrontation in Kanesatake and her home community of Kahnawake, located south of the island from Montreal. The teachers then participated in a discussion with the director.

The event is part of the school board’s five -year effort to further incorporate Indigenous issues, history and culture into the teaching provided in its schools.

Invisible and unimportant in his own school

This meant a lot to me, because when I was in high school, I was surrounded by white kids, and the little we said about the natives was the equivalent of two pages of a book.said Tracey Deer of the 40-odd teachers who have been assigned as Truth and Reconciliation Liaison Officers at the schools where they work.

So even in my own school I felt I was invisible and unimportant.added Ms. Deer.

Teachers were invited to ask questions to share what they learned with their students and colleagues.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier’s School Board efforts are trying to get the Quebec government to implement the recommendations made by retired Superior Justice Jacques Viens in his disastrous 2019 report on how the province treats whose aboriginals.

Mr. Viens said a systematic discrimination towards Indigenous peoples in all public services in Quebec, and it is recommended that the school curriculum be redesigned to properly reflect the history and contributions of First Nations and Inuit.

According to the Viens report, Quebec should apologize for the systematic discrimination suffered by Aboriginals.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier School Board initiatives, including the workshop on Tuesday, were funded by a $ 51,000 grant from the Quebec Ministry of Education, aimed at raising awareness and training educators in native reality in provincial schools.

In her film, Tracey Deer captures an event she experienced in 1990, during the Oka crisis, when she and her sister were brought to the island of Montreal in a convoy of women, children and the elderly. leaving Kahnawake.

As they entered the city, an angry mob pelted their vehicles, while police stood idle.

In the film, Beans hides on the floor of his mother’s car while the rear window of the car is shattered.

Tracey Deer said this and the other events that happened over the summer were the most traumatic of her life.

It’s my job to learn

Vicki Fraser, a teacher at McCaig Elementary School in Rosemère, said the film changed her perspective on the Oka crisis.

Watching the movie today, really hitsaid Ms Fraser, who was young at the time of the crisis. We need a clear picture of history so we can do things to improve the future.

Ms Fraser said the film gave her a sense of urgency to act. He said he was initially hesitant to play the role of coordinator for fear of not having enough knowledge about Indigenous issues. But you know, after this day, I thought it was my job to learn as wellhe continued.

Direk Tracey Deer thanked the teachers with emotion.

When there are events like this, I’m so happy to get the call, so happy to say yes. Events like this bring me healing. I’m so happy to see you all here and to see that you’re all making this effort, and all of you care about medid he say.

Michael Quinn, assistant director of the school board of pedagogical services, said he wants to expand the scope of the program to raise awareness.

We really want these questions to permeate throughout school life. What we are trying to avoid are symbolic actions. It’s so easy for our schools and for all of us to fall into the trap of wearing an orange t-shirt on orange t-shirt day, maybe doing a charity event, and that’s all. Finishedsaid Mr. Quinn.

We want something durable.

Based on an article by Verity Stevenson, CBC